Local meeting primer: Sturgis City Commission

The Sturgis City Commission will meet Wednesday, January 28 at 6 p.m. at Sturgis City Hall. Commissioners are scheduled to consider proposed zoning changes affecting 32 properties, updates to the city’s burning ordinance, zoning ordinance amendments, and parks and recreation infrastructure details.

This will be the City Commission’s second regular meeting of the year. The meeting will be available to watch live on YouTube.

Commissioners will hear a second reading on proposed zoning district changes that city staff have divided into three groups.

Group 1 includes two properties purchased by the Economic Development Corporation several years ago said to be intended for a future commercial area along South Centerville Road, with the western portion of the site reserved for future industrial development. The proposed zoning changes would extend the Business Highway 1 (B-H1) zoning district approximately 1,500 feet west from South Centerville Road on the far north side and continue straight south, with the remaining area to the west rezoned to Manufacturing-2 (M-2).

Group 2 consists of 25 properties currently zoned Manufacturing (M). City staff are recommending these parcels be rezoned to Manufacturing-2 (M-2). According to the proposal, the primary difference between the M and M-2 zoning districts is that M-2 does not allow marihuana businesses as a special land use. As part of broader discussions around the M-2 district, direction was given to work toward transitioning M-zoned districts south of Chicago Road to M-2. The proposed changes in Group 2 represent the first step in that process.

Group 3 includes properties near the Fawn River Road and Centerville Road intersection, including Auto Park Ford, the Lone Spruce property, the Sholl property, Chuck’s Auto Service, and URB Cannabis. These parcels have been discussed for several years by both the Planning Commission and the City Commission and were identified for zoning district changes during development of the city’s most recent master plan. Although currently zoned Manufacturing (M), city staff report the properties have transitioned over time to primarily commercial uses and are recommending they be rezoned to Business Highway 1 (B-H1).

If the zoning changes are adopted, two existing marihuana retailers—URB Cannabis on South Centerville Road and Puff Cannabis on Wade Street—would become legal nonconforming uses under the new zoning. URB Cannabis could become a conforming use if a B-H1 license becomes available. The proposed changes would also eliminate two existing nonconforming uses within the affected areas.

Wednesday’s second reading is expected to be the final opportunity for public comment before a final version of the zoning ordinance is prepared.

Commissioners will also consider a separate set of zoning ordinance amendments during a first reading. Proposed changes include restrictions on temporary promotional banners in the Central Business and Business Neighborhood zoning districts, updates to fence height and design standards for essential services, and revisions to the city’s corner clearance rules to clarify clear vision areas and fence placement on corner lots. The Planning Commission previously held a public hearing on the amendments and recommended them for approval.

A first reading of proposed updates to the city’s burning ordinance is also on the agenda. The ordinance, which falls under Fire Prevention and Protection in the city code, has not been comprehensively revised since 1969, according to the city manager’s report.

Residents may comment on agenda items in person as they are taken up during the meeting. Public comment on items not listed on the agenda is scheduled prior to the commission’s new business portion of the meeting.

Maxwell Knauer is a staff writer for Watershed Voice.