GRAND HAVEN, MI – The Grand Haven City Council approved a rezoning Monday for a new housing development.

South Village will be located at the former Dake Corps manufacturing property at 700 and 724 Robbins Road.

The proposed project includes a mixture of housing types for a total of 189 units; including single family homes, flats/apartments, townhomes, and row houses.

Of those units, 11 will be reserved for residents with a lower income.

Chad Koster, of IMD Capital and developer of the project, requested a zoning change from Transitional Industrial District to Planned Development District. He also submitted a preliminary development plan.

The council unanimously approved the zoning change and the plan concept.

“This rezoning is basically council’s seal of approval on the concept and on the general parameters that we’ve been presented,” said Mayor Bob Monetza, during the Monday, May 19 meeting. “I think that this is a good project, that it needs to proceed and it needs to proceed thoughtfully, and all the bases need to be covered.”

Koster said the project will “transform a site currently occupied by a lifeless building and underutilized land into a vibrant, welcoming neighborhood.”

“South Village is designed to offer beautiful, thoughtfully planned homes that cater to people at many different stages of life and income levels,” Koster said.

The plan includes amenities such as a dog park, outdoor pool and sundeck, outdoor firepits, pickleball courts and a community lounge.

“All of these things are really designed to encourage community and connection,” Koster said.

The property is approximately 24 acres, with two-thirds of the rear portion being woodland and some wetland.

The developer has agreed to order a traffic impact study and has contacted the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) for necessary permits. A brownfield redevelopment application has also been submitted to the city.

Following the results of the traffic study, the applicant will then provide a final development plan to the Planning Commission for approval.

The Grand Haven Planning Commission held a public hearing on the matter on April 22.

Residents offered mixed feedback, with excitement about the possibility of redeveloping a vacant brownfield site, while others expressed concern on the impact of increased traffic and wetland areas, according to city records.

The planning commission voted 9-0 to recommend approval of the rezoning and preliminary development plan, with several conditions.

Comments on the project were similar at Monday night’s council meeting.

Several residents near the proposed development spoke on the impact of traffic and general housing density. One resident suggested adding bike lanes, sidewalks and possibly a Harbor Transit bus stop to the development.

The development aligns with the city’s master plan and satisfies current housing needs, said Brian Urquhart, city planner.

Residents will be able to lease or own, depending on the property type.

There are eight row houses, 108 flats/apartments, 44 townhouses and 29 single-family homes planned.

The developer is planning to reserve nine acres of greenspace.

Monetza said the development will be “good for the community” and would restore a “blighted south end of town.”

“We need housing of every level,” Monetza said. “We need a lot more than this project offers us. We have other projects in the queue for more housing in the city community.

“Until we build more housing, we’ll always have a housing problem. We’ll always have a housing deficiency. And that in itself drives up the cost of housing.”

Officials say the rezoning will require a second vote to finalize the change in the city’s ordinance.

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