Council seeks changes
regarding public hearings
By Kathy McCarty
Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE — City Council has instructed City Manager Jim Bennett to take the necessary steps to place the amendment language to the City Charter on the ballot for Nov. 5, based on recommended changes proposed by the Planning and Development Department.
Ken Arndt, the city’s planning and development director, recommended changes to the charter to reduce the number of public hearings from two to one, thereby following the philosophy of the city to be a “Business Friendly Community.”
“In many instances, businesses need to endure four hearings, lapsing over four months, in order to get approval to start breaking ground. We have received negative feedback from the business community with this process,” said Deputy City Manager Martin Puckett, in a memo to councilors.
City Manager Jim Bennett said following Council’s Sept. 4 decision to place the matter on the November ballot, the final decision will now be in the hands of voters.
“The ballot will go to the voters to change the charter,” said Bennett.
“This is really about being able to do business” in a more timely manner, said Bennett.
The city manager said this will speed up the process for businesses interested in establishing a presence in the community.
“If we have a project that makes sense in the community — someone able to build or develop here — this will cut down on zoning/permitting time. This means creating more businesses to help pay taxes and create jobs,” said Bennett
