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Hudsonville Commission approves master-plan amendment to let fairgrounds shift campground onto rear-yard parcels
Summary
After debate about loss of industrial land and housing impacts, the Hudsonville City Commission approved a master-plan amendment to redesignate rear-yard portions of several parcels adjacent to the fairgrounds from industrial to parks to allow the fairgrounds to relocate campground space.
The Hudsonville City Commission on May 12 approved a master-plan amendment under the Michigan Planning Enabling Act that redesignates parts of several parcels near the fairgrounds from industrial to parks, allowing the fairgrounds to shift campground uses onto rear-yard areas.
Mayor Mark Northrup and planning staff outlined the change as a multi-step process: the commission’s approval of the master-plan amendment is followed by a planning commission public hearing and then a rezoning request if the amendment advances. Planning Director Dan explained the amendment affects back portions of parcels that currently include residential rental homes along their frontage and that a future land division could realign parcel boundaries to match the updated future-land-use map.
Commissioners pressed staff on tradeoffs. Several members said the fair brings significant economic activity and programming to the region and that shifting campground space could improve the fairgrounds’ flow. Other members expressed concern that the amendment reduces local industrial land and could allow the eventual loss or demolition of older rental homes. "There was concern about loss of housing and industrial land," a commissioner said during the discussion, noting the planning commission weighed those factors before recommending approval.
Planning staff and the fairgrounds’ representatives told commissioners the fairgrounds intends to acquire the affected parcels and that the change is intended to support fair programming rather than immediate demolition. Staff emphasized the amendment alone does not rezone property or change ownership; rezoning and development proposals would return to the planning commission and city commission for additional review.
The motion passed on a roll-call vote with a majority in favor and Mayor Northrup recorded as opposed. The commission approved the amendment to proceed to required public hearings and subsequent rezoning steps, and staff said they expect additional, separate public review and land-dividing actions before any physical changes occur.
