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Allegan council approves downtown social-district expansion, MDOT tree-permit steps and routine PO and lot-split items; Rossman Park bonding process moves ahead
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Summary
Council expanded the Downtown Allegan Social District, authorized initial MDOT steps to plant street trees on M-89, approved several purchase orders (cemetery survey, airport PAPI baffles), approved accounts payable and two lot splits, and staff updated council on a $2.5 million Rossman Park grant and upcoming bonding timeline.
At its Sept. 22 meeting the Allegan City Council approved several items aimed at downtown improvements, airport safety and cemetery planning, while receiving updates on a Rossman Park grant and the notice-of-intent timeline for bonding.
Downtown social district: Council voted to expand the Downtown Allegan Social District boundary to include additional sidewalks that will better connect the Griswold Auditorium to downtown programming. Parker Johnson, who presented the proposal, emphasized the expansion covers sidewalks and will be marked with boundary stickers; he noted event-licensing rules apply at venues such as the Griswold. "You can technically, you can take a social district drink onto the boardwalk... but you can't take it any further than those 2 businesses," Johnson said, explaining how boundaries and signage will work.
MDOT street trees: The council approved a resolution to begin the MDOT permitting steps required to plant serviceberry trees in the M-89 right-of-way near Rossman Park; staff said species and sight-line details will be worked out with MDOT and that maintenance needs remain to be defined. Council members discussed the potential for volunteer help but stressed the city should budget for ongoing maintenance.
Procurement and routine approvals: The council approved multiple purchase orders and routine financial items by voice vote:
- PO 26-0834 to Whiteman Engineering for $14,250 to survey a green-burial section and Plot E at Oakwood Cemetery (low bid). - PO 26-0836 to J Rank Electric for PAPI light baffles at the city airport, approximately $11,003.75 (low bid; project budgeted at $40,000). - Approval of accounts payable and payroll, with a city share of $276,040.18 and total disbursements of $3,421,648.91.
Land use: Council approved two lot splits — a three-lot split for 147 Eastern Ave (Parcel 03-51-251-038-10) intended for new housing, and a lot split at 633 Airway Drive (Parcel 03-51-250-006-10) — both found to conform with zoning and approved by voice vote.
Rossman Park and bonding: City staff updated council on progress toward Rossman Park capital improvements, including a $2,500,000 grant to pay for water-utility work. Staff said they received two environmental-review estimates that will be submitted to the MEDC (the review is 100% MEDC-funded) and reminded council that an Oct. 13 vote to publish a notice of intent to bond will start a 45-day referendum window. "With that, the grant for $2,500,000 for Rossman Park, which is being used for the water utilities, we are making good progress on that project as well," staff said.
Votes at a glance: The council approved the fence-ordinance second-reading schedule, Whiteman PO 26-0834, J Rank PO 26-0836, accounts payable and payroll, social-district expansion, MDOT contract steps for tree plantings, and both lot splits (see provenance below for exact motions and segment references).
Next steps: Staff will return to the Oct. 13 meeting for the fence ordinance public hearing and for publication of the notice of intent to bond for Rossman Park; staff will also follow up on tree-species choices and maintenance, survey monumentation details for Oakwood Cemetery, and retain planning items for upcoming meetings.
