Charlevoix residents could not decide whether a vacant lot should be turned into housing or a park in this week’s election.
There were two competing proposals on the ballot this week but both received more “no” votes than “yes” votes. T
he empty lot on Stover Avenue, across the street from Ferry Beach Park used to hold the city’s Department of Public Works. It will remain vacant for now until the issue returns to city council, according to Deputy Mayor Aaron Hagen.
“Now it's back in our court, and we have to look at the data, take some time to think through it, probably work with planning and zoning and decide how, what and when we do with the property,” he said.
Some 51% of voters said “no” to develop the property into affordable housing while 57% of voters declined “no” to keep the land as a city park.
Hagen said since there was stronger opposition to the park, the community favored the idea of housing. He and Charlevoix Mayor Lyle Gennett were proponents for the housing initiative.
According to data from the nonprofit Housing North, the growing region of Antrim, Benzie, Charlevoix, Emmet, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, Leelanau, Manistee, Missaukee, and Wexford counties needs around 31,000 new units to keep up with demand.
Charlevoix has an overall housing gap of 2,358 units — more specifically, 730 rental units and 1,628 for-sale units.
“I think there's a need for housing and … I think there's a need for people to understand the need for housing,” Gennett said. “I hope people can understand and try to listen to one another without feeling that they're being lied to, or there's deceit and deception.”
In the weeks leading up to the election, each side criticized the other for spreading misinformation. For example, there was some confusion over how much the park would cost to develop and whether or not the lot was “part of" nearby Ferry Beach already.
Opponents of the housing initiative have said they’re concerned it won’t be affordable and that residents have already said they prefer a park in a community survey.
Sarah Van Horn, president of Charlevoix Area Chamber of Commerce, said she doesn’t think going back to the drawing board is a bad idea.
“I think it helped show the city council what different priorities might be out there. I also think it encourages residents to get involved,” she said. “Making sure they're aware of the housing crisis and balancing community amenities with what we really need.”
Van Horn is also a member of the nonprofit advocacy group, Housing Yes Charlevoix. Its website lists other housing developments including one in Marion Township proposed to be a manufactured home community.
OTHER STRAITS-AREA ELECTION RESULTS:
- Petoskey-area voters decided to grant a $18.1 million bond proposal for security upgrades to the local school district
- Tina DeMoore and Brian Wagner ran unopposed to keep their seats on the Petoskey City Council.
- The city of Harbor Springs declined an option to sell a piece of public land to the highest bidder.
