GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — People living in a Grand Rapids neighborhood off Lake Michigan Drive are very upset after construction started a parking lot expansion project at the Planet Fitness.
Chris Smith and his wife moved into their home in the area with plans for a peaceful environment where they could raise a family.
Shortly after they moved in, however, they say that peace turned out to be up in the air.
Dating back to 2022, a permit was issued in October 2024 allowing the Planet Fitness that sits at the back of the couple's property to add roughly 28 parking spaces.
Smith voiced his concerns about the project at a city planning commission meeting two years ago in 2022. He said a letter signed by about 20 neighbors addressing the same was submitted as well as a separate letter by a nearby senior community.
As two years went by, however, Smith thought the project wasn't happening. This week, though, that changed.
He explained, "to show up and see the trees being ripped out from the excavator, it's extremely disheartening."
Smith is an army veteran, "buying this property was kind of a safe place for me," he added.
And, "it's really peaceful, and to know that now there's going to be a parking lot full of cars and noise and lights, it's stressful."
Next door, Jeff Merrill lives with his wife and children. He's upset because he said this will impact his view, property value and potentially cause water drainage.
His biggest worry, he said, "that gives us more access and less safety in our own yard, in our own house."
As work gets underway, the neighborhood's fight for peace isn't dead yet.
"If there's enough visibility on this that maybe the owner will say, hey, let's pull back, maybe we can have some conversations about it," said Smith.
13 ON YOUR SIDE reached out to Planet Fitness which said in a statement:
"At Planet Fitness, we are always looking for ways to improve our member experience. We recognized the need for additional parking to ensure members can access our club in a safe and convenient way. We expect minimal impact to the area surrounding the gym, which is currently vacant."
13 ON YOUR SIDE also reached out to the city which said in a statement:
"The Planning Commission issued special land use permit approval on July 28, 2022. The developer submitted a Land Use Development Services (LUDS) or (Land Use Permit) on August 2, 2022. There were numerous planning items that both parties (the City and developer) worked through over the last two years, addressing many of the issues that residents voiced during the public hearing. The City approved the LUDS on October 7, 2024."
"I hope it raises some concerns about the planning committee and how effective it is that you get this many people opposing and yet you're still going to pass," said Smith and, "I just hope it gives the people in this community a voice."