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TO GET THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MEETING STARTED. OH, WE'RE MISSING ONE.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO GET STARTED YET. OH, I'LL GO GET HER. SHE'S HERE SOMEWHERE. APOLOGIES. I
[1. Resolution Approving a Fireworks Discharge Permit for ER Laser Productions for Special Effects at Van Andel Arena in Connection with the Bring Me The Horizon Tour 2026 on October 8, 2026]
WAS ONE SECOND ON THE DOT. OKAY. ITEM NUMBER ONE THIS MORNING IS A RESOLUTION APPROVING A FIREWORKS DISCHARGE PERMIT FOR AIR LASER PRODUCTS FOR SPECIAL EFFECTS AT VAN ANDEL ARENA IN CONNECTION WITH THE BRING ME THE HORIZON TOUR 2026 ON OCTOBER 8TH, 2026. THE MOTION.SUPPORT. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING. MORNING. ANYTHING TO ADD? NOT REALLY. IT'S STANDARD, I GUESS. SOME HANDHELD STUFF AND MORE FLAMES. AND NORMAL. ALL RIGHT. SEEING NO QUESTIONS.
ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. HAVE A GOOD DAY. THANK YOU. ENJOY THE CONCERT.
[2. Resolution setting October 27, 2026 as the date to consider an ordinance rezoning a portion of 834 Livingston Avenue NE from the SD-OS (Special District–Open Space) Zone District to the TN-LDR (Traditional Neighborhood–Low Density Residential) Zone District.]
ITEM NUMBER TWO IS A RESOLUTION SETTING OCTOBER 27TH, 2026 AS THE DATE TO CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE REZONING A PORTION OF 834 LIVINGSTON AVENUE NORTHEAST FROM SPECIAL DISTRICT, OPEN SPACE ZONE DISTRICT TO THE TO THE TRADITIONAL NEIGHBORHOOD. LOW DENSITY RESIDENTIAL ZONE.DISTRICT SUPPORT WITH THE SUPPORTED. WHO IS. THAT WOULD BE ME. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING. SO THIS SHOULD SEEM SOMEWHAT FAMILIAR IN THAT A COUPLE OF MEETINGS AGO, THE CITY COMMISSION WAS ASKED TO CONSIDER THE SALE OF A PORTION OF FORMER WHAT IS CURRENTLY 836.
YEP. 836 LIVINGSTON AVENUE. AND THE SALE INCLUDED THE SPLIT OF THE SOUTHERN PORTION OF THAT.
THE SOUTHERN PORTION IS NOW ADDRESSED AS 834 LIVINGSTON. HENCE, THE MEMO REFERENCES 834 THAT SOUTHERN PARCEL WOULD ACTUALLY CURRENTLY BE IN WHAT WE CALL A SPLIT ZONING, MEANING IT HAS TWO DIFFERENT ZONING DESIGNATIONS LDR ON THE SOUTHERN HALF OF THE PORTION OF 834 AND NOS EXCUSE ME O S ON THE NORTHERN PORTION OF THE 834. SO THIS REQUEST IS TO REZONE THAT NORTHERN HALF OF 834. THAT WILL THEN ALLOW FOR THE 834 PARCEL TO BE COMBINED WITH THE KUWAIT AVENUE PARCELS THAT THEN WOULD THEN THAT THEN WOULD FACILITATE A 12 UNIT MULTIFAMILY DEVELOPMENT THAT WOULD BE UP FOR CONSIDERATION BY THE CITY PLANNING COMMISSION.
GREG METZ IS HERE FROM THE DEVELOPMENT TEAM. IF THERE'S ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS THAT I CAN'T ANSWER, AND IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS FOR ME, PLEASE LET ME KNOW. ME, COMMISSIONER BELCHECK. I'M JUST CURIOUS, WITH YOUR PLANNING EXPERTISE, THE MOVE FROM LOAD FROM OPEN SPACE TO LOW DENSITY. WHY ARE WE NOT CONSIDERING A HIGHER DENSITY? OR IS THAT JUST NOT NEEDED IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD? IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE, THE LDR IS WHAT IS IMMEDIATELY SURROUNDING. SO IT'S CONSISTENT WITH THE EXISTING PATTERN OF DEVELOPMENT FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD. THE PROPOSED ZONING DISTRICT DOES FACILITATE THE PROJECT AS IT'S CURRENTLY PROPOSED. AND SO HAVING A ZONE DISTRICT THAT WOULD BE DIFFERENT THAN WHAT IS SURROUNDING IT WOULD BE A LITTLE BIT MORE CHALLENGING IN TERMS OF COMPORTING WITH THE COMMUNITY MASTER PLAN. SO THERE WAS A VARIETY OF REASONS THAT WENT INTO THAT RECOMMENDATION.
AND ULTIMATELY, THE LOW DENSITY RESIDENTIAL FACILITATED THE PROJECT AND MADE EASY SENSE FOR WHAT'S HAPPENING AROUND IT. THAT'S HELPFUL BECAUSE I THINK FOR SOME PEOPLE IN A NEIGHBORHOOD, ESPECIALLY IF THEY'RE USED TO SINGLE FAMILY HOMES, 12 UNIT DEVELOPMENT DOESN'T FEEL LIKE LOW DENSITY. IT FEELS LIKE A HIGHER DENSITY. SO IT'S GOOD TO KNOW THAT THIS PROJECT STILL FITS WITHIN THAT DEFINITION FOR YOU. YEAH, WE'VE WE'VE WORKED REALLY HARD TO TRY TO COMMUNICATE THAT LOW DENSITY RESIDENTIAL IS NOT THE SAME THING AS SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL. SO ALL OF OUR RESIDENTIAL ZONE DISTRICTS SINCE 2008 HAVE FACILITATED ALL TYPES OF HOUSING, NOT NECESSARILY EVERY DENSITY, BUT ALL HOUSING TYPES IN EACH NEIGHBORHOOD. AND SO 12 UNITS, YOU'RE RIGHT. I THINK THAT THAT'S A PERSPECTIVE OF WHETHER OR NOT YOU'D CONSIDER 12 UNITS TO BE LOW DENSITY PER THE ORDINANCE IN THE COMMUNITY MASTER PLAN. IT IS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. SEE? NOTHING FURTHER. I'LL CALL THE QUESTION. ALL IN
[3. Resolution setting October 27, 2026 as the date to consider an ordinance rezoning 1951 Fuller Avenue NE from the MCN-C (Mid-20th Century Neighborhood–Commercial) and MCN-LDR (Mid-20th Century Neighborhood–Low Density Residential) Zone Districts to the MCN-MDR (Mid-20th Century Neighborhood–Mixed Density Residential) Zone District.]
FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. ITEM THREE IS A RESOLUTION SETTING OCTOBER 27TH, 2026 AS A DATE TO CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE REZONING. 1951 FULLER AVENUE, NORTHEAST FROM THE MID 20TH CENTURY. NEIGHBORHOOD COMMERCIAL IN MID 20TH CENTURY NEIGHBORHOOD. LOW DENSITY RESIDENTIAL ZONE DISTRICTS TO THE MID 20TH CENTURY NEIGHBORHOOD. MIXED DENSITY.RESIDENTIAL ZONE. DISTRICT. SO MOVED. SUPPORT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. IF IT'S OKAY, I WILL
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COMBINE MY COMMENTS AND PRESENTATION FOR THE NEXT TWO ITEMS AS THEY ARE RELATED. THE FIRST ITEM IS FOCUSED ON THE PRIVATELY CONTROLLED PARCEL AT 1951 FULLER, AND AS STATED, IT WOULD REQUIRE REZONE THE PROPERTY FROM LD FROM MID-CENTURY COMMERCIAL TO THE MIXED DENSITY RESIDENTIAL, WHICH IS A HIGHER RESIDENTIAL DENSITY. ALSO, AS PART OF THIS REQUEST, THE SECOND ITEM SHOULD LOOK FAMILIAR AGAIN. PREVIOUS COMMISSION ITEM WAS TO CONSIDER THE SALE OF THE CITY OWNED PROPERTY OR PORTION OF THE CITY OWNED PROPERTY, WHICH IS 1911 FULLER AVENUE, WHICH IS THE WATER TOWER PROPERTY. AND SO CITY COMMISSION AGREED TO THE SALE OF THE NORTHERN PORTION OF 1911. SO THE PROPOSED ITEMS REZONE, THOUGH THE CITY CONTROLLED OR PREVIOUSLY WHAT WAS CITY CONTROLLED PROPERTY AND THE 1951 FULLER AND ALLOWED FOR WOULD ALLOW FOR IT TO BE IN A SINGLE UNIFIED ZONE DISTRICT, WHICH IS MIXED DENSITY RESIDENTIAL, ULTIMATELY FACILITATING A MULTIFAMILY DEVELOPMENT AT THAT LOCATION. I WILL NOTE THAT I'VE MET WITH VARIOUS DEVELOPMENT TEAMS OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS, AND IT HAS BEEN AN INHERENTLY CHALLENGING SITE TO BE ABLE TO ZONE OR, EXCUSE ME, DEVELOP IT UNDER EITHER THE CURRENT DIMENSIONS OR THE CURRENT ZONING DESIGNATION. AND SO HAVING THAT MIXED DENSITY RESIDENTIAL ZONE, DISTRICT CLASSIFICATION GIVES US A LOT MORE FLEXIBILITY IN TERMS OF THE DENSITY, MAKING THE DEVELOPMENT WORK FROM A SITE DESIGN PERSPECTIVE. AND SO THIS FOR ME HAS BEEN YEARS IN THE MAKING. AND SO IT'S, IT'S NICE TO SEE THE DEVELOPMENTS COME TO FRUITION. JEFF EDWARDS IS HERE FROM THE DEVELOPMENT TEAM. IF THERE'S ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS FROM THE COMMISSION THAT YOU'D LIKE TO DIRECT TOWARDS THE DEVELOPMENT TEAM, OTHERWISE, I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER. AND I FAILED TO MENTION THAT THE PLANNING COMMISSION DID RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THE REZONE. SORRY ABOUT THAT. THANK YOU. NO QUESTIONS. COMMISSIONER KNIGHT, IT'S GREAT TO SEE ALL THIS DEVELOPMENT HAPPENING. CREATING MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR HOUSING. JUST WONDERING IF IF THERE'S BECAUSE THIS IS JUST RESIDENTIAL, IS THERE ANY OPPORTUNITIES FOR THERE TO BE BUSINESS MIXED IN THERE? BECAUSE I KNOW THAT THAT'S RIGHT. ALMOST BY. KNAPP. CORRECT. IF I'M THINKING CORRECTLY. YES. IT IS JUST A PARCEL SOUTH OF NAP. YOU'RE CORRECT. SO I KNOW YOU HAVE THE GAS STATION RIGHT THERE ON THE CORNER. AND THEN THERE'S A COUPLE OF SMALL BUSINESSES IN THAT SPACE RIGHT THERE. BUT JUST, JUST THINKING ABOUT AND THEN RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER, THERE'S MORE BUSINESSES OVER THERE. YEAH. SO JUST SO THE PROPOSED ZONING DESIGNATION WOULD NOT FACILITATE A MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT OR COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT. I WILL NOTE THAT THE MAJORITY OF 1951 FULLER, WHICH IS THAT LARGE NORTHERN SWATH, HAS BEEN IN THE COMMERCIAL ZONE DESIGNATION SINCE PROBABLY 2008, AND NOTHING HAS COME TO FRUITION. WHAT THAT WOULD SUGGEST TO ME AT LEAST, IS IT'S A LITTLE BIT CHALLENGING WITH THE TOPOGRAPHY AND THE SIZE OF THE PARCEL, AND THE MARKET ISN'T THERE TO SUPPORT COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT AT THAT LOCATION. CERTAINLY.I'M SURE JEFF EDWARDS COULD FURTHER COMMENT ON THAT, BUT I THINK THAT THEY'VE MADE AN INTENTIONAL DECISION TO LOOK AT MIXED DENSITY, EXCUSE ME, MULTIFAMILY RESIDENTIAL BECAUSE OF WHAT THE MARKET IS SUPPORTING IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE, NOT COMMERCIAL. OKAY.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. SEEING NO FURTHER QUESTIONS, I WILL CALL THE QUESTION. ALL IN FAVOR. AYE.
[4. Resolution setting October 27, 2026 as the date to consider an ordinance rezoning a portion of 1911 Fuller Avenue NE from MCN-LDR (Mid-20th Century Neighborhood–Low Density Residential) to the MCN-MDR (Mid-20th Century Neighborhood–Mixed Density Residential) Zone District.]
ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. ITEM NUMBER FOUR IS A RESOLUTION SETTING OCTOBER 27TH, 2026 AS THE DATE TO CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE REZONING A PORTION OF 1911 FULLER AVENUE NORTHEAST FROM MIDCENTURY NEIGHBORHOOD, LOW DENSITY RESIDENTIAL TO THE MID-CENTURY MID 20TH CENTURY NEIGHBORHOOD. MIXED DENSITY RESIDENTIAL ZONE. DISTRICT. SO MOVED. SUPPORT AND I THINK WE YOU TOUCHED A LITTLE BIT ON THIS ALREADY. ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS, COLLEAGUES? OKAY.I'LL CALL THE QUESTION. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. ITEM NUMBER FIVE IS A
[5. Resolution authorizing execution of a user agreement with Fans of Valley Field for use and collaborative stewardship of Sullivan Field]
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING EXECUTION OF A USER AGREEMENT WITH FANS OF VALLEY FIELD FOR USE IN COLLABORATIVE STEWARDSHIP OF SULLIVAN FIELD. SO MOVED. SUPPORT. THANK YOU.ALL RIGHT. GOOD MORNING. LAURA CLAYPOOL WITH THE PARKS DEPARTMENT. SO THIS RESOLUTION WOULD AUTHORIZE A USER AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY AND FANS. VALLEY FIELD. THIS FOLLOWS A MULTI YEAR CONSIDERABLE INVESTMENT IN THE SULLIVAN SPACE, SULLIVAN PARK SPACE. AND THE AGREEMENT JUST OUTLINES THE COORDINATION AND RESPONSIBILITY FOR ACTIVATION
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OPERATIONS AND LONG TERM MAINTENANCE. SO UNDER THIS AGREEMENT THERE WOULD BE A VERY CLEAR DELINEATION OF THE MAINTENANCE AND CARE FOR THE FACILITY RESPONSIBILITY WITH THE CITY, AS WELL AS GIVING THE FANS OF VALLEY FIELD AN OPPORTUNITY TO OPERATE THE CONCESSIONS AS WELL AS THE MUSEUM. AND THIS WILL JUST HELP US ENSURE THAT THE LONG TERM, HISTORIC NATURE THAT HAS BEEN PRESERVED THROUGH THIS CONSTRUCTION PROJECT IS RESPECTED WELL OUT INTO THE FUTURE. SO IT'S A THREE YEAR TERM WITH THE ONE YEAR RENEWAL, AND WE ARE VERY EXCITED THAT THIS PROJECT IS COMING TO COMPLETION OVER THE NEXT SIX MONTHS. SO THIS FEELS LIKE A BIG MILESTONE. IT IS A VERY BIG MILESTONE FOR ALL YOUR WORK AND THE FRIENDS OF VALLEY FIELD COMMISSIONER. YES. THANK YOU. THIS IS A BIG THING OVER ON THE WEST SIDE AND IN THE FIRST WARD, AND HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR A LONG TIME, AND I'M VERY EXCITED.I KNOW THAT THE FRIENDS OF VALLEY FIELD HAVE BEEN PRETTY GREAT TO WORK WITH, AND THAT THREE YEARS IS A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME. BUT, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR IF THERE IS, YOU KNOW, ANY BUDGETARY CONSIDERATIONS THAT WE'LL NEED TO KEEP IN MIND AS WE MOVE FORWARD, SINCE THE CITY WILL BE TAKING SOME RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE MAINTENANCE. UP UNTIL NOW, IT'S, YOU KNOW, BEEN LARGELY THE FUNDRAISING AND EVERYTHING THAT THE VALLEY FIELD FRIENDS OF VALLEY FIELD HAVE BEEN DOING. SO IF YOU COULD JUST TOUCH ON THAT, THAT WOULD BE GREAT. SURE.
SO THE PARKS DEPARTMENT DOES ALREADY HAVE THE INTERNAL SKILL SET TO BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN A HIGH LEVEL OF STANDARD FOR THE ATHLETIC FIELD. SO THE MAINTENANCE SIDE WILL JUST BE COVERED BY A REGULAR PARK OPERATIONS. AND THEN LONG TERM SUSTAINABILITY OF THE OF THE SPACE WILL BE BUILT INTO OUR LONG TERM CAPITAL PLAN. SO WE DO VERY MUCH RECOGNIZE THE LONG TERM NEED FOR THIS SPACE TO BE PRESERVED AS IT WAS INTENDED. YES. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I'M JUST GOING TO BE EXCITING TO BE THERE WHEN IT FINALLY OPENS. OPENS? YEAH. THANK YOU COMMISSIONER. YES. FOR ONCE I'M GOING TO ADD ONE THING. ALL RIGHT. SO SO I'M GOING TO THROW ON MY ROTARY HAT A MINUTE. SO AS PRESIDENT OF THE GRAND RAPIDS ROTARY CLUB, WE'VE BEEN DOING SOME COLLABORATIVE THINGS WITH FANS OF VALLEY FIELD TOO. AND SO I SEE A UTILIZATION UTILIZATION OF THIS SPACE. SO IT'S, IT'S KIND OF NOT JUST FANCY FIELD, BUT IT'S THESE OTHER COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE GOING TO COME ALONGSIDE AND BASICALLY DO LOTS OF DIFFERENT FUN THINGS AT THIS, AT THIS FACILITY AS WELL. AND SO WE'VE, THIS HAS BEEN A NICE COLLABORATIVE THING OF THE FANS OF VALLEY FIELD AND GRAND RAPIDS ROTARY DOING SOME THINGS TOGETHER TO, TO GO ABOVE AND BEYOND TO, AS WE SEE GO FORWARD. SO IT'S I THINK SEEING THOSE COLLABORATIONS HAS BEEN GREAT AMONGST NONPROFITS THAT ARE OUT THERE AS WELL. SO AND I CAN PIGGYBACK ON WHAT THE CLERK SAID, JUST TO RECOGNIZE THAT FANS OF VALLEY FIELD, THROUGH SOME VERY GENEROUS PHILANTHROPIC DONORS, THEY'VE RAISED $2 MILLION IN PRIVATE DONATIONS TO PUT TOWARDS THIS PROJECT. SO AND THEY ALSO HELP SECURE A 2.0 GRANT. SO THEY HAVE BEEN INCREDIBLE PARTNERS, NOT JUST IN THINKING THROUGH THE LONG TERM CARE AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE SPACE, BUT ALSO IN COMING TO THE TABLE IN A VERY SIGNIFICANT WAY FOR CAPITAL INVESTMENT. WONDERFUL. SEEING NOTHING FURTHER, I'LL CALL THE QUESTION. ALL IN FAVOR?
[6. Resolution awarding a contract with Kentwood Excavating, Inc. for Storm Sewer Relocation in Portman Lane SE 40’ West of Portman Drive SE Cul-de-Sac in the amount of $138,115 with total amount not-to-exceed $250,000]
AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ITEM SIX IS A RESOLUTION AWARDING A CONTRACT WITH KENTWOOD EXCAVATING INC. FOR STORM SEWER RELOCATION IN PORTLAND LANE, SOUTHEAST, 40FT WEST OF PORTLAND DRIVE. SOUTHEAST CUL DE SAC IN THE AMOUNT OF $138,115, WITH TOTAL AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $250,000. SO MOVED. SUPPORT. THANK YOU.GOOD MORNING, MR. MCCALL. WOULD YOU LIKE TO TELL US ABOUT THIS ITEM? SURE. GOOD MORNING COMMISSIONERS. I'M FILLING IN FOR CINDY, WHO WASN'T FEELING WELL THIS MORNING. WE RECEIVED THREE BIDS FOR THIS PROJECT. THE LOW BID WAS APPROXIMATELY $8,500. UNDER THE ENGINEER'S ESTIMATE, THE PROJECT WILL BE REPLACING A STORMWATER OUTFALL THAT FAILED THIS SPRING WITH SOME HEAVY RAINS. THERE WAS A BIG WASHOUT IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. THE PROJECT WILL RELOCATE IT TO A MORE STABLE AREA, WHICH WILL BE EASIER FOR US TO MAINTAIN IN THE FUTURE. THE WORK WILL TAKE PLACE UNTIL THIS FALL, SO WE'LL BE READY FOR SPRING RAINS NEXT YEAR. THE PROJECTS, FUNDED BY THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FUND FOR FUNDS ALLOCATED TO STORMWATER GROUP. THANK YOU.
ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. THE LAST ITEM THIS MORNING IS ITEM SEVEN. A
[7. Resolution awarding a contract with Bazen Electric Co. for Water Resource Recovery Facility North Primary Substation Replacement in the amount of $1,748,800 with total amount not-to-exceed $2,141,755]
RESOLUTION AWARDING A CONTRACT WITH BASIN ELECTRIC COMPANY FOR WATER RESOURCE RECOVERY FACILITY, NORTH PRIMARY SUBSTATION REPLACEMENT, AND THE AMOUNT OF $1,748,800, WITH TOTAL AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $2,141,755. SO MOVED. SUPPORT. YES. THIS PROJECT IS AT THE WATER RESOURCE RECOVERY FACILITY. IT WILL BE REPLACED AN EXISTING SUBSTATION IN THE NORTH PRIMARY CONTROL BUILDING THAT. THAT BUILDING WAS BUILT IN THE 1970S, AND A LOT OF THE[00:15:02]
EQUIPMENT THERE IN THE SUBSTATION HAS KIND OF REACHED ITS USEFUL LIFE. THIS WILL MODERNIZE THE ELECTRICAL INFRASTRUCTURE AND ENSURE RELIABLE POWER TO THE NORTH PRIMARY TREATMENT OPERATION FOR YEARS TO COME. WE DID RECEIVE TWO BIDS. THE LOW BID WAS APPROXIMATELY $5,000. UNDER THE ENGINEER'S ESTIMATE, THIS WILL BE FUNDED BY THE SEWER SYSTEM FUND AND WORK WILL BE COMPLETED BY NEXT FALL FROM. I'LL CALL THE QUESTION. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU ALL.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.