Island Moratorium Hardship Case Denied

A request by Betty BeDour to be allowed to connect to the city's sewer line as a hardship case earned a negative recommendation from the Mackinac Island Moratorium Committee, followed by an official denial by City Council, Wednesday, January 16.

Since the 180-day sewer moratorium was put in place in August, three cases have been considered hardships and have been granted a connection to the sewer system.

Ms. BeDour is converting part of a home she owns on Mission Street to an apartment, and it was deemed that her project, unlike those approved, was not in the planning stages before the moratorium went into effect.

An example of a hardship case would be when a property owner, without knowledge that a moratorium would be imposed, made construction commitments and incurred costs before August 1. The BeDour plans were approved by the Zoning Board of Appeals in December.

A court order required one water unit be issued to Len and Sue Webster for their planned Hubbard's Annex home.

Robert Benser received two water units for the construction of two condominiums on Mission Street. Richard Coates was given 4.5 water units for his employee housing addition at Green Shed Lane.

The moratorum could be lifted January 31, if the Mackinac Island City Council accepts a recommendation from the Board of Public Works at its January 30 meeting.