East Grand Rapids Commission approves amended Gaslight Investors concept plan after contested hearing

The East Grand Rapids City Commission approved an amended concept plan and resolution for the Gaslight Investors planned unit development (PUD) after a lengthy public hearing and debate over a late-filed protest petition.

Mayor Frivali opened the discussion and explained staff and the developer had negotiated five changes to the draft resolution. City Manager Charles summarized the revisions, which address maintenance standards for privately built streets and sidewalks, facade step-backs for taller buildings, continued community access to private streets for events, and conditions to ensure unfinished building pads are seeded and maintained if later phases are not built.

The commission and staff repeatedly emphasized that the vote before them was for the concept plan only and that detailed studies and approvals would be required at later stages. City Manager Charles said additional project-specific traffic and parking analyses will be required after “building location and uses are finalized.”

The meeting included sustained public comment. Several residents told commissioners they opposed the concept plan in its current form because of density, parking and traffic concerns. Bonnie Mower, a longtime resident, said, “In summary, the increase in density and traffic, I believe, will negatively impact the current community atmosphere.” Attorney Nick Curcio, who filed a copy of a protest petition with staff, told the commission the petition should be treated under…