Commission approves 83,000‑sq‑ft recreation center; city keeps skate park and adds stormwater and parking measures

HOLLAND — The Holland planning commission on June 9 approved a site plan and special land use for a new roughly 83,000‑square‑foot recreation center at 325 Fairbanks Avenue, a multiuse facility intended to centralize youth sports, recreational programming and tournament play.

City representative Matt Van Dyken described the proposal as "a roughly 83,000 square foot recreation center that contains four full-size basketball courts" with spectator seating, program rooms, and space to host tournaments. He said the project includes underground stormwater detention, a substantial rain garden for initial treatment and educational signage, and pedestrian improvements near 13th and 14th streets and a dedicated bus drop-off on Fairbanks Avenue.

Van Dyken and the project architect said the city coordinated with Hope College on shared parking arrangements; the city expects to time larger tournaments to avoid Hope College events and to use Hope's parking during nonconflicting periods. Daryl of Integrated Architecture said retaining the existing skate park allowed the team to reduce above-ground stormwater infrastructure and that the design change reduced the net loss of parking to about nine spaces (roughly 3.5 percent of the parking provided).

Residents and nearby businesses raised operational and circulation concerns. John Sternberg of Langland Sternberg Funeral Home thanked staff for addressing shared-parking arrangements but asked the commission to consider vehicles cutting through his lot to avoid nearby intersections and stressed pedestrian safety near the pool. "Anything that can be added on your side to keep them out of my side would very much appreciated," Sternberg said.

Commissioners asked about program fees and access: Van Dyken said regular recreation programming will follow existing residency-based fee structures, and that admission fees may be charged for large tournaments. Commissioners also discussed whether additional sidewalks or crosswalk changes should be sought near Bow's Pool; staff confirmed that Bow's Pool is slated for renovation in 2028 and that crosswalk alignment changes at 16th Street are planned.

A commissioner moved to approve the site plan and special land use request for 325 Fairbanks Avenue with the conditions noted in the staff report; the motion passed by voice vote with no recorded opposition. The project must satisfy the staff conditions and finalize engineering, stormwater and pedestrian-improvement details during permitting.