Planning commission approves urban garden site plan at 648 Hastings Avenue

The Holland City Planning Commission voted to approve a site plan for an organic urban garden at 648 Hastings Avenue after a public hearing and a staff recommendation.

Bruce Eckert, the applicant, described plans to fence a central planted area on the roughly 0.919‑acre lot, preserve two trees in the northwest corner, construct a small shed and greenhouse, and add a driveway. "My plan is I'm planning to use 648 Hastings to develop an urban garden," Eckert said, adding that about "98% of the land will remain planted" and that unused areas would be seeded with native wildflowers and prairie grasses.

Steve, planning staff, told the commission the property is in a planned development district and that a greenhouse best matched the described use under the city's zoning categories. He said internal department reviews yielded no material objections and recommended approval with the conditions listed in the staff report. Transportation staff noted that the road curvature on Hastings makes on‑street parking undesirable; staff said the property has space for on‑site parking if needs change in the future.

During the required public hearing, Amy Eckert — who identified herself as the applicant's wife and a Holland resident — urged the commission to approve the request, saying her husband has been committed to organic gardening for years. "He has serious interest in the project and I think he'll do a good job," she said.

After discussion closed, a committee member moved to approve the use in the PUD and the site plan with conditions; the motion carried on a voice vote. The commission did not record roll-call tallies in the public transcript.

The approval allows the applicant to proceed subject to the conditions in the staff report and to the parking restriction identified by the transportation department. The commission did not discuss additional changes to the plan at the meeting.