Planning Commission unanimously recommends Lakeview District sub‑plan for city commission adoption

On April 23, 2025, the City of Battle Creek Planning Commission voted unanimously to recommend that the Lakeview District sub‑plan be adopted as part of the city’s master plan and forwarded the proposal to the City Commission for formal adoption.

The sub‑plan lays out a multi‑phase vision for mixed‑use redevelopment of the Lakeview area, including reimagining parts of the Lakeview Square Mall parking area, new green space along Brickyard Creek and a mix of housing types. Commissioners and staff characterized the plan as a policy and design framework rather than a binding schedule; implementing projects will require future zoning changes, infrastructure investment and individual development proposals.

Staff said the plan has been in development since February and included public outreach and a 42‑day notice period to neighboring jurisdictions, utilities and property owners; staff reported they received no formal written comments from jurisdictions or utilities and that public comments submitted through the engagement process have been incorporated into the document. Marcel (planning staff) described how financing could work for public infrastructure: “TIF stands for tax incremental finance,” he said, explaining that a Lakeview Downtown Development Authority (LDDA) district would capture incremental tax revenue for reinvestment and that the LDDA could retain some capture going forward to fund public infrastructure work in the plan area.

At a public comment hearing, resident Annie Stuttler of 69 East Langley said she supports much of the vision but raised concerns about affordability, construction costs and long‑term property maintenance. “You have my blessings on most of it, not quite all of it, but most of it,” Stuttler said, while also noting building costs and the difficulty of sustaining owner‑occupied maintenance over time.

Commission discussion focused on several recurring implementation issues: how TIF capture would be used, funding sources for infrastructure, likely time frame for build‑out, who would maintain proposed green space, the role of private owners at Lakeview Square Mall and the likely housing mix. Staff and commissioners said TIF proceeds could fund public infrastructure and that state, federal and private resources would likely be needed in combination for larger investments. Commissioners were told there is no fixed implementation schedule; build‑out would likely occur in phases over several years.

Commissioners asked about property‑owner engagement at the mall site; staff said the city engaged GK (a mall owner) and other property owners, and that the current plan was revised to align more closely with property‑owner perspectives. Commissioners also discussed a recent apartment development interest in the area (referred to as the “Redwood” development), and staff said the plan gives the city materials to show potential developers how the Target Plaza area could accommodate mixed‑use residential development.

Discussion also touched on housing tenure: staff said the plan envisions a mix of compact townhomes, cottage‑court housing and small multifamily buildings and that, given the density in the vision, much of the housing is likely to be rental with some opportunities for ownership. Commissioners suggested adding homeownership education and resources for first‑time buyers as part of implementation.

After questions and comments, a motion to approve the Lakeview District sub‑plan as part of the master plan was made and supported. The motion passed unanimously; the commission’s recommendation will proceed to the City Commission for formal adoption.

The planning commission emphasized that next steps include zoning work for Beckley Road and staged approvals for individual projects; any development requiring variances or site approvals will return to the commission for review.