IRON MOUNTAIN — Iron Mountain could get a new Dunkin’ restaurant after the city council Monday approved a special use permit for a site at 1001 S. Stephenson Ave. at the intersection of East F Street.

Landscaping, new paving, signage and a drive-thru lane all are part of the site plan, according to a proposal from Dairyland Operations LLC of Wisconsin Dells, Wis. The former Ivy Manor Interiors structure will be leveled.

One of the largest coffee and donut shop chains in the world, Dunkin’ has a menu that can include as well sandwiches, wraps, bagels and muffins. A name change from Dunkin’ Donuts to simply Dunkin’ took place in January 2019.

Meeting via Zoom, the council heard from architect Mario Valentini of MRV Architects Inc. of Rolling Meadows, Ill., who said the exterior will feature a windowed storefront, cement board siding and attractive colors.

“They’re sharp-looking buildings,” he said. “We’re looking for a spring start.”

Earlier, Mayor Dale Alessandrini had asked if the council should set a standard on the aesthetics, such as prohibiting a metal building.

After Valentini spoke and referenced a Dunkin’ that recently opened in West Bend, Wis., the mayor said he would have no problem with a similar design in Iron Mountain.

The Iron Mountain Planning Commission had recommended the special use permit.

One issue raised during the commission’s public hearing was the sight line to the east for exiting motorists, as vision is partially obstructed by a retaining wall. Dunkin’ agreed to remove some fence panels on the wall to lower its height, City Manager Jordan Stanchina said.

In other action, the council:

— Adopted an updated Master Plan, completing a process that began in June 2019. The plan is needed to qualify the city as a Redevelopment Ready Community, a Michigan Economic Development Commission program designed to help attract investment. It was prepared with the aid of Beckett and Raeder of Ann Arbor and MEDC covered half the $39,000 cost. With city and public input, Beckett and Raeder prepared a document covering topics such as land use, recreation, transportation, the housing market and the economy. “It’s a good document to have on the (city’s) website,” Stanchina said.

— Authorized an application for an estimated grant of $238,000 to perform an inventory of water assets and create a detailed GIS-based map. Coleman Engineering Co. of Iron Mountain will assist in applying for the MI Clean Water Plan funds through the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Environment. The geographic information system mapping will serve many purposes, including identifying all components of the water system and their exact locations in the ground, Stanchina said.

— Agreed to seek bids to replace a boiler at the Department of Public Works. The roughly $60,000 project will include two 400,000 BTU boilers, pumps and drives, controls and piping modifications. Only one of the two boilers original to the 1993 building still works. Also, the block that holds water for the heat exchanger recently cracked, with an estimated repair cost of $20,000. Rather than doing the repair, replacing the inoperative unit with two smaller boilers will provide more flexibility in heating the building, significantly reducing utility costs, said Scott Thomas, DPW supervisor.

— Recognized the 100-year anniversary in January 2021 of the Iron Mountain-Kingsford branch of the American Association of University Women, the first branch to form in the Upper Peninsula. AAUW, founded in 1881, is a non-profit organization that advances equity for women and girls through advocacy, education, and research.