GMCF to offer expanded parking near existing lot

By P.J. GLISSON

news@yourdailyglobe.com

Wakefield — The Wakefield planning commission voted Monday evening to approve progress on a new 180-foot x 90-foot parking lot across from the Gogebic Medical Care Facility.

The action came in response to two letters dated July 25, one from Mark Ahonen, director of maintenance and service support at GMCF, and one from site contractor Paul Luppino, who is president of Angelo Luppino, Inc. in Iron Belt, Wis.

“This lot will be located directly to the northwest of the facility, across North Street from the current front facility parking lot,” wrote Ahonen, who was requesting a site plan review.

Luppino added in his own letter, “This property was originally wooded, and a perimeter of trees will be left to serve as a buffer from any nuisance that may be created within the site (i.e., dust, noise, fumes, lights) and to preserve the natural aesthetic that exists in the area.”

Luppino added that the new project “will not impede traffic or walkways, and will not affect any drainage patterns that have been established.”

According to Ahonen, the lot should hold approximately 40 vehicles, and it will include three security light fixtures. Paving is expected this month.

“I did go up there twice to review it on my own, and I didn’t see a problem at all,” said commission member Marco Movrich during a related public hearing before the vote.

In other news, board members also voted to recommend that the city council change the zoning classification from “open” to “rural residential” for property owned by Rod and Julann Ritter at 610 Plymouth Mine Road.

In a July 5 letter to the commission, the Ritters noted that, although their current open zoning does not explicitly prohibit a family dwelling that is not associated with a farm, they wished “to eliminate any doubt” by changing the classification to residential.

A related public hearing drew no complaints, and commissioners voted unanimously to approve the switch.

Change being sought in site review process

The commission also voted to recommend to the city council a change in how the commission addresses administrative site reviews.

Currently, said city manager Rob Brown after the meeting, the city requires multiple steps in the process, including a 33-component review, legal advice, formal inspection, public hearings and final approval by the planning commission.

According to Brown, the commission must honor this entire process if the site plan being considered will have five or more parking spots.

In accordance with action taken by other cities, Brown suggested a procedural change to allow him to take responsibility for reviews involving a smaller size or cost, while retaining the multi-step process for larger projects.

Finally, the commission agreed to have a special meeting on Sept. 12 at 5 p.m. to discuss a neighborhood complaint from Mike Sibley.

The commission voted to change its next regular meeting date from Sept. 2 to Sept. 4 at 5:30 p.m.to avoid meeting on Labor Day.

Both meetings will be in the council room of the municipal building, and the public is welcome.