ESCANABA — The Escanaba City Council unanimously approved a request to hold a second reading, public hearing and potentially adopt the “Light Manufacturing Zoning District Ordinance of 2024,” which would change the boundaries of a light manufacturing district already in the city.

The proposed expanded zoning includes land north of 9th Avenue and east of North 30th Street in the area including Fastenal, bordered by the rail road track to the east. The area would be classified as Light Manufacturing F and would encompass 20 acres from the surrounding area currently classified as Heavy Manufacturing G and 40 acres from and area designated as Commercial E.

City Manager James McNeil told the council that the proposed plan is good zoning practice and aligns with the city’s master plan.

He said the proposal started when one property on North 30th Street, just north of 9th Avenue, which is currently designated as Heavy Manufacturing G, began exploring the possibility of a car wash as well as other developments.

“It’s come upon on us really quickly in the last couple weeks of a potential development between 6th Avenue and 9th Avenue and looking at the proposed use, it very clearly fits into F. (It) certainly would be a use that we believe would create quiet a few jobs, we feel it could be north of 100 jobs altogether,” McNeil said.

He added that the proposal will have to go through other steps including EGLE approval and a site plan proposal.

“I feel pretty confident that with this rezoning we will be a very likely location of some development,” he said.

The council unanimously approved the request to schedule a second reading, public hearing and potential adoption of the request.

In other business the council

≤ Approved the retention of the services of Master Electric in Escanaba for the grounding and bonding of water service lines in an amount not to exceed $43,400.

≤ Approved the purchase of equipment needed with regard to the city’s wastewater plant sodium hypochlorite transition from gas to liquid in an amount of $70,000 with a $15,000 contingency fund.