A common theme in Northern Michigan right now is a shortage of housing, specifically year-round housing and workforce housing. Along with many other municipalities, Charlevoix and Boyne City are navigating this challenge in their own ways. In Charlevoix, city officials are considering zoning changes that would incentivize higher-density, year-round housing options while maintaining the single-family residential character of the area (a tricky tightrope to balance upon). Specific zoning changes include:
- Allow fourplexes in residential zones if all of the housing units are year-round residential.
- Allow duplexes in single family zones when dividing an existing structure and/or making a minimal expansion of an existing structure.
- Allow duplexes in single family zones with new structures designed in harmony with the existing neighboring structures (larger lot requirements may apply).
- Allow taller buildings downtown and in commercial districts if the are designed for year-round residential.
- Create overlay zones near (walkable) centers of employment, downtown, and medical areas.
- Establish live / work zones in under-utilized Industrial Park areas.
- Prohibit any additional short-term rentals of residences in existing residential zones
- Establish minimal rental periods for short-term rental properties in residential districts.
A year-round, multi-family housing redevelopment on May St. - designed to reflect the single-family nature of the neighborhood -
Source:
Annie Doyle | Charlevoix Courier
In nearby Boyne City, city officials have similar priorities. In February 2019, the City Commission approved an amendment to the city's zoning ordinance to remove limitations on the number of stories a building may have, regardless of zoning district (but without changing the maximum height limits). As a result, several denser proposals started to come forward. Woodward Real Estate LLC submitted plans in February 2019 for a 3-story, mixed-use building at the
southeast corner of North and N. Lake Streets (216 N. Lake St.) with 6 residential units. I'm not 100% sure, but it does not appear that this project has started construction.
Elevations of the proposed 3-story development at 216 N. Lake St. -
Source:
Boyne City Planning Commission
A second, larger development - known as "Lofts on Lake Street" - was also submitted around the same time, consisting of a 4-story, mixed-use building at the
southeast corner of State and N. Lake Streets with 48 residential units. This would occupy an L-shaped footprint and take about about 200 ft. along Lake St. The partnering developers - Michigan Community Capital (MCC) and Lansing-based Gillespie Group - ultimately revised the proposal down to 3-stories / 42 units and it was approved unanimously by the Planning Commission in May 2019. Gillespie partnered with Integrated Architecture for the design, which makes references to the existing local architecture. Both sites are situated across the road from Veterans Park and the Lake Charlevoix waterfront. Groundbreaking was initially planned for Fall 2020, but as of May 2020, MCC was
still working to secure additional grant funding, and it was anticipated that this could push into 2021.
February 2019 images of the Lofts on Lake Street, included with the pre-application packet and showing the 4-story option -
Source:
Boyne City Planning Commission
Revised May 2019 images of the pared-down and approved proposal, for a 3-story development -
Source:
Boyne City Planning Commission
News References -
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