ESCANABA — Plans for a low- to medium-income housing complex that would be located near Meijer moved forward Thursday despite mixed views and a lukewarm reception from residents.

The Bay de Noc Apartments would be a four-story, 70 unit complex located at 500 N. 26th Street, north of Aldi and adjacent to Walmart’s southeast retaining pond. Currently, the location is zoned F – Light Manufacturing, but the city’s master plan has identified the area for future big box retail.

Of the 70 units planned in the $14.5 million project, 26 would be made available to residents and families who make up to 80 percent of the Delta County area medium income ($58,700 for a family of four). For singles in a one bedroom apartment the maximum income would be $43,240, for a family of four in a two-bedroom apartment the maximum income would be $48,800, and for a family of five in a three-bedroom apartment the maximum income would be $52,800.

Residents at the meeting sparred over the very nature of the housing complex. Some felt more income-based housing was unnecessary, while others felt it was needed; some felt more apartments were necessary for aging Baby Boomers shifting to renting in retirement, while others felt the most likely residents for the complex were being unfairly stereotyped; and a few questioned whether the facility was really a fit for the location.

“There is no shortage of low income housing, some want a socialist utopia of the housing market — it’s all nonsense. That project is an unneeded project in the wrong location,” said resident Craig Taylor, who said he had found 10 low income housing facilities in Escanaba and two in Gladstone by doing a simple Google search.

Shannon Taylor, chair of the Hope at the Inn Homeless Shelter and Tri-County Safe Harbor, said the facility would be useful for a number of demographics including veterans on a limited income and victims of domestic violence.

“We have clients in shelter now and we can’t release them because there’s literally nowhere to send them,” said Taylor.

To move the proposed complex forward, the council held the first reading of a change to the zoning for the parcel from light manufacturing to a C-2 — Residential Planned Unit Development district. A public hearing and the vote that could finalize the change was set for the March 19 city council meeting.

The council also voted to approve an ordinance amendment that changes the maximum height of buildings in C-2 districts to 50 feet. The change brings the height in line with other zoning designations and allows the complex, if ultimately approved, to be constructed as a four-story complex.