Jon Kangas

By CHRISTIE MASTRIC

Journal Staff Writer

MARQUETTE — The Marquette Township Board of Trustees on Wednesday unanimously voted to authorize staff to move forward with the next step regarding a planned housing community along County Road 492.

Renovare Development, based in downstate Ypsilanti, has submitted a letter of interest for a 5-acre township-owned parcel next to Schwemwood Park. Renovare has indicated it would be suitable for a 48-unit project, and has proposed a $500,000 purchase price.

Jason McCarthy, township planning and zoning administrator, acknowledged that housing issues have been at the forefront of many community discussions.

McCarthy said Renovare has provided a proposal to develop it in a way that he believes is attractive in that it would add “obtainable” housing.

“They’re looking at police officers, fire department, teachers, nurses,” McCarthy said. “Those are the people that really, I believe, are looking for quality homes in the area.”

In its letter of interest to the township, Renovare said the housing community would feature up to 48 units of cottages, duplexes and townhomes. The proposal calls for a portion of the units to be set aside for qualified individuals and families between 60% and 120% of area median income.

The units would range from approximately 1,000 to 1,200 square feet. The project also would use brownfield tax increment financing to create attainable sales prices for a portion of the units.

Township Manager Jon Kangas expressed concern about the current gravel access drive that connects people from County Road 492 to the back side of a row of businesses, including the Goodwill store and a strip mall. In a memo to the board, Kangas indicated that if the township wants to retain the access, it would need to be negotiated into the final agreement.

Treasurer Ernest Johnson acknowledged the road is well used.

“It’s critical when you have that many businesses sitting on the highway,” Johnson said.

Township Clerk Randy Ritari said traffic conditions have changed.

“A lot of that traffic is gone now,” he said. “Black Friday is not as big as it used to be, but it is an important road.”

However, he pointed out that if the township doesn’t sell the property, it wouldn’t get the financial proceeds.

“I think there’s also a social benefit to what they’re proposing to do,” McCarthy said. “The reason why I reached out was to try to demonstrate that this can occur with the right partnerships and creative financing metrics in place.”

Township Trustee John Markes said the project is “promising.”

“I think we’re hearing over and over again that we need to be doing something to accommodate (alleviate) overpriced housing,” he said.

Markes called it a “unique piece of property” that might not appeal to others.

“It looks like it might be the right place for lower-cost housing,” Markes said.

Jill Ferrari, a managing partner with Renovare, said the company has multiple options for the property as well as experience with workforce housing.

“We love this site,” she said. “We love the area.”

Johnson also discussed the natural amenities such as large trees.

“I’d like to see what can be retained there to keep that type of environment, if at all possible, within your development because I think it will benefit the whole development,” Johnson said.

The Marquette Township Planning Commission eventually will have to look at the plan, with the Marquette County Land Bank also becoming involved.

Christie Mastric can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 250. Her email address is cbleck@miningjournal.net.