The public sounded off Monday night on plans to change certain aspects of the township’s Zoning Ordinance, related to the proposed Health Pointe medical office development.
The Grand Haven Township Fire/Rescue Station vehicle bay was filled with more than 100 people from all across Northwest Ottawa County for the Township’s Board of Trustees’ public hearing to discuss the planned changes — changes most in attendance didn’t support.
“The (current) hospital and the health care system is truly a community asset,” Spring Lake resident David Rhem said of North Ottawa Community Health System. “You need to be a good stewart of that community asset.”
Rhem, who was the first in a steady stream of people speaking about the possible changes, said the Township Board wasn’t obligated to approve the Zoning Ordinance amendments, nor did they have to approve the Health Pointe project, which some are concerned could have a negative affect on the local hospital.
“The current zoning ordinance allows you to deny this project, and you don’t have to approve this zoning amendment,” Rhem said. “I suggest you use the community’s best interest as your guide.”
In all, five amendments have been proposed to the Planned Unit Development chapter of the township’s Zoning Ordinance. These amendments address regulatory flexibility and base regulations for planned unit developments, permitted uses and special land uses in commercial PUDs, and structure height in commercial PUDs located within the Robbins Road Sub-Area.
Township officials say the changes are in response to several “gaps” in the Zoning Ordinance that were discovered during the review of the Health Pointe development application. They say these gaps include whether the Health Pointe facility is an "office building,” which is a permitted use in the PUD ordinance, or if it’s an unpermitted use under the current language. There’s also concern over whether a 55-foot-tall building is too great of a variation from current zoning regulations.
Both “gaps” are addressed by the amendments, which would:
- Grant authority to approve departures from the Zoning Ordinance more explicitly, and provide clearer direction to the Planning Commission and Township Board for making decisions on departure requests.
- Make clear what land uses are permitted by the PUD chapter in the Zoning Ordinance and those described in the township’s Master Plan. The changes simplify uses permitted by right and those permitted as a special land use.
- Allow an increased building height for commercial PUDs within the Robbins Road Sub-Area, with a recommended maximum building height of four stories or 55 feet, whichever is lower.
Grand Haven resident Laura Ayers, who lives near the proposed project, is worried about the overall impact on the area.
Ayers said that she and her husband are worried about both the increase in traffic the building may create, as well as the proposed height of the building.
“We feel the height of the building is too high,” she said. “We like the character of the area and we feel like (the existing laws) need to stay.”
Concerns about traffic, possible duplication of services and building size were all concerns residents brought up to the Township Board.
Grand Haven resident Suzanne Thorpe said she had concerns with several aspects of amendments and their possible consequences.
“I have two issues — one of them is the height of that building,” she said. “This is unnecessary in a lakeshore community.”
Added Thorpe: “We don’t need to become another Grand Rapids.”
Thorpe noted that she was also concerned about how any changes may impact existing healthcare services.
”I feel this is going to be a duplication of services,“ she said, noting that jobs could be lost as a result. ”Do not duplicate services in a four-story building that we don’t need.“
The Township Board tabled the ordinance after Monday night’s public hearing. The Board will take up the ordinance for possible approval as soon as their next meeting.
”The earliest date would be March 14, which is three weeks from tonight,“ Township Manager Bill Cargo said Monday. ”Given the turnout and interest, we’ll probably be here in this building (the fire station).“
This article originally appeared in the Grand Haven Tribune.
