Battle Creek commission adopts multiple ordinances, authorizes HUD-related grants and local agreements

Battle Creek City Commission voted to adopt a series of ordinances and resolutions and approved grant and contract authorizations during its Sept. 16 meeting at Battle Creek City Hall.

The commission approved ordinance changes and land-use actions affecting multiple properties, repealed several previously granted payments-in-lieu-of-taxes (PILOTs) and authorized new PILOT language for two developments. The commission also authorized a federal-state lead-hazard grant, approved a Neighborhood Enterprise Zone certificate and authorized a supportive-services agreement with the county transportation authority.

The most consequential actions, taken by roll call or unanimous voice vote, included: approval of ordinance 08-2025 (repealing section 17 of chapter 882, real estate taxation, regarding a PILOT for Sophia Square); ordinance 09-2025 (repealing section 18 of chapter 882, regarding a PILOT for Hamlin Opera House); ordinance 10-2025 (repealing section 24 of chapter 882, regarding a PILOT for Manchester Place); adoption of ordinance 11-2025 (adding section 25 to chapter 882 to authorize a PILOT for Bennett Crossing) after a procedural amendment voted and adopted by the commission; adoption of ordinance 12-2025 (adding section 26 to authorize a PILOT for the Liberty Commons apartments and town homes); adoption of ordinance 13-2025 (amending chapter 220 to update street-renaming procedures and protect specified heritage street names); and adoption of ordinance 14-2025 (rezoning five parcels bounded by Main, Bartlett and Willis streets from T3 Neighborhood Commercial District to T4 Downtown Commercial District to prepare them for potential future development).

The commission also introduced ordinance 15-2025, which would amend section 12.63 of the zoning code (signs) to allow a specified maximum size for certain directional signs that do not require a permit and to reformat the regulations chart for clarity; the introduction (first reading) was approved during the meeting (the roll-call record referenced later in the meeting shows a 7-0 affirmative result for that introduction).

On resolutions and other authorizations, the commission: - Approved Resolution 246, issuing a Neighborhood Enterprise Zone certificate for Northeast Property Group LLC for properties at 119 W. Van Buren St. and 57 McCamley St. in Neighborhood Enterprise Zone RD 12; the resolution was moved and seconded and approved. - Approved Resolution 247, authorizing the city manager to execute a 2026 Medicaid Childhood Health Improvement Program (CHIP) lead-hazard control grant agreement for $1,345,000 with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and to enter a subrecipient agreement with Community Action for lead-abatement implementation; the authorization explicitly includes authority to accept future amendments that add funding. - Approved Resolution 248, authorizing the city manager to enter into a supportive-services agreement with the Transportation Authority of Calhoun County.

Procedure note: for ordinance 11-2025 (Bennett Crossing) the commission first moved to adopt an amended version at the request of Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) staff; the amendment vote was approved, and the commission then adopted the amended ordinance. Meeting discussion characterized the MSHDA changes as non-substantive "Scribner's" edits requested by the state agency.

Votes at a glance (items explicitly acted on during the meeting): - Ordinance 15-2025 (introduction/first reading: sign code amendments) — introduced/approved (roll-call later recorded as 7-0). - Ordinance 08-2025 (repeal, PILOT: Sophia Square) — adopted/approved. - Ordinance 09-2025 (repeal, PILOT: Hamlin Opera House) — adopted/approved. - Ordinance 10-2025 (repeal, PILOT: Manchester Place) — adopted/approved. - Ordinance 11-2025 (add PILOT: Bennett Crossing) — amended; amended ordinance adopted/approved. - Ordinance 12-2025 (add PILOT: Liberty Commons apartments and town homes) — adopted/approved. - Ordinance 13-2025 (rename/heritage streets; repeal commemorative designation section) — adopted/approved. - Ordinance 14-2025 (rezoning five parcels to T4 Downtown Commercial District) — adopted/approved. - Resolution 246 (NEZ certificate, Northeast Property Group LLC; 119 W. Van Buren St. and 57 McCamley St.) — approved. - Resolution 247 (authorize CHIP lead-hazard grant agreement, $1,345,000; MDHHS; subrecipient Community Action) — approved. - Resolution 248 (supportive services agreement with Transportation Authority of Calhoun County) — approved.

Background/context: several of the ordinance adoptions repeal earlier local PILOT authorizations for named projects and add new PILOT language for forthcoming developments. The commission heard staff and the city attorney describe the MSHDA-requested edits to ordinance 11-2025 as largely clerical rather than substantive. The rezoning (ordinance 14-2025) was described as aligning existing character and uses between Main, Bartlett and Willis streets with a T4 Downtown Commercial District designation to support potential future redevelopment.

No item in this package was tabled or failed during the meeting. Several votes were taken without extended commissioner comment; where substantive questions or clarifications were raised (for example, the MSHDA edits), staff and the city attorney provided brief explanations during the motion process. The commission approved the consent agenda and then proceeded with the resolutions and ordinance adoptions.

Next steps: adopted ordinances take effect according to local ordinance rules unless otherwise specified; staff indicated that the amended text requested by MSHDA for ordinance 11-2025 had been circulated to commissioners prior to the vote.