Lapeer commission approves infrastructure contracts, rezoning first reading and downtown improvement award

The Lapeer City Commission on Feb. 2 approved a series of infrastructure and land‑use actions, including a contract amendment for the M‑24 underpass pathway, a zoning ordinance first reading for 888 Baldwin Road and an award for downtown street and parking improvements.

Commissioners approved Road Professional Services contract amendment No. 1 for construction engineering services on the M‑24 underpass connector pathway in an amount not to exceed $79,225 and authorized the director of Parks, Recreation and Cemetery to sign necessary documents. The motion included related budget adjustments; the commission adopted the motion by roll call. Commissioners and staff discussed the project’s long history, the potential for unforeseen conditions during excavation and the need to complete longstanding capital work.

On first reading the commission voted to rezone 888 Baldwin Road (parcel L20048014000) from R‑2 single‑family residential to B‑2 general business and scheduled a second reading for Feb. 17, 2026. Discussion at first reading focused on traffic impacts at the intersection, driveway and parking constraints and the planning commission’s recommendation; the rezoning vote moves the parcel forward in the land‑use review process but does not approve a final site plan or specific use for the parcel.

The commission also voted to award the Park Street, Pine Street and Parking Lot No.9 improvement project to Deponio Contracting LLC for an amount not to exceed $3,960,000. The motion bundled several approvals: adoption of a notice of intent resolution to issue up to $3,750,000 in 2026 capital improvement bonds, approval of a road professional services contract for construction engineering (not to exceed $368,200), a DTE work order to relocate streetlight and guy wires (approximately $12,966.02 as noted in the packet), and associated fiscal year budget amendments. Staff told commissioners the contract includes liquidated damages to incentivize timely completion (staff cited $1,500 per day starting in July and $3,000 per day in August as penalty provisions), and they described work windows designed to limit downtown disruption, including a 50‑day maximum for the parking lot portion.

Commissioners asked questions about contractor experience, contingency planning, easement coordination with roughly 50 affected property owners for sidewalk and curb work, parking mitigation for downtown businesses and whether the city would honor cost‑reduction offers for business owners who wished to add fire suppression systems during construction. Staff said some cost‑reduction arrangements were in place and that engineering contingencies were built into contracts while noting that truly unforeseen conditions would require additional requests for funding.

Votes on these items were carried by roll call. Staff will return with contract documents, timeline details, easement status and any change‑order requests as the projects move into construction.