Planning commission backs rezoning of West Columbia parcel to heavy industrial

The Battle Creek City Planning Commission on April 23 voted to recommend rezoning a parcel along West Columbia Avenue (parcel number 0619-41-0 / 700-0) from R-1A single-family to I-2 heavy industrial. Commissioner Godfrey moved the rezoning; Mayor Behnke seconded. The motion carried on recorded votes by Commissioner Morris, Mayor Behnke, Commissioner Godfrey, Commissioner Hughes and Commissioner Gray and will be presented to the City Commission for introduction on June 17.

The rezoning request, labeled R01-25 in the packet, would return a strip of the owner’s property that fronts West Columbia Avenue to the I-2 district. Planning staff said the change is largely a “cleanup” of a 2023 rezone that left a mix of industrial and single-family zoning in the area; staff described the portion along West Columbia as long used for storage of asphalt and fill materials and “considered a legal nonconforming use at this point,” according to Travis, a staff member.

Neighbors said the storage and nighttime activity are creating noise, visibility and health worries. Cheryl Doust, who…