Planning Commission unanimously recommends rezoning downtown block to T4 to aid affordable housing application

The City of Battle Creek Planning Commission unanimously voted Aug. 27 to recommend that the City Commission rezone multiple parcels bounded by J Street, Main Street, Bartlett Street and Willis Street from T3 Neighborhood Commercial to T4 Downtown Commercial.

City planning staff told the commission the rezoning is intended to remove dimensional and density limits that have made parcel consolidation difficult and to allow a developer to pursue Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) funding in the October 2025 application round. "The city and the land bank would work, provided the necessary approvals are given that the developer is able to secure their funding," a staff member said, describing a plan for the Calhoun County Land Bank and the City of Battle Creek to transfer parcels to the developer if funding is secured.

The change would align the southern parcels with adjacent T4-zoned parcels to the north and is intended to facilitate redevelopment that the staff and applicant describe as housing-focused. Staff identified one existing legal nonconformity — a warehouse at the corner of Willis and Bartlett that is not permitted in either T3 or T4 — and noted a remaining single-family residence in the rezoning area is classified as an "existing use" under the city's ordinance and may continue or be reconstructed under current code language.

Commissioners asked about timing and public engagement. Staff said the developer has an Oct. 1 deadline to file a LIHTC application with the state, which prompted an expedited schedule. Staff also said they plan to take materials to the city commission for introduction the following week and will meet with MPC1 (the neighborhood planning committee) to collect feedback that will be included in city commission materials; a separate opportunity for neighbors to comment is scheduled for Sept. 4. Commissioner Gray said it was "unfortunate" the timeline limited earlier citizen input.

Commissioner Gray moved to approve rezoning request PRZ25-0005 based on staff recommendations; Commissioner Morris supported the motion. The roll-call vote was unanimous, and the commission recommended the rezoning to the City Commission for final action.

The planning commission's recommendation does not itself rezone the properties; final approval rests with the City Commission and is contingent on any conditions it imposes and on the developer securing external LIHTC funding.