As the need for housing continues to be a point of discussion for communities in Leelanau County, the Village of Northport is also in talks of how to move forward with a joint housing task force and publicly-owned property inventory.
Northport Village Council President Chris McCann shared with the board at its regular meeting on May 15 that the planning commission was looking into forming an inventory of publicly-owned properties. McCann explained how the planning commission, as appointees, review properties and zoning, while the council represents the constituents. Like in the case of the village’s 7th Street property, he said this would be an opportunity for the planning commission to give an objective view of all villageowned properties that’s criteria- based.
“The next steps would be in determining who the members of the housing commission will be,” McCann said at the meeting. “One of the big things was (having) people that are willing to champion this and have the time to devote because there will be work that goes into this.”
Village trustee and planning commission member Laura Cavendish said while the joint housing task force and its members are still being figured out, this would be an opportunity to continue making progress on the issue.
“We don’t want to do something that we aren’t charged to do, but I think it could be really helpful,” Cavendish said. “For my proposal, we weren’t necessarily ranking them, it’s more just outlining them (properties). My thought process was taking all of the public discourse and the different conversations that are happening and pulling it together in a public meeting so that people can see what’s being decided and what we’re saying.”
Trustee Susan Ager also agreed that it would be helpful for the planning commission, if they have the time and people dedicated to do it, to begin gathering a list of potential publicly owned properties.
“I see this inventory as research and if the planning commission wants to do it and has people who have the time to do it swiftly, I say go ahead,” Ager said. “This can be a document for the housing commission or whoever.”
Concern from trustee Will Harper about whether planners would have enough time to tackle the inventory list rather than a housing task force was also brought to the board’s attention.
“I think it’s imperative that we form this commission as soon as possible… Another thing on the planning commission’s docket is not going to be the best way to get this done,” he said.
Northport planning commission member Hugh Scott was in attendance at the meeting and shared his thoughts on the issue as well, explaining how it would be best if the township and village could evaluate properties using the same criteria and process.
“I think if there was ever a time for the village and the township to cooperate on something, this is it,” Scott said. “This process needs to be thoughtful and comprehensive… The best way in my opinion to do that is through a housing commission that takes people from both the village and township and lets them work on it.”
Although the council took no action on the issue, they did give Cavendish the OK to go back to the planning commission to discuss the inventory and property rubric at its next meeting.
