Bessemer council holds hearing on rezoning to allow asphalt plant

BESSEMER - Residents sounded off Monday evening on whether or not Pat Steiger should be allowed to rezone Steiger Timber Operations on Tamarack Avenue.

In front of more than 30 people, Steiger said his property is currently zoned as a M-1, or light industrial. But he said he needs it be rezoned to M-2, or heavy industrial, in order to continue running his multiple businesses. Steiger said his business is a 24-hour business. He said trucks deliver lumber to and from his site, and customers use the site for repair and maintenance of equipment. He added his facility is also leased to pipeline companies for welding fabrication.

"I can't work under M-1 with the type of work I do," he said. "Everything we work on is big equipment."

Steiger's attorney, Mark McDonald, said Steiger was unaware his property was rezoned until Northwoods Paving company was denied permission by the city council on May 16 to put an asphalt plant on his property. Asphalt plants are not permitted in a light industrial district, but are allowed in a heavy industrial district.

McDonald said Steiger was not notified his parcel was rezoned back in 2010. McDonald said the state statute reacquires the government to no notify residents if their parcel is being rezoned if 10 or less people live on that parcel of land. He said the zoning ordinance could be invalid as a result.

Resident Roy Gotham pointed out city attorney Michael Korpela gave an opinion in a letter that the city did the rezoning properly.

McDonald said there has been no complaints about work that goes on at Steiger's property.

Charlie Boggetto, who lives close to Steiger's property, agreed, saying he doesn't notice Steiger's operations from his house.

"We don't even know it's there," he said. "We don't have any issues with him being zoned heavy industrial. We've never had an issue with Pat or any of his operations. If we did, he would take care of it."

Some residents expressed concerns about the possible affects an asphalt plant will have in Bessemer. A couple residents said they are concerned the odors and chemicals emitted from asphalt plants could be hazardous.

Greg Miller, of Bessemer, said Bessemer is a "pretty" town and the council would be shooting themselves in the foot if they approve the asphalt plant.

City Commission Chairman John Turkal said the city needs road repair and replacement. Steiger said the asphalt plant will save this city over $100,000 because there would be less costs associated with trucking, but added if people don't want an asphalt plant, he'd be willing not to put one there.

In a letter to the council, Northwoods Paving Company said the approximate cost saving would be $3.20 per ton or $64 per truck. In addition, the paving company said the city would save on intangible costs, such as: fewer trucks on deteriorating city roads, less fuel usage, and quicker project completion times.

At a May 3 council meeting, Tara Wetzel, from the paving company, said the plant will be 1,415 feet away from neighboring properties. She said the paving company will add a chemical to the asphalt to help prevent odors.

Council member Rob Coleman said the asphalt plant will be regulated by the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality.