NILES — Two decisions made by Niles City Council during its Monday evening meeting could help future development in city limits.

The council unanimously approved the creation of a construction board of appeals. It also approved 6-2 the ability for city administrator Ric Huff to negotiate a purchase agreement of a long-vacant city-owned property.

Property could be site of marijuana grow

A property on the corner of Lake and 13th currently filled with trees, shrubs and litter could soon become populated by marijuana leaves.

The 6-2 council decision will allow Huff to negotiate with Niles resident Eugene Leblang on purchasing the property. Leblang hopes to be cleared to grow 1,500 plants with other investors.

Council members Georgia Boggs and Daniel VandenHeede voted “no,” citing the same concerns they had during a Jan. 13 committee of the whole meeting about the property.

Boggs was concerned of odor control and marijuana’s presence in the nearby residential neighborhood. VandenHeede was concerned of a large business being in a neighborhood and the city moving too fast on marijuana business decisions.

Mayor Nick Shelton said that marijuana businesses were legal in the state and the city, that the space was zoned industrial, and that it was close to other businesses within the neighborhood.

He also said that all businesses are required to follow city ordinances, which regulate them. Marijuana businesses have to be inconspicuous, have their production be hidden from public view and have odors contained, per Niles’ ordinances.

Shelton said the possibility of property purchase was great, regardless of the business that could grow out of it.

“It means we are moving forward,” he wrote to Leader Publications. “The parcels on the corner of 13th and Lake have been vacant for years. They are zoned industrial and now people are seeking to utilize the properties to their potential.  Industrialization of properties zoned industrial is a great thing.”

Adjacent to the city parcel, construction of another marijuana grow facility is underway. It is owned by HDS Investments, and it will occupy the space of a former factory parking lot.

Across Lake Street are ball diamonds, created on spaces once owned by industry.

City-based board recreated

The construction board of appeals unanimously approved by Niles City Council members Monday is not new to the city. Late last year, it had existed. Rather, the council recreated it, this time with only members elected to serve by the city.

Previously, the board of appeals was jointly maintained by Niles and Niles Charter Township, with board members representing each municipality.

Niles Township trustees said at a Jan. 7 meeting that the prior board of appeals was combined because it was difficult to fill seats. Previously the board only met when businesses wanted to challenge an official city decision on construction. Thus, the board met only once every few years on average.

Both boards are filled with members that officials from both municipalities expect will rarely meet. Niles’ board members remained the same, while the township’s board members are new.

Utility purchases, resolutions approved

While not directly impactful on economic development, the board also approved a number of purchases and resolutions that could impact the city-owned utilities department and its customers. They included the following:

• A new credit card use policy among city employees that caps such spending at 2.5 percent of total general fund expenditures and requires approval by department heads.

• A new credit card policy that complies with state and federal law and National Automated Clearing House Association rules.

• The replacement of six of the city’s 33 voltage regulators at a cost of $6,468.

• Consultation services to better manage remnant man-made chemicals, called polychlorinated biphenyls, at the cost of $8,200.

• Annual payments and software service support at the cost of $8,485.14 and annual dues to the Michigan Municipal Electric Association at the cost of $14,341.