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Kentwood commission approves zoning change to allow limited fuel stations on Division Avenue
Summary
The City Commission voted June 2 to add a special‑land‑use path allowing fuel stations in the Division Avenue form‑based code area with 11 design controls and location limits; proponents said it will redevelop a blighted corner, while planning commissioners had been split 4–3.
The Kentwood City Commission on June 2 approved a zoning text amendment to permit fuel stations as a special land use in parts of the Division Avenue form‑based code area, a change proponents say will enable redevelopment of the former Rite Aid corner at 44th and Division.
Planning staff described the measure as a narrowly tailored amendment that removes a redundant provision and adds 11 design requirements focused on vehicle‑pedestrian interactions, landscaping and building placement. Planning staff said the amendment would restrict new fuel stations to major intersections and other limited locations, and that any project would still require planning‑commission special‑land‑use review and site‑plan approval before construction could begin.
"We took the original ... and added actually 11 design requirements to that, which are kind of focused on requirements to better control the vehicle‑pedestrian interactions," planning staff said.
Mitch Fannin, representing RA Redevelopment Partners and the property owner of the former Rite Aid, told commissioners the site has been marketed for four years and that major convenience/petroleum operators are the only serious buyers. "We've been dealing with this property for over 4 years now… the only people who are interested are people who wanna put a c‑store in a fuel station," he said, adding that vendors had proposed investments of roughly $4 million to $6 million and would build to form‑based‑code design standards.
Several commissioners said the corner is in poor condition and argued the amendment balances the code’s walkability goals with a realistic redevelopment path. "That particular corner has been looking really shabby… I feel like this would be a great improvement to that corner," one commissioner said during debate.
Commissioner Moore moved to approve the special‑land‑use section of the zoning code; Commissioner Mosley supported. The council held a roll‑call vote; Commissioners Mosley, Tyson, Arts, Caplan and Moore voted yes and the motion passed. Council members noted that approval of the text change does not permit immediate construction: each site will still require separate special‑land‑use and site‑plan reviews.
Planning staff said if the amendment is approved, applicants will return to planning commission for site‑level review and that a best‑case construction timeline could be as soon as the third or fourth quarter of the year, depending on vendor lead times and approvals.
Why it matters: The amendment opens a regulated pathway for private investment on a high‑traffic corner while keeping design controls in place; opponents at previous planning hearings had argued it could weaken the Division Avenue form‑based code’s emphasis on non‑auto‑centric design.
Next steps: Developers seeking to build must submit special‑land‑use and site‑plan applications to the planning commission for approval.
