ESCANABA — A zoning change that could open the area along North 30th Street to commercial marijuana sales will be the main topic on Thursday’s city council agenda.

The change, which has already been approved at the planning commission level, would rezone the parcels adjacent to the North 30th Street corridor from F – Light Manufacturing to E – Commercial. This would bring the zoning in line with both the current use of properties in the area and with the future land use map included in the city’s master plan.

While rezoning properties to be consistent with their use and the city’s future plans is generally considered good zoning — as it reduces the number of nonconforming uses, the need for special land use permits and helps guide new development — the reason the change is being presented now could be controversial. Owners of one of the affected properties reached out to the city prior to the Oct. 13 planning commission meeting with hopes of opening a marijuana dispensary. However, dispensaries are not permitted in light manufacturing districts under the city’s zoning ordinance.

Rather than address the individual property, the planning commission decided to explore rezoning the entirety of the strip.

The change would allow retail stores, restaurants, wholesale businesses, hotels, automotive sales and repair, and car washes to open in the area. It would also allow business to seek special land use permits for things like public garages, repair shops, gas stations, and multi-family dwellings.

Thursday’s meeting marks the first time the council will address the issue. A second reading, public hearing, and possible adoption of the ordinance change is expected to take place at the Jan. 5, 2023 council meeting.

In other business Thursday, the council will

— Get an update on the sale and redevelopment of the former Delta County Jail and Delta County Chamber of Commerce sites.

— Reconsider a previous request to contract with Dombrowski Tree Service for stump grinding services. The council had previously considered the company’s bid for services, but asked the public works department to price equipment to do the work in-house.

— Set the dates for regular city council meetings for 2023.