Planning commission backs conditional rezoning of former Pontiac General Hospital parking lot for up to 90 low-income units

The City of Pontiac Planning Commission voted to recommend approval of a conditional rezoning of 461 West Huron Street — the parking parcels associated with the former Pontiac General Hospital — from P1 (parking) to R‑4 (multiple‑family dwelling) to permit a proposed affordable housing project limited to four stories and a maximum of 90 units.

The applicant’s representative, Jim Pappas of Pappas Architects, said the design was changed after earlier public concern about massing and density: “we had proposed a maximum of 6 stories previously that we have reduced that down, to reduce density on the site and limited to 4 stories as 1 of the conditions of rezoning. Additionally … we have reduced that, to 90 units on the site.” Noah Link, who identified himself as the property owner, said he purchased the site in October 2024 and that the team selected a local management company (Higgins Group) after community concerns about previous managers.

Why it matters: Commissioners and nearby residents debated parking, traffic and neighborhood fit during a two‑minute public‑comment period and a…