Council schedules second reading and public hearing for rezoning of 650 Grand Street

A first reading and staff presentation for an ordinance to rezone 650 Grand Street advanced at the Allegan City Council meeting on July 28, 2025. City staff said Community Action, an agency that serves Allegan County, recently acquired the property (also called the United Way building) near the industrial park and is proposing a planned unit development to support a family empowerment center that would host Head Start/early education operations, food distribution, community classrooms and administrative space.

City staff told council the property currently contains multiple zoning designations (residential, industrial and commercial) and that the applicant seeks to rezone the parcel to a PUD (planned unit development) with an accompanying development plan that the Planning Commission reviewed. Councilmembers noted the project has been in coordination with the city for more than a year and said the long‑term vision includes selling the applicant’s downtown property after they relocate; council discussion also referenced a grant the applicant had received (council recalled a figure in the $4.3–4.5 million range).

Councilmember Westover moved to set the matter for a second reading and to schedule a public hearing on Aug. 11, 2025; the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote. The council took no final action on rezoning at the July 28 meeting — the public hearing and second reading on Aug. 11 will be the next formal steps.

If council moves forward after the public hearing, the ordinance change would reclassify the site to PUD and implement the development plan reviewed at the Planning Commission. No final zoning decision or building permit has been approved as of the July 28 meeting.