OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Grand Rapids Community Development Committee Minutes - June 2, 2026

Meeting PortalTuesday, June 2, 2026
BodyGrand Rapids, Michigan
SessionMeeting Portal
DateTuesday, June 2, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 19:54
Transcript — Verbatim
0:04

And we will start our community development committee meeting with our first item of the day, resolution approving a fireworks discharge permit for pyrotech special effects inc for special effects at the Aquishare Amphitheater in connection with the Jelly Roll concert on June 13th, 2026.

0:22

So moved, Mr.

0:23

Jensen.

0:24

Morning.

0:24

I do support support.

0:28

Sorry.

0:29

I'm doing two jobs.

0:30

Sorry.

0:30

Yep.

0:30

And a fine job you're doing.

0:32

Thank you.

0:33

Um, yeah, it's the amputator.

0:35

We're gonna be there for all the pyrows at least for the first year until we work out how things work there because close proximity fireworks and an open stage, you never know what direction the wind's blowing.

0:47

So are these mostly power?

0:49

I'm sorry, uh mostly pyrotechnics up at the stage, not firework fireworks.

0:54

They're close proximity of pyrotechnics, so yeah, like what you see at the DeVos place or at uh Van Andal Arena.

1:03

I'm good.

1:03

Thanks.

1:04

Any other questions?

1:06

No, thank you.

1:07

All right.

1:08

Call the vote.

1:09

All in favor, aye.

1:12

It passes.

1:13

All right.

1:14

Thank you.

1:14

Thank you.

1:16

Next resolution confirming the uptown business improvement district.

1:19

Special assessment roll number 8804, and that is Miss Lindsay Post.

1:25

Welcome.

1:26

So I will so move that we talk about this.

1:29

Support.

1:32

Okay, this is for um the confirmation of the uptown business improvement district.

1:39

Um at the request of the Uptown Business Improvement District, the assessor's office prepared the special assessment roll number 8804 in accordance with the district's plan that was adopted in March of 2025.

1:51

This is the second year of the three-year plan or five-year plan.

1:54

I'm sorry.

1:55

Property owners were sent notices on April 14th and notified of the charge and the appeal process.

2:00

The special assessment rule was open for public inspection for at least two weeks, starting on April 20th, and then the city commission convened as the board of review to hear appeals on May 1st.

2:13

We had one appeal.

2:17

Upon review of the appeal by the city assessor and the attorney's office, we recommend denying the appeal and confirming special assessment rule number 8804 in the amount of 125,326.28 cents.

2:32

And if confirmed, this assessment will be invoiced on the summer tax bill July 1st.

2:38

Great, thank you.

2:39

Can I ask the question?

2:40

What was the appeal?

2:42

It was they were just appealing that there is a special assessment in that district.

2:48

Okay, they thought property taxes should cover that.

2:52

So, all right, Chair.

2:54

Um, yeah, just for everyone here, can you remind the public why we have this particular special assessment?

3:02

Is it for the street?

3:04

Yes, it's like it's wealthy cherry lake, it's a corridor district, it's for the businesses.

3:11

The plan specifies exactly what it is, but generally, if it occasionally it goes, and then this would go to um the bid or the did or it's the business improvement.

3:22

So the uptown bid.

3:24

Okay.

3:24

Yep.

3:25

Thank you for that.

3:26

Thank you for those questions.

3:28

No other questions.

3:30

We'll call the question.

3:31

All in favor, aye.

3:33

Any opposed?

3:34

It passes.

3:38

This is weird.

3:40

Okay.

3:41

It passes.

3:42

Thank you.

3:44

Next we have our resolution.

3:45

Well, this is you again.

3:47

Uh setting Tuesday, July 21st, 2026 at 2 p.m.

3:50

as the day for the public hearing for the city commission to sit as the board of review to hear appeals on special assessment downtown improvement district rule 8806.

4:00

So moved.

4:01

Support.

4:02

All right.

4:02

So this is for the downtown improvement district.

4:06

At the request of the downtown improvement district board, the assessor's office has repaired prepared the special assessment roll number 8806 in accordance with the plan that was adopted earlier on May 12th.

4:18

And this is the first year of a three-year plan.

4:21

Um property owners were sent notices on May 28th and notified the assessment amount and the appeal process.

4:28

The special special assessment role will be open starting on June 15th through June 29th.

4:33

It's published on the city website as well.

4:36

And property owners affected may file an appeal now through July 21st.

4:41

We are this is to set the board of review as July 21st.

4:45

Okay.

4:46

Thank you very much.

4:47

Any questions?

4:49

Call the question.

4:50

All in favor?

4:50

Aye.

4:51

Aye.

4:51

Any opposed?

4:53

It passes.

4:54

Thank you very much, Ms.

4:55

Post.

4:56

Uh, next is the resolution awarding a contract with C and D Hughes Inc.

4:59

for rotomilling and resurfacing of streets at various locations.

5:04

Contract 2025-5 in the amount of two million nine hundred and one thousand three hundred and eighty dollars with a total not to exceed three million eight hundred and thirty-four dollars.

5:15

So moved.

5:16

Support.

5:18

This project is one of our road to mill and resurface um projects.

5:21

This usually covers several of our local streets, in which we replace the asphalt, we fix any sidewalks and bring our ADA ramps up to compliance.

5:29

And this project also has 15.6% micro local business enterprise participation.

5:35

Great.

5:35

Any questions?

5:37

I'll just say that that's fantastic.

5:39

Um this is not necessarily related to this item, but in general, at some point, can we get an idea of what streets are going to be coming up for resurfacing?

5:49

And I know that we've had some constituents wondering why their street hasn't been done or when in the process it would be in the pipeline.

5:58

All right.

6:00

Thank you very much.

6:01

We'll call the question.

6:02

All in favor?

6:03

Aye.

6:04

Aye.

6:04

Any opposed?

6:06

It passes.

6:07

The next is a resolution approving an extension of various facilities, hazardous material abatement and demolition services with no change in previously authorized expenditures of 1.5 million dollars.

6:20

So moved.

6:21

Support.

6:23

Thank you, Commissioner.

6:24

Uh, yeah, and just so you know that was item six.

6:26

So we'll want to step back to item five.

6:28

Oh, I'm sorry.

6:29

That's okay.

6:30

Um, so this is uh approval of an as needed contract, and there's no increase in cost, there's still adequate approved dollars to fund this work, and this allows us on small or urgent projects to be able to contract directly with pre-approved um contractors who have their um contracts already in place with us, including including their insurance and bonding.

6:52

Okay.

6:52

Okay, hold on.

6:53

I want to make sure that we have this correctly.

6:56

So the motion was the motion was for number number four for number six for number six, but number five was next on the agenda.

7:04

Yes, so you did a so move based on that one.

7:08

Are you okay with the so are you gonna so move the number five is?

7:13

If we if we um we can deal with number six, yeah.

7:17

Let's do another let's just go to number six because that was what was read.

7:20

The motion was there.

7:20

So let's and that's what I spoke to was number six.

7:23

Okay, I just want to make sure we're all on the same.

7:26

Okay, good.

7:27

We're all good then.

7:28

To make sure we didn't any questions?

7:31

No.

7:31

Call the question.

7:33

I need so moved.

7:38

Now we're going back to number five, which is the resolution approving an increase of 122,290 for LMFP backwash check valve replacement for a total not to exceed 425,870.

7:54

So moved support.

7:57

Um, this project ties to a recently approved project where they're changing some check valves.

8:02

The price came in very competitively from the contractor.

8:06

Um, this was additional scope that they had cut during design, but because of the competitive bidding, they were able to bring it back into the project.

8:14

It's it's critical for the Lake Michigan filtration plant operation.

8:18

Okay.

8:20

Any questions?

8:22

Um, so just for clarification, you're saying that this is additional work that has been able to be added back into the project and is uh an increase.

8:31

Correct.

8:33

Great, thank you.

8:36

Any more questions?

8:37

That was that call the question.

8:39

Aye.

8:40

Aye.

8:41

Any abstain?

8:42

So moved.

8:44

Now we move to number seven.

8:46

The resolution approving an extension for as needed surface lot services with no change in previously authorized expenditures of $500,000.

8:56

So moved support.

8:59

I am gonna speak to items seven, eight, nine, and ten.

9:04

Because I'm gonna say the same thing every time, so I won't be really boring.

9:08

Um, these are all as needed contracts where we went out and competitively bid and brought contractors under the contract so we could reach out to them directly for small projects or immediate response, and these are all extensions of time.

9:25

None of them are an increase in cost.

9:28

Okay, all right.

9:33

Thank you, Miss Irving.

9:35

Um, I am good, thank you.

9:29

All in favor, I.

9:41

So moved, and we'll go to number eight, which you have already explained.

9:45

The resolution approving an extension for as needed general construction services at various locations with no change in previously authorized expenditures of two million dollars.

9:55

So moved.

9:56

Support all in favor?

9:58

Aye.

9:59

Aye.

10:00

Any abstain?

10:02

It passes.

10:03

No, no.

10:04

Huh?

10:05

You all all opposed.

10:08

You're saying abstained.

10:10

All opposed.

10:12

It passes.

10:13

Let's go to nine.

10:14

Resolution approving an extension for as needed concrete and facade restoration at various locations with no change in previously authorized expenditures of two million dollars.

10:24

So moved.

10:25

Support.

10:26

Call the question.

10:27

Yes.

10:28

I need oppose.

10:31

It passes.

10:32

And number 10, the resolution approving extensions for contracts for as needed roof assessment management with no change in previously authorized expenditures of one million dollars.

10:44

Call the question.

10:44

So move.

10:45

Support.

10:46

And you and we are I'll vote yes.

10:50

Aye.

10:51

Any opposed?

10:53

Alright, it passes.

10:55

That was you're doing great.

10:57

We're doing great.

10:58

All right.

10:59

Number 11.

11:00

A resolution approving a release of easement and accepting a public utilities easement in connection with 5591 Wing Avenue Southeast.

11:09

So moved.

11:10

Support.

11:11

Um this development during construction, they had to make some modifications to the location of the utilities.

11:17

So this simply releases the previously accepted easement and relocates it appropriately with the easements.

11:24

Alright, any questions?

11:27

Call the motion.

11:30

Any opposed?

11:32

It passes.

11:33

Number 12.

11:34

Resolution scheduling a public hearing on June 16, 2026 to consider a speculative building designation requested by Honey Crisp Ventures for a 7.5 million dollar project located at 2210 Northridge Drive Northwest in the Walker View Industrial Park.

11:52

So moved.

11:52

Support.

11:54

Miss Renero.

11:55

Good morning.

11:55

Yes, thank you.

11:56

Uh this property is in the City of Grand Rapids for the purposes of taxation pursuant to the 425 agreement that we have with the city of Walker.

12:04

Um so that is an agreement that manages property for economic development purposes that we might be uh in a better position to uh pursue versus the city of Walker.

12:16

Um, this project is a speculative project that's being put in place, or I'm sorry, build to suit by HoneyCrisp Ventures, which is proposing to uh construct a 90,000 square foot building uh for industrial purposes to the tune of seven and a half million dollars of investment.

12:38

Um we have been working with Treasury on this because this is our first one uh for our speculative building designation.

12:45

Uh, this doesn't necessarily approve an abatement at this time, it just approves the ability for a future qualified user to take advantage of that um and have a little bit more efficient uh application processes down the line, right?

13:00

So um we're we're working to establish the district, which is the next item, as well as the potential um for uh a user down the line to to do a certificate for industrial facilities abatement.

13:15

Um I know that I'm I feel like I'm jumbling this a bit, so I'm happy to answer any questions.

13:21

So you said this is the first time that we've done something.

13:24

This is the first time we've done a speculative building designation, typically our industrial facility abatements.

13:30

We know the end user.

13:32

Um, so in this case, we're working with Honey Crispenters to uh construct a build-to-suit building for an unknown end user.

13:41

Okay.

13:42

That was gonna be my next question.

13:43

Okay, thank you.

13:44

Thank you.

13:45

Uh so is this so um am I to assume that this is currently like a piece of vacant land that's being like a new building being developed, and they're looking so basically they're looking for us to approve this.

13:58

To hold this almost like an option, but like it's available.

13:58

Yes, designation.

13:59

The designation is available if the end user that they do end up attracting would be something that they wanted to apply for.

14:13

Exactly.

14:14

Does that help them in their plan their financing to be able to purchase or build the facility?

14:19

Um, I don't know.

14:20

I think it's all about attracting the end user, but I will confirm.

14:23

Okay.

14:24

Well, that this is unusual, and then thank you for trying to explain it to us.

14:27

I appreciate that.

14:29

Thank you.

14:29

Any other questions?

14:31

All right, a call the question.

14:33

Aye, any opposed?

14:36

It passes.

14:37

All right.

14:38

Uh 13 is a resolution scheduling a public hearing for June 16, 2026 to consider establishing an industrial development district for Honey Crisp Ventures at 2210 Northwoods Drive Northwest in the Walker View Industrial Park.

14:53

So moved for it.

14:56

No further comments.

15:00

It's going to probably say, I know, I I yeah, I'm wrapping my brain around the whole piece.

15:07

All right, nothing right now.

15:10

Okay.

15:11

Anything else?

15:12

Right.

15:12

This is just so just so I'm clear.

15:14

This is the establishment of the industrial district, so that we how can we do it in this order?

15:20

We don't normally call I we'll make sure that's corrected because it seems like you'd want to establish the district and then establish the certificates.

15:28

That was my error and the order here.

15:31

But isn't that area over there already?

15:34

This did the the district is within a broader 425 agreement.

15:38

So there's several different potential districts.

15:42

This is a district specific to this portion of the larger 425.

15:48

Yep.

15:49

Okay.

15:49

Okay.

15:50

I have I have a map.

15:53

We've done several, and sorry.

15:56

So where it gets confusing is we've talked a lot about Walker View.

16:00

Um, and and as that has been filling up, there's all these individual districts, because this will be eventually a PA198, correct?

16:08

Yes.

16:09

With certificate.

16:10

So we've done in the eight years I've been here, we've done several in Walker View.

16:17

Probably should have done all Walker View is one big industrial district.

16:20

Yes.

16:20

And that's what and I think that's where the confusion is.

16:22

It's not one for the for that whole development, it's all these individual parcels.

16:28

So that and that's why it's familiar because we've we just did because we oh we um We just did Falk.

16:36

Falk, yes, that's what I was thinking about.

16:38

Okay.

16:39

Yes.

16:40

Very similar to that.

16:41

That's why I thought it all was because I remembered that they've had a number of things come before us, and then they had the expansion come back before this again, and so yes, and commissioner, and Commissioner Belcher, that was a good question because I had that too, and I had that noted that as we go further when we get to the resolutions after the public hearing.

16:56

Then we have to, because the state is very specific, you have to do the district, and then that even if it's in the same meeting.

17:02

So, yeah, so no, good catch.

17:05

Thank you for that explanation.

17:07

Clearing that up.

17:08

Um, I'll call the motion, all in favor.

17:10

Aye.

17:11

Any opposed?

17:12

All right, it passes.

17:14

Lastly, we have a resolution setting June 16, 2026 as the date to consider a major amendment to a planned redevelopment district at 2071 East Belt Line Avenue Northeast.

17:25

So moved.

17:26

Support.

17:28

Good morning, Commissioners.

17:29

Uh, I think a soft landing with a little bit of simplicity here uh on this item.

17:34

Uh so when these uh two parcels were brought into the city of Grand Rapids, they were put into a planned redevelopment district, which is pretty uh common for that area of the city.

17:42

Um, at that time they were written pretty narrow uh in terms of the use and and layout that was permitted under that original approval.

17:50

So it did facilitate in this for this particular address at 2071 East Boutline, the construction or the creation of an IHOP restaurant or a restaurant generally.

18:01

Um so moving forward, there is a desire for uh a new credit union to locate on that property, uh, and so it does require a major amendment uh to the planned redevelopment district.

18:13

Uh having a little bit of foresight, we do uh great create a little bit of flexibility.

18:17

So while it will facilitate the immediate plan, it will also open up the PRD to be a little bit more flexible in the future to allow for uh any new development to comply with the underlying requirements of a PRD and not require review and consideration by the city commission.

18:35

So it facilitates the current plan and gives a little bit of flexibility in the future.

18:40

So this would be a date setting uh for June 16th for consideration of that ordinance amendment.

18:47

Okay, thank you for that.

18:48

Questions?

18:49

Um I can ask my questions at the hearing, but just so we're clear, this is a redevelopment plan, a zoning change.

18:58

Correct.

18:59

And so they're not, is it like to add buildings?

19:01

Is there gonna or is it just a flexibility to do a bunch of different things?

19:05

Thank you.

19:05

Uh I will clarify.

19:06

So this um is a zoning amendment, and it does allow for the demolition of the existing IHOP restaurant and the construction of a new building in a somewhat different location, and um and in the future allow for uh greater flexibility to staff and the planning commission uh for future users and or some site modifications.

19:31

And just to clarify, it's an or setting an ordinance date, not a hearing date.

19:36

So thank you for that.

19:37

Okay.

19:39

All right, no other questions.

19:40

I'll call the question.

19:41

We'll say aye.

19:42

Aye.

19:43

Any opposed?

19:44

It passes.

19:46

That will bring our meeting to 9 35 of the close.

19:50

Thank you all very much.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Economic Development███████████████████████████████████35%
Engineering And Infrastructure█████████████████████████████████33%
Procedural████████████████████████████████32%
Summary of Proceedings

Grand Rapids Community Development Committee Meeting - June 2, 2026

The Community Development Committee met on June 2, 2026, to consider several items including special assessments, street resurfacing contracts, hazardous material abatement extensions, a speculative building designation, and a planned redevelopment district amendment. All agenda items were approved.

Consent Calendar

  • Fireworks discharge permit for Pyrotech Special Effects Inc. for special effects at the Aquishare Amphitheater in connection with the Jelly Roll concert on June 13, 2026. Approved unanimously.
  • Confirmation of the Uptown Business Improvement District special assessment roll number 8804 in the amount of $125,326.28. One appeal was denied. Approved unanimously.
  • Setting July 21, 2026 at 2 p.m. as the date for a public hearing for the city commission to sit as the board of review on special assessment Downtown Improvement District roll 8806. Approved unanimously.
  • Awarding contract with C and D Hughes Inc. for rotomilling and resurfacing of streets at various locations (Contract 2025-5) in the amount of $2,901,380 with a total not to exceed $3,834. Approved unanimously.
  • Approving an increase of $122,290 for LMFP backwash check valve replacement for a total not to exceed $425,870. Approved unanimously.
  • Approving an extension for as needed surface lot services with no change in previously authorized expenditures of $500,000. Approved unanimously.
  • Approving an extension for as needed general construction services at various locations with no change in previously authorized expenditures of $2 million. Approved unanimously.
  • Approving an extension for as needed concrete and facade restoration at various locations with no change in previously authorized expenditures of $2 million. Approved unanimously.
  • Approving an extension for contracts for as needed roof assessment management with no change in previously authorized expenditures of $1 million. Approved unanimously.
  • Approving a release of easement and accepting a public utilities easement in connection with 5591 Wing Avenue Southeast. Approved unanimously.

Discussion Items

  • Speculative Building Designation for Honey Crisp Ventures: The committee scheduled a public hearing on June 16, 2026 to consider a speculative building designation requested by Honey Crisp Ventures for a $7.5 million project located at 2210 Northridge Drive Northwest in the Walker View Industrial Park. This is the first time the city has processed a speculative building designation. The designation would allow a future qualified user to apply for a certificate for an industrial facilities abatement more efficiently. Approved unanimously.
  • Industrial Development District for Honey Crisp Ventures: The committee scheduled a public hearing for June 16, 2026 to consider establishing an industrial development district for Honey Crisp Ventures at the same location. The district is within a 425 agreement with the city of Walker. Approved unanimously.
  • Major Amendment to Planned Redevelopment District at 2071 East Belt Line Avenue Northeast: The committee set June 16, 2026 as the date to consider a major amendment to a planned redevelopment district. The amendment would allow for the demolition of the existing IHOP restaurant and construction of a new building for a credit union, and provide future flexibility for site modifications without city commission review. Approved unanimously.

Key Outcomes

  • All resolutions were approved unanimously with no opposition.
  • Several contracts were extended without increased expenditures.
  • Public hearings were scheduled for June 16, 2026 on the speculative building designation and industrial development district for Honey Crisp Ventures, and the planned redevelopment district amendment.
  • The meeting adjourned at 9:35 a.m.

Meeting Transcript

And we will start our community development committee meeting with our first item of the day, resolution approving a fireworks discharge permit for pyrotech special effects inc for special effects at the Aquishare Amphitheater in connection with the Jelly Roll concert on June 13th, 2026. So moved, Mr. Jensen. Morning. I do support support. Sorry. I'm doing two jobs. Sorry. Yep. And a fine job you're doing. Thank you. Um, yeah, it's the amputator. We're gonna be there for all the pyrows at least for the first year until we work out how things work there because close proximity fireworks and an open stage, you never know what direction the wind's blowing. So are these mostly power? I'm sorry, uh mostly pyrotechnics up at the stage, not firework fireworks. They're close proximity of pyrotechnics, so yeah, like what you see at the DeVos place or at uh Van Andal Arena. I'm good. Thanks. Any other questions? No, thank you. All right. Call the vote. All in favor, aye. It passes. All right. Thank you. Thank you. Next resolution confirming the uptown business improvement district. Special assessment roll number 8804, and that is Miss Lindsay Post. Welcome. So I will so move that we talk about this. Support. Okay, this is for um the confirmation of the uptown business improvement district. Um at the request of the Uptown Business Improvement District, the assessor's office prepared the special assessment roll number 8804 in accordance with the district's plan that was adopted in March of 2025. This is the second year of the three-year plan or five-year plan. I'm sorry. Property owners were sent notices on April 14th and notified of the charge and the appeal process. The special assessment rule was open for public inspection for at least two weeks, starting on April 20th, and then the city commission convened as the board of review to hear appeals on May 1st. We had one appeal. Upon review of the appeal by the city assessor and the attorney's office, we recommend denying the appeal and confirming special assessment rule number 8804 in the amount of 125,326.28 cents. And if confirmed, this assessment will be invoiced on the summer tax bill July 1st. Great, thank you. Can I ask the question? What was the appeal? It was they were just appealing that there is a special assessment in that district. Okay, they thought property taxes should cover that. So, all right, Chair. Um, yeah, just for everyone here, can you remind the public why we have this particular special assessment? Is it for the street? Yes, it's like it's wealthy cherry lake, it's a corridor district, it's for the businesses.

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