By Greg Chandler
Zeeland Record
Three more properties on Main Avenue that Reckitt/Mead Johnson Nutrition purchased as part of its $836 million plant modernization project on Zeeland’s east side have been rezoned for industrial use.
The City Council Oct. 20 unanimously approved two resolutions – one rezoning the properties at 549 and 553 E. Main Ave. from residential to I-2 industrial, the other changing the zoning of the property at 515 E. Main Ave., currently occupied by Bethel Christian Reformed Church and the church parsonage, from public facilities to I-2.
The council had earlier approved rezoning the parcels at 605 and 633 E. Main Ave. from residential to industrial. The home and barn at 633 E. Main have been demolished, and the Cityside Townhouses at 605 E. Main that were built in 2016 will soon be torn down as well.
The approval of the rezonings now opens the way for Mead Johnson to prepare a site plan for the modernization project before the city’s Planning Commission. No date has been set for a presentation of that site plan. An earlier project concept called for construction of about 350,000 square feet of new office and manufacturing space.
Project opponents are expected during the site plan process to lobby for conditions to be included in any plan approval.
“There are concerns that the (Planning) Commission did hear about – traffic, buffering, those type of things,” Community Development Director Tim Maday said. “Really, the site plan review stage of a project development is the time to consider those type of matters.”
Maday noted a report from city planning consultant Paul LeBlanc that while the most recent rezonings are a departure from the historical residential land use for those properties, those uses were at odds with nearby industrial land uses.
“When we look at the overall context of the block being largely industrial-zoned, the master plan identifying that land-use conflict and the opportunity to resolve that, staff does believe it is appropriate to rezone these parcels,” he said.
Ericka Humbert, who lives across the street from the three properties and opposed the move, took issue with what she felt was a lack of discussion by the council before the final vote.
“What I don’t understand is the lack
of questioning and discussion that
would have at least made us feel heard,” Humbert said.
Mayor Kevin Klynstra disagreed with Humbert’s statement.
“We gave ample time for the public to speak. I think we all gave our opinions at one time,” Klynstra said.
Bethel CRC sold the 2.36-acre property at 515 E. Main to Mead Johnson June 30 for $3.3 million.
The company purchased the 549 E. Main property on April 25 from Kyle and Camaal Murray for $600,000, and the 553 E. Main property on July 31 from the Earl and Margie Klein Trust for $650,000, according to county property records.
Zeeland Record
Three more properties on Main Avenue that Reckitt/Mead Johnson Nutrition purchased as part of its $836 million plant modernization project on Zeeland’s east side have been rezoned for industrial use.
The City Council Oct. 20 unanimously approved two resolutions – one rezoning the properties at 549 and 553 E. Main Ave. from residential to I-2 industrial, the other changing the zoning of the property at 515 E. Main Ave., currently occupied by Bethel Christian Reformed Church and the church parsonage, from public facilities to I-2.
The council had earlier approved rezoning the parcels at 605 and 633 E. Main Ave. from residential to industrial. The home and barn at 633 E. Main have been demolished, and the Cityside Townhouses at 605 E. Main that were built in 2016 will soon be torn down as well.
The approval of the rezonings now opens the way for Mead Johnson to prepare a site plan for the modernization project before the city’s Planning Commission. No date has been set for a presentation of that site plan. An earlier project concept called for construction of about 350,000 square feet of new office and manufacturing space.
Project opponents are expected during the site plan process to lobby for conditions to be included in any plan approval.
“There are concerns that the (Planning) Commission did hear about – traffic, buffering, those type of things,” Community Development Director Tim Maday said. “Really, the site plan review stage of a project development is the time to consider those type of matters.”
Maday noted a report from city planning consultant Paul LeBlanc that while the most recent rezonings are a departure from the historical residential land use for those properties, those uses were at odds with nearby industrial land uses.
“When we look at the overall context of the block being largely industrial-zoned, the master plan identifying that land-use conflict and the opportunity to resolve that, staff does believe it is appropriate to rezone these parcels,” he said.
Ericka Humbert, who lives across the street from the three properties and opposed the move, took issue with what she felt was a lack of discussion by the council before the final vote.
“What I don’t understand is the lack
of questioning and discussion that
would have at least made us feel heard,” Humbert said.
Mayor Kevin Klynstra disagreed with Humbert’s statement.
“We gave ample time for the public to speak. I think we all gave our opinions at one time,” Klynstra said.
Bethel CRC sold the 2.36-acre property at 515 E. Main to Mead Johnson June 30 for $3.3 million.
The company purchased the 549 E. Main property on April 25 from Kyle and Camaal Murray for $600,000, and the 553 E. Main property on July 31 from the Earl and Margie Klein Trust for $650,000, according to county property records.
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