Escanaba residents will get their say on a proposed homeless shelter after the City Council scheduled a Thursday, Oct. 1, public hearing on rezoning a former commercial building at 113 S. 10th St.

At its Thursday, Sept. 3, meeting, the council set the second reading, public hearing and potential adoption of Ordinance No. 1328. The measure would rezone the former Bertrand's and Bittner Engineering building from Commercial "E" to Residence "C," allowing Hope on the Horizon to open a transitional shelter there.

The Escanaba Planning Commission unanimously recommended denial of the rezoning request at its Aug. 13 meeting, where more than 50 community members showed up. The commission found a shelter in the commercial district did not align with the city's master plan.

The council moved in a different direction. At the Sept. 3 meeting, nine people spoke during 25 minutes of public comment. Eight supported the rezone. One opposed it.

Logan Triest, owner of an adjacent commercial building, was the lone opponent. "I don't oppose (providing) help, but bringing it into a failing place or struggling place -- it'll 100% be the black eye of downtown," Triest said.

When the rezoning item came up on the agenda, council members set the Oct. 1 hearing date without discussion, according to the Daily Press.

Planning and Zoning Administrator Joseph Walker told the council the property sits within the downtown Tax Increment Financing (TIF) district, on a commercial corridor off Ludington Street. Walker said the rezone would remove "a big chunk of commercial property" from that corridor and called it "not a very good case for a rezone." He noted the city's master plan identified a community need for assistance for people experiencing homelessness and addiction but gave no guidance on where such a facility should go.

Hope on the Horizon's Laurie Kaski-Hammar told the council the organization has a backup plan. She said Hope on the Horizon is also purchasing a house in Zone C, near the intersection of First Avenue South and 15th Street, where a transitional shelter could operate by right without council approval. If the rezone fails, the group would use that house for overnight shelter and keep the 10th Street building for its other services.

Dennis Bittner, former operator of Bittner Engineering and owner of the 10th Street property, spoke in favor of the rezone. He described the building as large, structurally sound and sitting empty with a huge parking area.

The organization has been seeking property for about three years, according to Kaski-Hammar's earlier statements to the planning commission. Hope on the Horizon is still waiting on paperwork to become a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Its planned services include clothing, food, resources, overnight beds and a storefront such as a coffee shop to give residents job experience.

City manager hire advances

Also at the Sept. 3 meeting, the council unanimously approved an employment agreement for Danielle Tiedeman to become Escanaba's next city manager, WZMQ reported. Tiedeman currently serves as village manager of Dimondale, a community in southern Michigan. The city named her as its top candidate in July after several rounds of interviews.

Her hire is contingent on a successful physical and psychological evaluation. City Controller Melissa Becotte has been serving as interim manager since the previous city manager stepped down in May.

The Thursday, Oct. 1, council meeting begins at 7 p.m. at City Hall, 410 Ludington St., and is open to the public.