After nearly three decades of deliberation, Hancock City Council approved a resolution to begin the developing process to improve access to city-owned waterfront property on Navy Street.
In the 1990s, several Navy Street residents approved providing the city an easement to improve public access to the waterfront and utility lines. The project would also provide access to two sites owned by local developers.
City Manager Mary Babcock explained the process requires a public hearing because a part of the project will involve changing an easement on one developer’s property. “You would have to have a public hearing for Taylor to move forward because of the easement change, because we’re taking the high easement on his property, which is relatively hard for people to use and trying to lower that to create a walking path,” Babcock said.
The city plans to construct a small road connection with a walking path behind the Portage Lake Condominium Association.
Residents have voiced concerns about the project, but Councilor Mandy Lounibos assured the public the city will thoroughly evaluate any potential issues. “Concerns and fears aren’t necessarily facts. If there’s evidence that this is unsafe or environmentally unsound, we have the ability to not approve it,” Lounibos said.
Councilor Laura Givens noted the project will include multiple checkpoints for public input. “This does then once everything goes through, has to come to a public hearing,” Givens said.
The city council assured residents it does not intend to harm properties or property values through the waterfront access improvements.
