Planning staff rolls out master‑plan survey and signage subcommittee to guide downtown appearance

Planning staff presented a draft 15-question master plan survey designed to collect input on residency, demographics, housing priorities, infrastructure, business signage and open‑ended views about Munising. Staff said the survey will run about one month and aims for roughly 200 responses.

Staff outlined distribution plans: an online SurveyMonkey form posted to the city website and social media, chamber email lists and a paper option (water-bill inserts or City Hall/library copies) for residents without internet access. Commissioners suggested adding a question to identify business owners and to capture employment location so responses can be filtered by resident, employee or non‑resident visitor.

Commissioners debated signage policy and whether to tailor rules by zoning context (downtown pedestrian zones vs. lakefront commercial viewed from cars). Several members proposed adding survey questions that distinguish historic or defunct building signage from active advertising, and recommended forming a three-member Planning Commission subcommittee to work with staff on potential ordinance refinements.

Staff said they would adjust the survey to include business‑owner identification and additional signage questions, and would distribute the draft for final tweaks before launching. The subcommittee will meet with staff to review the ordinance and return recommendations to the full commission.