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Zeeland SARB: south lot to close Sept. 15 for repairs; timed-parking changes and permit option draw mixed reaction
Summary
The Shopping Area Redevelopment Board on Sept. 11 reviewed a phased construction schedule that will close the south lot for concrete work Sept. 15 and implement other repairs Sept. 17–21. Members debated preserving four-hour timed parking versus selling limited permits and agreed to monitor effects through winter.
The Shopping Area Redevelopment Board heard a construction timetable and a continuing debate over timed parking at its Sept. 11 meeting. Marketing Director Abigail deRoo reported that “the south parking lot will be closed for concrete work beginning September 15 and then milling, resurfacing and striping will take place September 17–21.”
deRoo said Church Street is slated for reconstruction in 2026 and outlined a tentative phasing plan: finish the stretch between the Clean Water Plant and the cemetery by Memorial Day; spend June working from Lincoln to Central; and begin work from Central to Washington midsummer, a phase expected to extend from July into November.
Board members raised operational concerns about weekday timed parking that was rolled out in July 2025. Gentry relayed that “a fellow downtown business owner suggested the creation of special employee parking to prevent employees from walking in the snow this winter.” deRoo reported two customer complaints: that the four-hour lot limit can be too short for an appointment plus shopping, and that it prevents some game-store patrons from staying as long as they like.
City staff have removed Saturdays from lot timed-parking; under the adjustment, lot limits will be four hours Monday–Friday, 7 a.m.–5 p.m., while on-street spaces will remain two hours Monday–Saturday, 7 a.m.–5 p.m. deRoo asked whether SARB wanted a parking survey and offered four options: revert to no timed parking in the lots, maintain four-hour limits, increase to five hours, or sell a limited number of permits for the north and south lots.
Dick and VanHoven expressed support for selling a limited number of permits; other members favored maintaining the four-hour limit and monitoring conditions through the winter or a full year before making a major policy change. deRoo asked SARB members to be prepared to discuss the issue with downtown businesses and to report back as complaints or data emerge.
Next steps: staff will proceed with the construction closures and the adjusted Saturday parking rule; SARB will monitor parking outcomes and consider whether a formal survey or study is needed.
