HOF AT IT AGAIN WITH ZONING VARIANCES AND EXPANSIONS IN DOWNTOWN RESIDENTIAL AREAS.

[AQUAMAN]

Yes, the HOF is at it again. It's a very successful and old ice cream biz located right downtown. This time they are going to ask the City Council to give them a zoning variance/rezoning property that is now residential, to commercial. The reason? They want to build skyscraper type silos that will go up something like 52' in the air for some expansion needs. HOW COME? All I know is that they got along for about 6 decades without them, now all of a sudden, they want those huge tall silo eye sores located right downtown in a residential area that the neighbors are quite upset with, again.                           We all want our local biz's. to do well and hire more employees, but it's obvious, this new intrusion into the residential areas surrounding the plant is not a good idea for anyone, the neighbors, nor the public at large imho.                                                                                                                                 HOF is a large ice cream mfr. that practically has a monopolistic stranglehold on the competition. They've more or less put all the others out of biz. for quite a few years. Having said that, it's only common sense for mgmt. to have the foresight to make plans for expansions elsewhere, where they can grow the biz. in a prudent and resourceful manner. Like an industrial park that has quite a few vacancies and needs new blood to provide increased employment. This is something planners and mgmt. at the HOF have steadfastly ignored and thumbed their nose at for all too long. Instead choosing to ask more favors of their buddies at City Hall.                                                                   I am hoping and praying for a different outcome this time with the City Council. The HOF have gotten their way in the downtown area for all too long. Many residential properties in the area have lost significant values with this scenario, and more stand to lose if this goes thru. Put yourself in these affected citizens property rights and values, they have to deal with trucks delivering supplies daily all night and day year around, not to mention the employees coming and going along with customers.       The LDN put an article up about this last week, and if you look at the comments section made by Snide, you can see he made some very valid points about this from an historical perspective and obvious good common sense.

[XLFD]

Speaking of MOM, on WMOM this Thursday morning at 9:00 City Councilor Holman made the claim that HOF, or anyone else for that matter, could not take over any of the City's parklands, or portions therof, without a vote by the people of at least 70% or maybe even 75%.  Yet she didn't go on to explain how the non-profit "Dog Park Committee" led by a City Official did just that last year  Hot Dogs, a Sloppy Joe, and One Sweet Pickle  on a one acre piece of Cartier Park without a public vote and with all the details taken care of in city committees. 

Any change of use of parklands require a vote by the people to approve.  And contrary to Ms. Holman's assertion, only a simple majority is needed to do so, our City Code section 14.3 says:  The Council shall not vacate, discontinue, sell, lease, trade, nor divert to other public use any public park grounds without first securing the approval of a majority of the electors of the City voting thereon in any election.”

Jaded City Councilors may have a different view of City parks than you.   They may see it as non-productive land, not outwardly generating any revenues for the City.  In a maneuver that may be even more bold than what happened with the Dog Park, they could reduce the equation so as not to require a vote of the community.  And justify it as necessary 'economic development' amongst themselves. 

[XLFD]

The City's Ice Cream Farm is getting bigger.  Last night, House of Flavors got the approval of the Planning Commission to put up three more silos in the downtown area, making the most out of only one more year of mayoral power from their biggest customer while they can.  house-of-flavors--gets-approval-for-three-more-silos

[Jane]

That's Disgusting to have that downtown. why haven't they moved their production areas out into the new vacant industrial parks? Could they get enough tax deals for an affordable new factory? I think so.

[AQUAMAN]

8-1 vote eh? You just have to wonder, how many like Holman are getting something out the back door for destroying the residential area and the downtown district to make this happen? And this same planning commission says NO, for God's sake no, you cannot build condo's in the same downtown over 3 stories high, when these five silos are over 4 stories high?

[XLFD]

Holman had a zipped lip on the issue at the Dec. 4 meeting of the Planning Commission (she's on the board) and on an appearance on WMOM this morning on the HofF debate. 

With all these silos/towers/parapets going up, one would think the designation of House of Flavors downtown operation would change from light industrial to industrial at some point.  It's expansion is both good and bad for Ludington. 

But like the wind turbines do for pastoral Riverton Twp., these new silos will hinder the aesthete's enjoyment of the downtown area, and hinder the efforts of some to make it a Mecca for arts and culture.