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Muskegon Planning Commission denies extended‑hours request, clears zoning language updates and approves minutes
Summary
At its Jan. 16 meeting the commission denied a proposed ordinance change to extend hours for a specific business, recommended two zoning text updates to the city commission, and approved minutes from Dec. 12, 2024; it also struck one item from the agenda at the applicant's request.
The Muskegon City Planning Commission on Jan. 16 took several formal actions: it denied a request to amend the zoning ordinance to allow extended hours for a single business, recommended two ordinance amendments to the City Commission, approved minutes from Dec. 12, 2024, and removed a pending nonconforming‑use expansion from the agenda at the applicant’s request.
The commission voted to deny the request from the Grassy Knoll to amend section 2331(a)(3) of the zoning ordinance to permit the business to operate until 2 a.m. The request had been discussed as drafted in a way that would have eliminated hours limits for other properties; staff and several commissioners recommended against a business‑specific amendment. The motion to deny passed by roll call (unanimous among members present on the motion).
The commission recommended two staff‑initiated text amendments for City Commission consideration. First, it voted to replace all references to “single‑family residential districts” with “neighborhood residential districts” in the zoning ordinance (case 2025‑04). Second, it recommended definitions for duplexes and triplexes be added to Article 2, defining a duplex as a building designed for occupancy by two families living independently and a triplex as a medium‑sized structure designed for occupancy by three families living independently (case 2025‑05). Both items were approved by roll call and will go to the City Commission for final action.
At the meeting staff also noted case 2025‑02 (a request to expand a nonconforming use at 2984 Lakeshore Drive) was withdrawn from the agenda so the applicant could pursue variances or revise plans; staff advised the item would return to a future meeting if needed. The commission approved the Dec. 12, 2024 minutes with a minor clarifying amendment to the wording about spot‑zone criteria.
Staff announced an upcoming expungement clinic Feb. 15 (city residents will have processing costs covered), discussed ongoing master‑plan work and zoning reform implementation, and reported Nelson School’s LIHTC application scored highly in the self‑assessment phase of the state tax‑credit round.
