Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
By P.J. GLISSON
Wakefield — After an extended discussion and a rescinded motion, the Wakefield Planning Commission voted Tuesday to grant a garage variance to Ken and Amy Libertoski at 1118 Charles Street.
The unanimous vote, which allows the couple to build a garage before a house, included an attached bond that will require the Libertoskis to pay $4,999 if they do not also build a house on the same property within four years.
“We plan to retire in two to four years,” said Ken Libertoski, who was present by phone at the virtual meeting, along with his wife. The couple currently resides in Weston, Wisconsin.
Libertoski said they hope to have a 26- x 30-foot garage constructed at the back of the property before winter, followed by gradual house construction.
The first commission vote on the same subject passed with City Manager Rob Brown casting the sole dissenting vote. That vote did not include the bond.
“Variances generally are intended for extreme situations,” said Brown. He added that when they are granted too easily, “It’s no longer an exception to the rule. It’s become the rule.”
Commissioner Marsha Vestich asked what happens in cases where landowners do not build a house as promised. “Are we stuck with the garage on the property then?” she asked.
“We kind of are,” said Brown, who explained that the city could tear it down, but that removing a “perfectly good building” would result in being a public relations “nightmare.”
“That doesn’t make sense,” said Co-Chair Robert Lane. “I’m totally against that.”
Mayor Dale White said there have been many times in the past that the city has granted garage variances to people who followed through with building a house, as promised.
On the other hand, he said, “There’re been many times we’ve been burned.” He noted that, in those cases, people received permission to build the garage first and then never built the house.
White and Vestich both vouched for the integrity of the Libertoskis, but the mayor did agree with the city manager that the issue at large should be addressed.
“I want to see more people move here, but I don’t want to see us taken advantage of either,” said White.
“Once we’re done with this, we really should look at the (related) ordinance,” said Brown, who suggested that it might help to require landowners to submit a site plan of the envisioned house to prove their intent.
Brown explained that attaching the bond to the variance acts as a “punishment” to landowners who fail to build a house. He said bond rules allow the city to dictate any sum up to $5,000.
Lane suggested increased taxes might serve as a more effective deterrent for people who don’t build a house as planned. He said that persons with higher incomes might not see a bond in the range of $5,000 as a problem.
In other news, Brown also informed commissioners that they are required to provide an annual report to the Wakefield City Council regarding all commission activities over the past year. He said the report can be submitted to the council in October, after which it will be forwarded to the state.
Brown also reported that a current land owner is negotiating with an out-of-town buyer to sell property in the Plymouth location. According to Brown, the new buyer is interested in creating a trailer park that also would include some manufactured housing.
If plans progress, Brown said the residential zoning there would need to be changed to commercial. Under encouragement from commissioners, Brown said he will request the prospective owner to provide a site plan.
Brown also reported that remediation of the collapsed building on Wakefield’s main street is still in progress. If property owners sign it over to the city, he said the city will remove it and sell the land. If progress stalls, he said the city will pursue court action to address the matter before winter.
The commission’s next regular meeting will be on Oct. 13 at 5:30 p.m. Persons wishing to attend the virtual session should check the city’s Facebook page or call the municipal building at 906-229-5131 for the entry code.
