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April 3, 2004Planners set to pan plantPermit's denial not guaranteedByRecord-Eagle staff writer MANISTEE - The city planning commission is prepared to say no to a proposed coal-burning power plant, citing potential environmental and economic impacts. "We directed our staff to draft a resolution to deny the (special use) permit," commission chair Roger Yoder said of Thursday night's 7-1 vote. The decision follows 17 hours of public debate at numerous meetings on the Manistee Saltworks/Tondu Corp. proposal to build Northern Lights, a 425-megawatt facility on the shores of Manistee Lake. Hundreds of people gathered at the various public meetings in recent weeks to speak for or against the multi-million dollar project. Yoder said denial isn't guaranteed. Planners will review the document at a meeting scheduled for 7 p.m. April 15 at Manistee Middle School. They could make a final decision, or postpone it until May 6 if Tondu wants to address some of their concerns. "It depends on how far (Tondu) wants to stretch it," Yoder said. "They know what our reasons are." Planners found many "unacceptable" issues with the proposal, he added, including questions over mercury emissions and the economic impact the plant could have on a city that has marketed itself as a tourist destination and retirement community. Tondu spokeswoman Meagan Bobier Kempf said the company hopes to reach a compromise, though it stands by the plan as submitted. "It's a great project for Manistee, for the state of Michigan," she added. "We certainly encourage the planning commission, if they have questions, to ask those questions." Another concern for planners is the chance the plant might be exempt from local property taxes if it's developed as a municipally owned facility. City officials recently rejected Tondu's proposed annual community services fee offer of more than $2 million. Kempf said she did not know if negotiations are continuing. Project opponents, like Fred LaPoint, hope the decision sticks. "I'm holding my breath with nervous anticipation," he said. "I think it has finally begun to sink in with the city and planning commission that the project has been flawed from the very beginning."
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