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Houghton County Board approves Brownfield Plan for Hamlin Apartments and retail rebuild after public hearing
Summary
After a public hearing March 10, the Houghton County Board of Commissioners approved Resolution #26-03 adopting a Brownfield Plan for the Hamlin Apartments and Retail Rebuild in South Range and Adams Township; commissioners cited workforce housing and expected private investment while a local business owner pressed for a boundary survey.
The Houghton County Board of Commissioners voted March 10 to approve Resolution #26-03, adopting a Brownfield Plan for the Hamlin Apartments and Retail Rebuild in the Village of South Range and Adams Township.
The action followed a public hearing at which Jeff Ratcliffe described the resolution as a cleanup plan approved by the county Brownfield Authority. Tom Curran, owner of South Range Pub, said the project consultant had “drew the lines incorrectly” and requested a hard land survey, adding that “quite a bit is done” on the project. Mac, the consultant, acknowledged the drawing error and said the Brownfield applies only to the Hamlin parcel. Mac gave the board an estimate of the tax capture, stating it was $136,000, described as 10 years in taxes that will be captured over 15 years.
The board’s resolution cites the Michigan Brownfield Redevelopment Financing Act (Act 381) and states the plan meets statutory Brownfield Plan requirements, including a description of eligible activities, an estimate of captured taxable value, a financing method and an assessment of impacts on taxing jurisdictions. The resolution notes concurrence from the Houghton County Brownfield Redevelopment Authority and conditional concurrence from the Village of South Range and Adams Township.
Commissioner Gretchen Janssen moved to approve the resolution; Commissioner Joel Keranen seconded. The motion carried by recorded voice vote (YES: Janssen, Keranen, Britz 3; NO: 0; ABSENT: Tikkanen, Anderson 2). The resolution was certified by County Clerk Jennifer Kelly.
Why it matters: the board’s approval allows tax increment financing limited to eligible activities identified in the Brownfield Plan and is intended to support workforce housing and spur private investment in the South Range area. Local stakeholders raised concerns about parcel boundaries and requested a formal survey; the consultant said he would revise the map and invited submission of existing surveys.
The clerk’s certification concludes the county’s action; the resolution text also specifies required disclosures and the statutory findings required under Act 381.
