Property plan on the table
Property plan on the table
By SCOTT SWANSON, Journal Staff Writer
MARQUETTE — The Marquette City Commission tonight will consider a resolution outlining what the city plans to do with the nearly 2,400 acres of property it purchased from Heartwood Forestland last year.
The resolution may also assist the city in challenging Marquette Township’s decision to designate city-owned land within township boundaries as commercial for taxation purposes.
The commission meets at 7 p.m. in commission chambers in city hall.
“I think this is the first step to clearly defining a plan for the use of the land,” Commissioner Mike Coyne said this morning. “It’s focusing on what I think the intent of the purchase was, and I think we need to clearly state that so we can move on and not just have it sit there with no idea what to do.”
The commission, in a unanimous vote, purchased 2,372 acres of land from Heartwood Forestland for $5 million last March. The land is located within the city of Marquette, as well as in Sands and Marquette townships.
Through brochures and public statements, city officials have said that they planned to preserve the majority of the land for recreational purposes. However, no official action outlining that intent has been taken, according to City Manager Judy Akkala.
Last year, the city received a tax bill from Marquette Township for the land within the township’s boundaries. The township has designated the land as commercial property.
The city has challenged the designation, which will go before the Michigan Tax Tribunal.
“We’ve challenged it and I think (the resolution) will clarify what the purpose of the land is for both parties,” Coyne said.
Marquette Township Manager Randy Girard this morning said the city had a right to challenge the township’s decision, but that the property was being treated no different than any other property in the township.
“It’s on the tax roll,” Girard said. “It’s been removed from the commercial forest reserve and it’s owned by the city. It’s just like any other property in the township that changes hands — it goes on the tax roll.”
According to the resolution, the original intent for the property includes “preservation of the most environmentally fragile property; ... recreational opportunities such as angling, biking, hiking, skiing and others that may be identified through upcoming planning efforts; (and) development opportunities of up to 350 acres located within the incorporated City boundaries may be available for residential and commercial use.”
The city “desires a well designed use and protection plan” for the property that will be developed with input from several sources, including the townships, conservation groups, the Noquemanon Trail Network, Trout Unlimited, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and others, the resolution says.
The city also plans to hold public forums to gather input regarding the property.
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