Commission adopts tax-abatement requests, replaces sign code; refers rental-housing and pollinator proposals for further work

The Bay City Commission voted on a package of development and administrative items on July 7, approving an industrial facilities tax-exemption application, two obsolete-property rehabilitation requests and a full replacement of the city sign code, and taking separate actions or referrals on other resolutions.

Special orders approved

The commission approved an industrial facilities tax-exemption certificate for Straits Wood Treating Inc., covering $300,000 in eligible investment at 4804 East Wilder Road. The motion to approve passed on a roll call vote. Commission discussion included a short presentation by a company representative who said the project is an additional warehouse and that the firm expects some of the new positions to become permanent; the representative described the application as a one-time filing for that expansion.

The commission also approved two related items for 201 South Lynn Street from Hawthorne Realty LLC: an amendment to the obsolete property rehabilitation district and a separate 12-year obsolete property rehabilitation exemption certificate. Commissioners praised the planned reuse of the Arlington Hotel and local historic preservation benefits during brief discussion.

The commission adopted a city-initiated ordinance to repeal and replace Chapter 85 (Signs) of the Bay City Code of Ordinances in its entirety.…