Present view of the Keweenaw Brewing Co. deck. from left, adjoining to the Lakeshore Drive parking deck is paired with a rendering displaying a proposed extension and added decrease deck to be constructed after the parking deck is torn down this yr. The Houghton Planning Fee authorized a website plan for the KBC enhancements Tuesday evening.
HOUGHTON – Reducing the Lakeshore Drive car parking zone will reshape the panorama of what had beforehand been a darkish and underutilized stretch of street.
On Tuesday, the Houghton Planning Fee took its first take a look at how companies would match into the brand new area, unanimously approving a website plan for the Keweenaw Brewing Co. deck addition. at 408 Shelden Ave.
The plan requires constructing a brand new decrease deck on Lakeshore Drive in addition to widening the present deck.
A staircase will join the decrease deck to the higher degree.
“Hopefully that is one in all many initiatives the place, with the deck coming down, individuals will return to the lake over there,” stated Metropolis Supervisor Eric Waara.

Present view of the Keweenaw Brewing Co. deck. from left, adjoining to the Lakeshore Drive parking deck is paired with a rendering displaying a proposed extension and added decrease deck to be constructed after the parking deck is torn down this yr. The Houghton Planning Fee authorized a website plan for the KBC enhancements Tuesday evening.
The planning fee additionally advisable putting a planter or different barrier on the east aspect of the deck. The suggestion got here from a priority expressed by Commissioner Norma Veurink, who feared that individuals strolling from the east with out paying consideration might collide with the raised bridge.
Planning Fee members stated the enhancements can be an asset to downtown.
“I believe it is nice, I believe it is forward-looking” stated Commissioner Dan Liebeau.
Waara stated future plans for town might embrace a downtown social district that will enable companies to promote alcoholic drinks in authorized containers, which might then be consumed throughout the district’s boundaries.
Michigan created the choice for neighborhood districts in 2020. This week, Marquette authorized one that features Third Road and components of 4 different streets; companies in that space can take part.
A pre-bid assembly for the demolition of the bridge was held on Wednesday, with a number of bidders taking part remotely. Provides are due on April 12.
Municipal authorities labored on a parking plan through the venture. It is going to be communicated to the general public through the subsequent month.
“We will unfold this across the web, handouts, below windshield wipers, you identify it.” You stated perpetually.
Waara stated town is planning a simplified long-term parking plan from the 11 forms of parking permits at the moment provided downtown.
Additionally at Tuesday’s assembly, the fee authorized the positioning plan for a 2,000-square-foot growth of the Pepsi warehouse constructing at 309 E. Sharon Ave.
Waara stated town will think about revising the requirements when a full website plan assessment is required. As a substitute, smaller initiatives just like the KBC and Pepsi expansions could be authorized by the zoning administrator, who would report back to the planning fee as soon as a month.