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Commission approves neighborhood enterprise zone certificates for Green Rabbit lots; authorizes DPW to sign Amity Street bridge agreement
Summary
The City of Muskegon Commission on Jan. 14 approved neighborhood enterprise zone certificates for several lots sold to Green Rabbit Home Builders and separately authorized a resolution allowing the public works director and city clerk to sign the state agreement to remove and reconstruct the Amity Street bridge.
The City of Muskegon Commission on Jan. 14 approved neighborhood enterprise zone (NEZ) certificates for a cluster of city lots that Green Rabbit Home Builders purchased and separately authorized a resolution enabling the city’s public works director and clerk to sign a Michigan Department of Transportation agreement for removal and reconstruction of the Amity Street bridge.
NEZ certificates: Staff said Green Rabbit plans to build homes on several parcels in central neighborhoods (addresses read into the record included multiple lots on Jackson, Leonard, Elva, Herrick and Langley). Development analyst Jocelyn Hines told the commission that each house’s construction cost is about $190,000 and that Green Rabbit holds title to the lots following a May 28, 2024 sale of the parcels to the builder.
Green Rabbit representatives said they had paused initial site work after confirming the sites fall within the expanded NEZ map so potential buyers can receive the zone’s tax benefit. A company representative explained the NEZ benefit was a key factor in buyers’ financing decisions; commissioners and the developer described the NEZ benefit as reducing property taxes in early years and helping new homeowners avoid unexpectedly high first-year tax bills after reassessment. Staff said the NEZ program will be the subject of forthcoming community engagement to clarify which improvements produce taxable value.
Amity Street bridge authorization: Commissioners took up a separate motion to adopt a resolution authorizing the director of public works and the city clerk to sign the MDOT removal-and-reconstruction agreement for the Amity Street bridge. Dan VanderHeide, the city’s director of public works, told the commission the resolution simply corrects an omission from the prior month by granting the signatures MDOT requires so the project can proceed.
Votes at a glance - Consent agenda (adopted as presented minus item e): motion to adopt the consent agenda passed on roll call (motion moved by Commissioner Keener; second by Commissioner Cochin). Recorded votes during roll call showed affirmative votes from members present. - Item e — Resolution authorizing DPW director and clerk to sign Amity Street bridge removal and reconstruction agreement with MDOT: motion by Commissioner German, supported by Commissioner Kilgore; passed on roll call. - Neighborhood enterprise zone certificates (addresses on Jackson, Leonard, Elva, Herrick and Langley): motion to close the public hearing and approve the NEZ certificates moved by Commissioner Keener (recorded as "Kenner" in the roll call), supported by Commissioner Kilgore; passed on roll call.
What was said: Commissioners and the developer emphasized that NEZ certificates reduce early tax burdens for new homeowners and can remove a source of financing friction (escrow shortfalls after reassessment). Jocelyn Hines said the city had recently amended the NEZ map to expand eligibility and that more detailed community outreach on taxable improvements is planned in the coming months.
No votes or actions in the meeting materials changed zoning or introduced new tax policy beyond issuing the certificates and authorizing the MDOT contract signature. Both measures carried on roll-call votes.
The commission moved on after the votes to other business and public comment.
