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News from the Keweenaw Peninsula July 23, 2007  Updated: July 23, 2007 Text  © 2007 Michele Anderson. Photos © 2007 Michele Anderson and Gustavo Bourdieu, as indicated.

Hancock Council hears public opposition to proposed land sale 

By Michele Anderson

HANCOCK -- Hancock City Council members recently listened to several local residents express opposition to a proposed land sale of City-owned waterfront property on Swedetown Creek and Portage Lake.

At a public hearing on July 18, citizens' comments were unanimous in asking the Council to reconsider plans to sell Government Lot #5, immediately east of Swedetown Creek along Highway 203.* 

Former Hancock City Councilwoman Mary Tuisku said she had recently had a ride on the Keweenaw Star, during which Swedetown Creek was one of the elements of the City of Hancock pointed out to everyone on the boat.

"Swedetown Creek is very, very much a part of the City of Hancock," Tuisku said. "It's part of our heritage. It's one of the things that makes Hancock unique."

Former Hancock City Councilwoman Mary Tuisku addresses the Hancock City Council during a public hearing on July 18, 2007 in the City Hall Council Chambers. Tuisku expressed opposition to the proposed sale of land near Swedetown Creek. Council members pictured are Bill Laitila, mayor pro-tem, and James Hainault, councilman at large. (Photo © 2007 Michele Anderson)

"I think one of the things you have to consider is that once the land is sold, it's gone forever," Tuisku said. "Our children, grandchildren, great grandchildren will be deprived of some of the fun things that my kids and your kids are experiencing and have experienced down at Swedetown Creek."

City Manager Glenn Anderson explained options for possible sale of three or four parcels immediately east of Swedetown Creek and near a recreational spot used as a boat launch at the place where the creek empties into the Portage. One parcel has frontage on the creek, and two have frontage on the Portage. The smallest parcel is only .11 acre with 18.52 ft. of M203 frontage and 25.51 ft. of Portage frontage and has a building belonging to a contiguous landowner.

This photo shows part of Swedetown Creek from the east side, south of highway M-203, part of Government Lot #5, which the City of Hancock is considering selling. Portage Lake is in the background, to the right. (Photo © 2007 Gustavo Bourdieu)

Tuisku said she was not opposed to the Council selling the small parcel to the contiguous owner, nor to the City's second proposal -- to sell the former Department of Public Works (DPW) property at the foot of Birch Street.

"We are not proposing selling anything on the west side of Swedetown Creek that we own, that the DNR has historically used as a boat launch, even though there are no boat launch facilities there," Anderson said.

The State of Michigan had leased the boat launch area in the past. The city has no current development plans for that but could add improvements in the future, Anderson noted, possibly to include some shallow boat launches. 

This photo shows an area on the west side of Swedetown Creek, on Portage Lake, where the public has access for launching small boats, fishing, etc. The City of Hancock also owns this property and does not have plans to sell it at present. (Photo © 2007 Gustavo Bourdieu)

Tuisku recommended the Council send the Swedetown proposal back to the Planning Commission and the Recreation Commission to determine a way to put both the Creek property and the boat launch property into a protective-type category that would assure the property will be there for hundreds of years to come. 

"I would suggest that you take a look at the big picture. I've been a part of councils in the past, when we made some wonderful decisions and we made some very poor decisions," Tuisku added. "Don't let the short-term gain deprive citizens of access to that gem of our waterfront."

Susan Burack, Hancock resident and member of the Houghton County Planning Commission, said she agreed completely with Tuisku.

"I've been working for the past several years with community groups; and universally, 100%, people love living in Hancock; and their first request is a walkable city with access to the waterfront," Burack said. "And we don't have a long-term plan or a long-term vision for the city."

Hancock resident Ann Pace submitted a written statement to the Council and also addressed them on the importance of looking at both the short-term gain and the long-term costs of selling the Swedetown Creek property.

Hancock resident Ann Pace addresses the Hancock City Council at the July 18 public hearing on proposals to sell city-owned waterfront properties. Pace emphasized the long-term economic effect on the city as a whole if the land sales remove public access to waterfront. (Photo © 2007 Michele Anderson)

"I think it's very easy to get caught up in the return to the city from the sale of property and from the increased tax revenue that comes as a result of development," Pace said. "And I think what's much more difficult to assess is the cost -- the pure economic cost -- of diminishing the quality of life in the community as a result of selling such properties."

Pace pointed out that it's not difficult to find communities that have made massive and expensive efforts to improve walkability, access to waterfront, etc., in order to increase the incremental value of properties in the city as a whole.

"Those properties that are not on the waterfront have diminished value because there is not public access to the waterfront," Pace noted.

Allyson Jabusch of Hancock requested the Council table the vote and send the proposal back to the Planning Commission.

"I'm here to ask the Council to instruct the Planning Commission to hold another public hearing -- at least on the sale of Government. Lot #5 -- a real hearing so that citizens and taxpayers can participate in the planning," Jabusch said.

During the July 18 public hearing, preceding the Hancock City Council meeting, Allyson Jabusch, standing at the podium, requests that the Council table the vote on Government Lot #5 near Swedetown Creek and instruct the Planning Commission to hold another public hearing.  (Photo © 2007 Michele Anderson)

Jabusch said the public needs to hear and understand what is being planned and why.

Hancock resident Merle Kindred mentioned the new condominiums built on former City of Hancock property near the Portage Lift Bridge in conjunction with her opposition to the City's present land sale proposal.

"I was out of the country for several months. this winter, and I returned in mid-March and was shocked at what I saw," Kindred said in her comments to the Council. "And I'm shocked at the rapidity of this decision to sell this lot at Swedetown Creek."

Merle Kindred of Hancock, standing, addresses the City Council during the July 18 public hearing. Kindred expressed her shock at the new condominiums built on former City of Hancock property near the Portage Lift Bridge in conjunction with her opposition to the City's present land sale proposal at Swedetown Creek. (Photo © 2007 Michele Anderson)

Noting criticism of the condominiums near the bridge, Kindred said, "The people who move in there will pay a lot of money for that view, but the view has been stolen from all the rest of us."

Kindred told the Council she supports idea of looking for the long-term -- the future of the community -- not the short-term gain.

Pat Toczydlowski of Osceola Township said she sends her children to Hancock schools through the Schools of Choice program. 

"I agree strongly with all the comments that have been brought forward," Toczydlowski said. "The city should take pride in its schools, should take pride in its natural resources." 

She pointed out that other local communities have school forests as part of their science curriculum, that Hancock Schools have extremely talented science personnel and that the Swedetown property, with its beautiful river, is "a perfect outdoor classroom."

Toczydlowski noted Hancock is losing students by Schools of Choice to other schools that have such programs.

"I agree with Mary Tuisku that it should be given permanent protection," Toczydlowski added. "I really think that Swedetown Creek belongs in the public domain."

Paul Nelson, a resident of Anthony Street in Hancock, said one of his concerns was that the value of the lot on the east, should the City sell it, would diminish even if the City keeps the lot on the west of Swedetown Creek. Once the new landowner cuts down trees and brush, the public using the boat launch area west of the creek could disturb that landowner by walking near his/her house. Likewise, having private property just opposite the public access spot would destroy the value of that recreational land for those who use it.

Hancock resident Paul Nelson asks City Council members to consider reasons for not selling the property at Swedetown Creek (Photo © 2007 Michele Anderson)

"I live there at Swedetown Creek," Nelson said. "I either ride my bicycle or walk past it almost every evening. I really urge you not to sell it."

Evan McDonald, executive director of the Keweenaw Land Trust (KLT), addressed the Council on behalf of the members of his organization, a local group that works to protect land resources and natural resources associated with land, including culture, aesthetics, habitat and recreational opportunities. He said KLT membership includes several dozen members in the City of Hancock.***

McDonald said the public needs more time to hear what is proposed and to understand the choices. He noted he was curious about the criteria the Recreation Commission uses for establishing priorities for the city's recreation plan and about the criteria  and process the Planning Commission uses to consider types of appropriate land uses, including public access.

Evan McDonald, executive director of the Keweenaw Land Trust (KLT), addresses the Council on behalf of the members of KLT, a local group that works to protect land resources and natural resources associated with land. (Photo © 2007 Michele Anderson)

"If there isn't a clear process in place, it's hard for the public to evaluate and understand the choices before them and the decisions that are made," McDonald said. "The KLT often partners with units of government. We would be willing to work with the City of Hancock to explore possibilities for land use planning."

With little discussion, Council members voted during their meeting to table the vote on the proposed sale of Government Lot 5 at Swedetown Creek and to send the proposal back to the City of Hancock Planning Commission, who have included it on their agenda for the meeting at 6 p.m. Monday, July 23, in the City Hall Council Chambers.

Lisa McKenzie, councilwoman at large, said she hadn't heard a single person speak in favor of selling the Swedetown Creek property.

Mikaela Nylander, second from left, mayor of Porvoo, Finland, Hancock's sister city, speaks to City Council members about local government in Finland and some differences from Hancock's. Lisa McKenzie, right, councilwoman at large, supported listening to the public comments and sending the Swedetown land sale proposal back to the Planning Commission. Also pictured are Karen Haischer, left, clerk, and Sarah Baratono, councilwoman for Ward II. (Photo © 2007 Michele Anderson)

"I think we need to listen to our citizens," she said.

The Council discussed briefly and approved (with a unanimous vote) options to sell four waterfront lots at the former DPW site. (No one spoke against this sale during the hearing.)

Mikaela Nylander, mayor of Porvoo, Finland, Hancock's sister city, said she was impressed by the fact that in Hancock the public is present when there is a proposal for a decision.

Nylander and Porvoo City Manager Marcus Henricson were welcomed to the meeting as part of their official visit to Hancock.**

 

Editor's notes: * See the Public Notice for the hearing with a description of the properties and tentative prices.  ** See photo of the City Council members with the two Finnish visitors on Keweenaw Now's July Happenings page. *** Update (correction): We regret an error in this quote earlier. KLT has several hundred households in its total membership, of which several dozen members are in Hancock.  Gustavo Bourdieu is a photographer for Keweenaw Now. Visit Keweenaw Now's new blog: www.keweenawnow.blogspot.com to comment on this article or to express your views.