Mackinac Island planning commissioners approved a commercial corral, sent a lot split request to the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA), and approved a zoning permit for a fence for a horse paddock, and scheduled a public hearing for the proposed lewd business ordinance during a meeting Tuesday, March 9. They also received an update on the city's master plan and on efforts of Hubbard's Annex residents to establish the area as a local historic district.

The meeting was the first this year after lack of business cancelled meetings in January and February.

With final paperwork received, commissioners approved a variance request that was made last summer. The variance was granted to James Chambers for a commercial corral behind his Market Street home. The ZBA had agreed to allow a corral following a public hearing in August, with a stipulation that owners of Chambers Riding Stables supporting the arrangement send a letter of agreement. That requirement now has been met, said Zoning Administrator Dennis Dombroski. The letter was needed based on the zoning ordinance that states commercial corrals may only be allowed as an accessory to commercial stables. Mr. Chambers does not have a commercial stable, but he will be working with Chambers Riding Stables located adjacent to his home.

Supporting the variance were commissioners Michael Straus, Candi Dunnigan, Trish Martin, and Dan Wightman. Commissioner Jim Pettit abstained from the vote, as he is employed by the Chambers family. Absent from the meeting were Chairman Robert Brown and commissioners Lee Finkel, Mary Dufina, and Bruce LaPine.

Business owner Bob Benser requested a lot split. The piece of land fronts both Main Street and Market Street in downtown. Sitting on the Main Street side of the lot is the building that has housed Sarducci's Pizza. On the Market Street side of the property is the Cottage Inn. The lot split would allow the buildings to be sold separately.

Commissioners will send the request to the Zoning Board of Appeals without comment. Ms. Martin was the only dissenting vote, saying she thought the commission should send the request to the ZBA with comments .

The ZBA will take up the request Wednesday, June 2, at 5:30 p.m.

A variance would be needed for the Cottage Inn on Market Street in the historic zoning district, said Mr. Dombroski. That district requires a lot size of 5,000 square feet and the site is 4,689 square feet.

As it stands now, the site is nonconforming, said City Attorney Tom Evashevski, and the requested split does not increase the non-conformity of the property from what it is now.

Mrs. Dunnigan said she is against the split.

“I'm not in favor of it,” she said. “Can I pick a good reason for it, yes. It, again, creates another non-conforming piece of property, ... it just cuts something up again. It's not for anything except probably for sale... It's just too bad to see something else get more chopped up.”

Summer residents Lisa Brock and Peter Pellerito received a zoning permit for a fence on their Hubbard's Annex property for a paddock for their two horses. The horses would be kept there from May through October.

There are no setback requirements, Mr. Dombroski told commissioners. Mr. Straus said he hoped consideration would be taken to allow room to maintain a neighboring hedge.

Contractor Matt Myers said he would build a three-board wood fence divided into two sections to separate the horses when tacking and cleaning. The project is expected to be completed in May.

A new ordinance, titled the Sexually Oriented Business ordinance, defines and regulates lewd businesses and will be discussed at a public hearing at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 13. The ordinance permits such businesses in a commercial district, but since they can’t be within 500 feet of a residential district, a building used as a residence, a church, school, or a governmental building, the ordinance really outlaws such operations from the Island.

A letter to the commission sought comments on the placement of antennas and other equipment on the Chippewa Hotel roof. G2 Consulting Group of Troy, working for Fortune Wireless and AT&T Mobility, requested comments on an upcoming project that would upgrade and replace cellular equipment and antennas there.

The request for comment, however, was premature, said Mr. Dombroski, who had talked with Michael Gasser of Fortune Wireless about the project. Mr. Gasser agreed G2 had jumped ahead of the project schedule and the letter and a notice that ran in The St. Ignace News also seeking comments were too early in the process.

Mr. Dombroski told the commission he discussed the Island's zoning requirements with Mr. Gasser, who has been advised that project plans need to submitted to the Planning Commission and approved before any work can begin at the site.

“The other thing that I'm going to require is a structural evaluation if there are increases in the weight” of the equipment, he said.

Commissioners placed the letter on file for future reference.

The master plan work is moving forward with new consultant Fran Brink, said Kelly Bean, assistant to Mayor Margaret Doud. A few chapter drafts should be available to review by the Master Plan Committee by the first of April.

Work on the Hubbard's Annex plans to establish a local historic district are moving forward, said Mr. Straus, who is a resident there. Committee members have been preparing documents to meet state requirements.

Commissioners approved their 2010 meeting schedule, which will be at 3 p.m. on the second Tuesday of each month, except in September, when the commission will meet the first Tuesday. Also, meetings are held at 4 p.m. from May through September.

The commission next will meet Tuesday, April 13, at 3 p.m. on the second floor of Community Hall.