City Commission discusses rezoning near Crawford and Broomfield St.
Mount Pleasant City Hall, where City Commission meetings take place, at 320 W. Broadway St. (CM-Life | Ella Miller)
The Mount Pleasant city commission held another work session to discuss the rezoning of five properties located southwest of Crawford and Broomfield at their meeting on Dec. 8.
In previous work sessions, the commission had spent time discussing this topic and the rezoning of the land. The property owner wants to build a private Christian Academy on his parcel. Mount Pleasant residents are not satisfied with plans for a school but would rather see more residential buildings.
“If we decide to rezone it, which is where we are going with this, how do we rezone it so that the city is not fiscally wounded?” said Vice Mayor Maureen Eke.
Members of the commission are divided on the decisions. Some are in favor of rezoning, while some want to dissolve the Planned Residential Development plan altogether.
"There’s always the discussion of like, well, it’s not our job to tell property owners what they can and can’t do with their property ... but my opinion has always been that’s what zoning does," said Mayor Boomer Wingard. "It’s our ability to tell property owners what they can and can’t do with their property."
No definite decision was made at the meeting regarding rezoning or the PRD.
The city commission also voted to make changes to the 2025 operating budget. The changes include a transfer of funds from the general fund to support the city’s self-funded health insurance plan.
The city will end the year with a $7 million balance in the general fund, even with the cost increases to health insurance.
The amount is higher than what had been budgeted previously for the 2025 fiscal year. This is because there was a significant increase in the 2024 budget.
Other amendments to the budget included an increase in funding for future renovations through street funds, along with Partners Empowering All Kids (PEAK).
The commission also discussed changing the language in the City’s Purchasing Manual. The manual had been brought to the commission regarding compliance with the federal government’s mandates on vendor selections.
Members of the commission said they would like to see the manual include union-friendly vendors.
In other events:
- Finance Director Lauren Pavlowski introduced the new full-time communication coordinator, Madison Craven.
- Director of Parks, Recreation and Public Spaces Phil Biscorner introduced the new full-time recreation program and events manager, Mary LaChance. LaChance was not present for the meeting.
- Commissioners discussed a Fire Protection Agreement between the city of Mount Pleasant and Union Township.
