OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Portage Planning Commission Meeting - October 2, 2025

Planning Commission — Thursday, October 2, 2025
BodyPortage, Michigan
SessionPlanning Commission
DateThursday, October 2, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 59:26

Transcript — Verbatim
0:04

Good evening, everyone, and welcome.

0:06

Uh at this time I would like to call to order.

0:08

This is the City of Portage Planning Commission meeting.

0:10

It is Thursday, October 2nd, 2025.

0:14

Uh, if we could all please stand at this time for the Pledge of Allegiance.

0:21

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America.

0:25

To the Republic for which it stands.

0:28

One nation under God indivisible with liberty.

0:36

All right, thank you all.

0:37

Uh next item on our agenda would be the roll call.

0:43

I'll start with Chair Cordini.

0:45

Here.

0:46

Vice Chair Baldwin will not be present today.

0:48

Secretary Freyman.

0:50

Here.

0:50

Commissioner Adams.

0:52

Here.

0:52

Commissioner Cobb.

0:53

Here.

0:53

Commissioner Orwig.

0:54

Here.

0:55

Commissioner Fries.

0:56

Here.

0:56

And Commissioner Crowwell.

0:58

Here.

0:59

Chairman, I'd like to make a motion that we excuse Commissioner Baldwin from tonight's meeting.

1:05

Second.

1:06

Motion made and second to excuse Commissioner Baldwin.

1:09

All those in favor say aye.

1:10

Aye.

1:11

Anyone opposed?

1:12

All right.

1:12

Motion passes.

1:13

Next item on our agenda is to approval of minutes.

1:16

This would be from our August 21st, 2025 meeting.

1:21

Were there any additional comments regarding the minutes?

1:24

Chairman, I'd like to make a motion to approve the August 21st, 2025 meeting minutes as presented.

1:32

Support.

1:33

Motion made and supported.

1:35

All those in favor say aye.

1:36

Aye.

1:37

Anyone opposed?

1:39

All right.

1:39

Motion passes.

1:41

First item on our agenda this evening is a site final plan.

1:45

This is the application seeking a site plan approval for the DePati Fluid Power at 5960 South Sprinkle Road.

1:53

The podium is yours, Mr.

1:54

Felt.

1:55

Thank you.

1:56

Good evening, everyone.

1:57

For the record, my name is Eric Felt, Planner with the City of Portage.

2:02

Motion passes.

2:03

Next item on our agenda is the August 21st, 2001.

2:10

So as the chair indicated, the project in front of you is an application seeking site plan approval for DePaddy Power Fluid located at 5960 South Sprinkler Road, where the applicant is AR Engineering LLC.

2:25

On the vicinity map, you can see that the project property is located in the northwest corner of East Millam Avenue and South Sprinkler Road, west of the Kalmazou Battle Creek International Airport.

2:36

Looking into the neighborhood area, the property is bound by several commercial and industrial tenants in the area, starting with a multi-tenant industrial sites to the north.

2:47

Two industrial contract companies to the south, Stanwood Company and Road Equipment Parts, and then moving to the east across South Sprinkle Road are a variety of commercial businesses such as the Dollar General, State Farm Office, multi-tenant commercial business, and then in the southwest corner, a striker facility.

3:08

Existing tenant currently operating out of the subject building and will continue operating with today's proposal is De Paddy Power Fluid, where they create and assemble a variety of industrial parts, including fittings and quick couplings, hoses, pipes, tubings, seals, o-rings, and more.

3:27

A little bit of the site history going back just a few years in 2022.

3:31

And then moving forward to 2025, you can see on the right, the building to the north was recently constructed.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Engineering And Infrastructure███████████████████████████████31%
Zoning Regulations████████████████████████24%
Procedural███████████████████19%
Affordable Housing████████████████16%
Transportation Safety████████8%
Economic Development██2%
Summary of Proceedings

Portage Planning Commission Meeting - October 2, 2025

The Portage Planning Commission met on October 2, 2025, to consider two site plan applications. Commissioners excused absent member Baldwin, approved minutes from August 21, 2025, and then reviewed and unanimously approved both proposals.

Discussion Items

  • DePati Fluid Power Expansion (5960 South Sprinkle Road): Staff planner Eric Felt presented the application for a 60,750-square-foot addition to an existing 11,800-square-foot industrial building, totaling 72,000 square feet. The site includes 92 proposed parking spaces, exceeding the 65-space requirement. No public hearing was required. The applicant (AR Engineering) noted the extra parking accounts for potential employee growth. The commission approved the site plan as submitted.

  • Center Port Apartments (7920 Portage Road): Staff planner Eric Felt presented a four-story, 151-unit mixed-use building with a small café, 154 parking spaces (requirement 153), and underground stormwater management. The site is in the Lake Center Edge zoning district. Staff recommended approval with a condition to submit detailed utility drawings prior to public utility plan review. Commission discussion raised concerns about traffic safety (left turns onto East Center Avenue), parking adequacy, water main looping, and pedestrian barriers. The applicant, James Lewis of Pinnacle Construction Group, stated the development is market-rate with 20% of units at 100% AMI via brownfield TIF; estimated rents are $1,300/month for studios, $1,500 for one-bedrooms, and $2,200 for two-bedrooms. Potential overflow parking arrangements with Consumers Energy were mentioned. Commissioners expressed overall support. The commission approved the site plan with the staff-recommended condition.

Key Outcomes

  • Approved (unanimous): Site plan for DePati Fluid Power Expansion at 5960 South Sprinkle Road.
  • Approved (unanimous): Site plan for Center Port Apartments at 7920 Portage Road, subject to the condition that prior to public utility plan review, the applicant shall submit utility documents showing code-compliant city water, sewer, and private stormwater utilities.

Meeting Transcript

Good evening, everyone, and welcome. Uh at this time I would like to call to order. This is the City of Portage Planning Commission meeting. It is Thursday, October 2nd, 2025. Uh, if we could all please stand at this time for the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. To the Republic for which it stands. One nation under God indivisible with liberty. All right, thank you all. Uh next item on our agenda would be the roll call. I'll start with Chair Cordini. Here. Vice Chair Baldwin will not be present today. Secretary Freyman. Here. Commissioner Adams. Here. Commissioner Cobb. Here. Commissioner Orwig. Here. Commissioner Fries. Here. And Commissioner Crowwell. Here. Chairman, I'd like to make a motion that we excuse Commissioner Baldwin from tonight's meeting. Second. Motion made and second to excuse Commissioner Baldwin. All those in favor say aye. Aye. Anyone opposed? All right. Motion passes. Next item on our agenda is to approval of minutes. This would be from our August 21st, 2025 meeting. Were there any additional comments regarding the minutes? Chairman, I'd like to make a motion to approve the August 21st, 2025 meeting minutes as presented. Support. Motion made and supported. All those in favor say aye. Aye. Anyone opposed? All right. Motion passes. First item on our agenda this evening is a site final plan. This is the application seeking a site plan approval for the DePati Fluid Power at 5960 South Sprinkle Road. The podium is yours, Mr. Felt. Thank you. Good evening, everyone.

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