Planning commission denies straight rezoning for 80 N. 20th St., urges conditional plan and neighborhood talks

The City of Battle Creek Planning Commission voted down a straight rezoning request for 80 North 20th Street on Feb. 26, 2025, rejecting the applicant’s request to change the property from R1B single-family residential to T3 neighborhood commercial and directing the applicant to work with neighbors on a conditional rezoning.

Staff said the parcel is approximately 16.54 acres and under the current R1B designation would allow a by-right single-family subdivision; the staff report recommended denial of an unconditional rezoning because of potential incompatibility with surrounding uses. Staff described a straight rezoning to T3 as allowing a much higher by-right density; the staff presentation listed a T3 maximum capacity of up to 330 dwelling units if developed at full allowable density.

The applicant, Michael Gothberg of Titus LLC, said he and his development team have not yet closed on the property and therefore have not prepared a formal site plan.…