01-04-2025
Mixed feedback on revised Gaslight Village plan, which reduces parking
EAST GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — Developers hoping to revitalize Gaslight Village in East Grand Rapids presented a revised plan at Monday night's commission meeting after public feedback on their previous proposal indicated that it was too big and too dense.
The to alleviate those concerns Monday prompted new outcries. Overwhelmingly, the community had concerns about parking.
'It's too much surface parking,' one public commenter said. 'Not enough green space.'
'If you build more parking spots, cars will come,' another said. 'It's a simple formula.'
'(The plan) just prioritizes vehicles,' one commissioner added.
But not all feedback called for fewer spots.
'We need more parking than we had before, not less,' another public commenter said.
Ahead of the public comment period, developers detailed the changes they made to the plan, including reductions in the number of housing units, and new commercial space.
Developer revising Gaslight Village plan, East Grand Rapids says
'We explored a lot of alternative plans since we last met,' Scott Weirda of Gaslight Investors LLC said. 'Frankly, it's been fun going through a lot of ideas to work on traffic, height, density.'
The most visible changes to the plan that were presented on Monday were meant to satisfy the loudest outcry at — that the buildings were too tall. Those changes, though, may have caused this month's malcontent.
Notably, the maximum height of the new parking structure on the north end of the development was reduced from 4 levels to 2 levels, and the seven-story building at the south end of the complex was reduced to five stories by removing two floors of contained parking.
'This all comes with changes to parking and to traffic,' Scott Vyn, design principal at Integrated Architecture, said during his presentation.
East Grand Rapids residents discuss Gaslight development
Commissioners and commenters voiced their thanks to the developers for trying to listen to community concerns and making the changes that they did, but insisted they may have missed the mark. More pedestrian-centric design, green space and fewer street spaces were requested.
Weirda said that they are looking forward to advancing beyond this concept approval stage so that they can begin to plan the specific design and detail of the development.
As part of a rule enacted during this process in EGR, no formal action can be taken on this plan for at least 30 days.
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