Commission approves staff‑initiated rezoning of North Michigan/I‑675 corridor to B‑2 amid neighborhood questions

Planning staff presented a staff‑initiated proposal to rezone the North Michigan/I‑675 corridor — a block from Shaffer to North Michigan and east to the railroad tracks, including properties that abut North Michigan from Davenport to Kronk — from B1A and RMU‑RC (riverfront/mixed use overlay) to B2 (general business). Staff said the corridor does not meet typical riverfront/mixed‑use characteristics and that B2 would better support redevelopment of high‑traffic parcels such as vacant pharmacy buildings and a parcel behind Family Dollar.

Why it matters: The change alters the set of permitted commercial uses on multiple parcels and could accelerate private redevelopment by making sites more attractive to high‑traffic franchised businesses. Several residents and property owners attended and asked about tax impacts, the effect on churches and houses near Shaffer Street, and whether the change would enable large residential developments or preclude future walkability and pedestrian improvements.

Public comments and concerns: Helen Atkinson, who owns a rental on North Michigan near the I‑675 ramps, asked whether taxes would increase and whether a rental could be converted to storefront use. Terry Pearson, pastor of a small church on Shaffer Street, asked whether the church parcel would be affected; staff clarified that properties on the west side of Shaffer (including 1915 Shaffer) were not part of the proposed rezoning. Mary Ellen Frayer spoke on behalf of her brother about long family ownership and asked for clarity on which parcels are included. Dylan Helles, representing Covenant Health Care, said Covenant supports the change and urged maintaining connections between the Covenant neighborhood and downtown.

Commission discussion: Commissioners questioned whether the rezoning would impede future nonmotorized or pedestrian improvements; staff said the corridor is highly traffic‑intensive and not currently conducive to pedestrian orientation and that nonmotorized projects would be considered citywide where appropriate. One commissioner noted a developer interest in a property and that a stand‑alone rezoning would move a likely project forward faster than waiting for the broader zoning ordinance rewrite.

Decision and next steps: After public comment and discussion the commission voted in favor of the staff‑initiated rezoning to B2. Staff said the change aims to encourage commercial redevelopment of underused parcels; individual property owners would still need to pursue site plan or building permits for changes of use.