The Escanaba City Council is expected to vote Thursday on rezoning a 5.17-acre property near Willow Creek Road and Third Avenue South from the existing Open Space "O" district to Residential "C" district to allow for building condominiums. Affected parcels are highlighted in yellow. (Courtesy of Escanaba City Council)

ESCANABA – Escanaba City Council on Thursday will have a second reading, public hearing and vote on adopting an ordinance to rezone property near Willow Creek Road and Third Avenue South for a proposed condominium project.

If adopted, Ordinance 1315 would switch the 5.17-acre parcel, formerly owned by the city, from Open Space “O” district to the Residential “C” district. Old State Development LLC purchased the land for $75,000 with plans to develop 25 condominiums.

The first reading of the ordinance took place Nov. 6.

“(It’s) very easy rezoning. The nearby property is ‘C’ multifamily, so it would just be adjusting those lines to include this property, which would make that development an allowed use,” City Manager James McNeil said at that first reading.

If the council chooses to adopt it Thursday, the rezoning would take effect 10 days after its passage and publication.

In other business, the council will:

– Have a first reading of Ordinance 1316, the Electric Rate Ordinance. It will amend city electrical rates, demand and availability of service to residential customers, commercial customers and more. The council also plans to set the date for the second reading, public hearing and adoption for Dec. 18.

– Discuss purchasing solar modules for the Whitetail Solar Farm at the Whitetail Industrial Park on 19th Avenue North in Escanaba. The city’s electric department has received bids from multiple companies, including Peninsula Solar, Mars Energy, Sunsprint and Arch Electric. Gerald Pirkola, the city’s electric utility director, in October also discussed plans with the council to hire Peninsula Solar to install a rooftop solar array on the electric department’s garage.

– Consider setting the regular council meeting schedule for 2026.