Busses could roll into a new St. Ignace bus station as early as May 2009. The $1.3 million depot, to be built on the corner of US-2 and Church Street, is moving forward again, and Tuesday, July 15, the St. Ignace Planning Commission reviewed the site plan and building configuration.

Electric and other engineering drawings are being completed and bids should be let later this month, with construction to begin as early as September, said City Manager Eric Dodson.

The site plan meets all city zoning requirements, including setbacks for the 3,152-square-foot building. The structure will have about 268 feet of frontage on Church Street with a depth of 366 feet. The public area of the building will include a lobby, ticket office, and restrooms. The rest of the structure includes an office, a common area and sleeping rooms for drivers, restrooms, kitchen, laundry area, freight room, and storage, said Mr. Dodson.

The building also includes security cameras and a heated waiting area for passengers when the building is closed.

"We believe this is a building that fits," said Mr. Dodson, "and also a nice welcome gateway as you come off the [Mackinac] bridge. This is a compromise with functionality, beauty, and low maintenance."

Busses will be able to loop through the terminal lot, so backing up, with its attendant noise and safety issues, won't be necessary. Plans also provide a canopy under which two busses can be parked overnight, with engine block heaters that will allow the engines to be turned off, reducing noise and exhaust emissions.

The driveways to the building will be on Church Street, said Mr. Dodson. The city had proposed they be moved to US-2, but state transportation planners have said doing so would create hazards for the faster traffic on the highway.

In response to Planning Commission Chairman Art Underwood's concern about potential accidents at the intersection, Mr. Dodson said the state transportation department may address such issues when it upgrades US-2 from Church Street to the Y intersection at South State Street, a project now planned for 2010.

Attending the meeting to outline the site plan for the planning commission were two architects from DLZ, the Lansing firm designing the facility, Anthony Bair, the senior project architect, and Scott Lauenthal.

Indian Trails will operate the facility under a 20-year lease with the City of St. Ignace. The city purchased the 1.098 acre parcel for $300,000 from the First National Bank of St. Ignace. That purchase and the rest of the project is funded by state and federal grants. The project is being coordinated by the Michigan Department of Trans-portation.

Wastewater Treatment

Plant Work

Also scheduled to begin this fall is the first phase of the wastewater improvement project, which has been ordered by the Department of Environmental Quality and has to be completed by November 2009.

Expected to cost $3.7 million, Phase 1 includes improvements to the wastewater treatment plant, force main replacements, and replacement of the North State Street lift station. At the lagoons, an ultraviolet disinfection system and screening equipment will be added, and liners will be replaced in five of six ponds, said Les Therrian, director of the Department of Public Works.

The work, which is mostly mechanical, will be funded by a 20- year loan from the Michigan Clean Water State Revolving Fund. A $300,000 grant paid for the design and planning of the project.

Phase II, a $2.7 million project, is scheduled to begin next year, and Mr. Therrian is seeking funding. The project includes replacement of the sewer main on Portage Road. Residential rates will be affected, depending on funding, although Mr. Therrian said he expects the rate increase to be minimal.

Off-Premise Sign Permit Issued

In other business, the commission granted an off-premise sign for St. Ignatius Loyola Catholic Church following a public hearing on the request. The 20-square-foot sign, standing about eight feet tall, will be placed on the corner of East Spring and South State streets. The property is owned by Michele and Wayne Pemble of St. Ignace.

The two-sided sign, said Father Al Mott, would be placed approximately eight feet from the edge of the sidewalk and direct visitors to the church one block to the west.

Property owners within 300 feet of the proposed location for the St. Ignatius sign were notified, said Building Inspector Paul Sved, and no one opposed it.

Following the approval of the sign, Mr. Underwood said that when the sign ordinance was approved last year, it did not address church signs. Commissioner Fred Strich volunteered to research the issue to see if an amendment should be added to the ordinance regarding church signs.

The city allows off-premise signs for commercial establishments.