Proposed housing project draws ire of some Presque Isle residents

PRESQUE ISLE -- A proposed housing project in Presque Isle Township has caused a ruckus among residents.

Four developers, including Rick Kurkechian who sits on the planning commission and the zoning board of appeals, intend to build condominiums.

If the project gets the green light, eight buildings will be built with two housing units in them each. Construction could begin this summer and the first units could be occupied in a year to 18 months afterward, officials say.

The total amount of property impacted is about seven acres, Kurkechian said.

A public hearing will be held at the township's planning commission meeting tonight. It is expected some residents will voice their concerns and urge the project to shut down, while others may speak in support of the development. The commission could vote to allow the developers to move forward with the project, shut it down or alter plans further.

The planning commission only makes a recommendation to the township board of trustees, which has final say on the matter.

The proposed project has raised the ire of some residents who are firmly against the multi-family units being built. They claim the new housing will take away from the aesthetic and charm of the area.

Lisa Kraft, a year-round Presque Isle resident, said her property butts up against the property where the housing units could be constructed. She said opposition to the plan is large, and she doesn't want the new condos built so close to her home.

"It really is an odd place to build condos, there aren't any amenities around and it is 12 miles to the nearest gas station," she said. "The construction will bring more noise, damage to our roads, and a loss of wildlife. This just feels shady, underhanded, and people have a lot of questions."

Kurkechian said although he is on the planning commission and zoning board, he has always recused himself from conversation on the project, and will do so again when a vote is taken.

Kurkechian said he even asked board chairman Tom Guyer if he should resign because of his involvement on the project, but Guyer told him there are checks and balances in place to avoid a conflict of interest.

"I have never used my position to further this process," Kurkechian said.

The property is zoned appropriately for multiple family homes, so the project should fall within the township's criteria for housing development. The zoning for the property in question was established about 20 years ago, Kurkechian said, before he was involved in local politics.

In fact, he said, the housing project falls within the scope of other long term plans the township has drafted.

"We are following the guidelines of controlled growth and appropriate growth, which fits the township's master plan," Kurkechian said. "We could have added additional units in the space, but we want to maintain the aesthetics of ' in the woods' living."

The meeting is expected to begin at 6 p.m. at the township hall. This meeting is open to the public and public comment is welcome.