Reckitt/Mead Johnson’s preliminary site plan calls for construction of about 350,000 square feet of new office and manufacturing space. Company officials have said that the future of the Zeeland facility has hinged on approval of its modernization proposal.
By Greg Chandler
Zeeland Record
Zeeland planners have one more vote on whether to recommend the city rezone two residential properties to allow Reckitt/Mead Johnson Nutrition to expand and modernize its infant formula manufacturing plant on the city’s east side.
The city’s Planning Commission will vote next Thursday on a resolution reaffirming its recommendation that the properties at 605 and 633 E. Main Ave. be rezoned for industrial use. Commissioners at a special meeting June 25 voted to grant preliminary approval to the recommendation, which must ultimately be approved by the City Council.
Commissioners voted 7-0 in support of recommending the property at 633 E. Main Ave., immediately west of the Reckitt/Mead Johnson site, be rezoned from R-2 single-family and two-family residential to I-2 general industrial. The 605 E. Main site, which is currently occupied by Cityside Townhouses, is being recommended for rezoning from R-3 two-family and multiple-family residential to I-2 general industrial. That rezoning request passed by a 6-1 vote.
"The Planning Commission’s vote in favor of Mead Johnson’s rezoning application is an important milestone to enable essential upgrades to our facility and reflects an appreciation for the vital work our nearly 500 local employees do to provide high-quality nutrition for infants,” Mead Johnson external affairs director Arthur Pike said in a prepared statement. “It also reflects the confidence Zeeland leaders have in Mead Johnson to deliver the many benefits outlined in our modernization plan, and in continuing to operate as a trusted member of our community.”
Reckitt/Mead Johnson plans to invest $836 million into modernizing the facility at 725 E. Main Ave. that has produced infant formula since 1924. Company officials have said this represents Mead Johnson’s largest investment in its history.
“To the community of Zeeland, which we’ve called home for more than 100 years: thank you for your trust. We are proud to continue investing in this community, and we pledge to honor the confidence you have placed in us,” Pike said.
Reckitt/Mead Johnson’s preliminary site plan calls for construction of about 350,000 square feet of new office and manufacturing space. Company officials have said that the future of the Zeeland facility hinges on approval of its proposal.
Planning Commissioner Rebecca Perkins asked company representatives if any of the planned investment includes improvements to the existing plant.
“It’s very difficult, if not impossible, to modernize an existing manufacturing asset without shutting that asset down for a significant period of time,” said Aaron Holder, an engineering manager at Mead Johnson, in response. “Shutting any assets down in Zeeland for a significant amount of time right now would negatively impact the supply of infant formula in the U.S.”
Speaking in favor of the rezoning, Mayor Kevin Klynstra said that the city’s significant industrial tax base has allowed the city to keep its millage rate the same for more than 20 years. He also pointed out the city was able to install its downtown snowmelt system last year without cost to downtown property owners, because of the tax support of local industry. The mayor also spoke of industry support of local projects and festivals.
“Is losing houses my favorite thing? No. But I’ve been a big backer of neighborhoods in my 30 years on the City Council,” Klynstra said. “If (choosing between) losing a few houses and keeping 500 jobs in Zeeland and seeing a big increase in our tax base - I’m sure the Planning Commission will do their due diligence and make sure there is adequate buffers for the neighborhood.”
Klynstra mentioned past projects in the city where companies tore down homes to make way for industry, citing companies such as ITW Drawform, Plascore and Consumers Energy. He added that the amount of taxes Mead Johnson will pay after the expiration of pending tax abatements will be equivalent to the taxes paid by 1,800 homes in the city.
The proposed rezoning has been opposed by many nearby residents for months, including people who live in the Cityside Townhouses that would be displaced by the project.
“I’m disappointed. I’m scared of what the next steps are,” said Josh DeJong, who has lived in Cityside Townhouses with his wife and three children, ages 7 to 12, for a little more than a year. “After looking at available housing within our schools for our kids … it’s almost (impossible to find).”
“I was born and raised in Zeeland, attended Zeeland schools, my kids attend Zeeland schools,” DeJong added.
Councilman Glenn Kass, who is the City Council’s representative on the Planning Commission, was the lone no vote on rezoning the Cityside Townhouses property.
“I’ve long been a critic of losing housing in this community, for 20-plus years,” Kass said. “I think protecting housing is very important. However, I also have the duty and responsibility as a city councilman to provide for the financial future of this community. Somehow, I’d like us to find a way to get Mead Johnson what they need, and yet to also protect the housing that we need. I don’t know what that looks like, I don’t know if that’s even possible.”
Kass went on to say that the Cityside Townhouses property is designated as multi-family residential in the city’s future land use plan and has been for 15 years.
The Cityside Townhouses consist of two four-unit townhouses that were built in 2016. Mead Johnson purchased the 0.88-acre property May 15 for $2.95 million, according to city records.
The 633 E. Main parcel has been a single-family residence for many years. Mead Johnson & Company acquired the 1.48-acre property on Dec. 30, 2024 for $1.5 million, according to county property records.
Mead Johnson is the city’s third largest taxpayer, behind Consumers Energy and Gentex Corporation. The company in 2024 paid $953,425 in local and county property taxes, including
$305,869 in operating taxes to Zeeland Public Schools and $190,311 in operating taxes to the city, according to city tax records.
Assuming the Planning Commission approves the resolution recommending the rezoning next Thursday, the earliest the City Council could vote on the matter is July 21. If the council signs off on the rezoning, Mead Johnson would then go through a site plan review process with the Planning Commission.
Zeeland Record
Zeeland planners have one more vote on whether to recommend the city rezone two residential properties to allow Reckitt/Mead Johnson Nutrition to expand and modernize its infant formula manufacturing plant on the city’s east side.
The city’s Planning Commission will vote next Thursday on a resolution reaffirming its recommendation that the properties at 605 and 633 E. Main Ave. be rezoned for industrial use. Commissioners at a special meeting June 25 voted to grant preliminary approval to the recommendation, which must ultimately be approved by the City Council.
Commissioners voted 7-0 in support of recommending the property at 633 E. Main Ave., immediately west of the Reckitt/Mead Johnson site, be rezoned from R-2 single-family and two-family residential to I-2 general industrial. The 605 E. Main site, which is currently occupied by Cityside Townhouses, is being recommended for rezoning from R-3 two-family and multiple-family residential to I-2 general industrial. That rezoning request passed by a 6-1 vote.
"The Planning Commission’s vote in favor of Mead Johnson’s rezoning application is an important milestone to enable essential upgrades to our facility and reflects an appreciation for the vital work our nearly 500 local employees do to provide high-quality nutrition for infants,” Mead Johnson external affairs director Arthur Pike said in a prepared statement. “It also reflects the confidence Zeeland leaders have in Mead Johnson to deliver the many benefits outlined in our modernization plan, and in continuing to operate as a trusted member of our community.”
Reckitt/Mead Johnson plans to invest $836 million into modernizing the facility at 725 E. Main Ave. that has produced infant formula since 1924. Company officials have said this represents Mead Johnson’s largest investment in its history.
“To the community of Zeeland, which we’ve called home for more than 100 years: thank you for your trust. We are proud to continue investing in this community, and we pledge to honor the confidence you have placed in us,” Pike said.
Reckitt/Mead Johnson’s preliminary site plan calls for construction of about 350,000 square feet of new office and manufacturing space. Company officials have said that the future of the Zeeland facility hinges on approval of its proposal.
Planning Commissioner Rebecca Perkins asked company representatives if any of the planned investment includes improvements to the existing plant.
“It’s very difficult, if not impossible, to modernize an existing manufacturing asset without shutting that asset down for a significant period of time,” said Aaron Holder, an engineering manager at Mead Johnson, in response. “Shutting any assets down in Zeeland for a significant amount of time right now would negatively impact the supply of infant formula in the U.S.”
Speaking in favor of the rezoning, Mayor Kevin Klynstra said that the city’s significant industrial tax base has allowed the city to keep its millage rate the same for more than 20 years. He also pointed out the city was able to install its downtown snowmelt system last year without cost to downtown property owners, because of the tax support of local industry. The mayor also spoke of industry support of local projects and festivals.
“Is losing houses my favorite thing? No. But I’ve been a big backer of neighborhoods in my 30 years on the City Council,” Klynstra said. “If (choosing between) losing a few houses and keeping 500 jobs in Zeeland and seeing a big increase in our tax base - I’m sure the Planning Commission will do their due diligence and make sure there is adequate buffers for the neighborhood.”
Klynstra mentioned past projects in the city where companies tore down homes to make way for industry, citing companies such as ITW Drawform, Plascore and Consumers Energy. He added that the amount of taxes Mead Johnson will pay after the expiration of pending tax abatements will be equivalent to the taxes paid by 1,800 homes in the city.
The proposed rezoning has been opposed by many nearby residents for months, including people who live in the Cityside Townhouses that would be displaced by the project.
“I’m disappointed. I’m scared of what the next steps are,” said Josh DeJong, who has lived in Cityside Townhouses with his wife and three children, ages 7 to 12, for a little more than a year. “After looking at available housing within our schools for our kids … it’s almost (impossible to find).”
“I was born and raised in Zeeland, attended Zeeland schools, my kids attend Zeeland schools,” DeJong added.
Councilman Glenn Kass, who is the City Council’s representative on the Planning Commission, was the lone no vote on rezoning the Cityside Townhouses property.
“I’ve long been a critic of losing housing in this community, for 20-plus years,” Kass said. “I think protecting housing is very important. However, I also have the duty and responsibility as a city councilman to provide for the financial future of this community. Somehow, I’d like us to find a way to get Mead Johnson what they need, and yet to also protect the housing that we need. I don’t know what that looks like, I don’t know if that’s even possible.”
Kass went on to say that the Cityside Townhouses property is designated as multi-family residential in the city’s future land use plan and has been for 15 years.
The Cityside Townhouses consist of two four-unit townhouses that were built in 2016. Mead Johnson purchased the 0.88-acre property May 15 for $2.95 million, according to city records.
The 633 E. Main parcel has been a single-family residence for many years. Mead Johnson & Company acquired the 1.48-acre property on Dec. 30, 2024 for $1.5 million, according to county property records.
Mead Johnson is the city’s third largest taxpayer, behind Consumers Energy and Gentex Corporation. The company in 2024 paid $953,425 in local and county property taxes, including
$305,869 in operating taxes to Zeeland Public Schools and $190,311 in operating taxes to the city, according to city tax records.
Assuming the Planning Commission approves the resolution recommending the rezoning next Thursday, the earliest the City Council could vote on the matter is July 21. If the council signs off on the rezoning, Mead Johnson would then go through a site plan review process with the Planning Commission.
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