Page 10/The Sun and News, Saturday, August 7, 2021
Caledonia Township approves zoning for athletic training site
Greg Chandler
Staff Writer
The Caledonia Township
board Wednesday gave final
approval to a zoning change
that will allow for an athletic
training facility to move into
the former Scholastic Book
Fair warehouse near the
township hall.
The new Max Effort
Fieldhouse will be developed
at 8280 Broadmoor Ave. SE
in the Valley South Industrial
Park, after the board unani-
mously approved a request
by its representative, FCC
Construction, to rezone the
property as a neighborhood
commercial business use
within a planned unit devel-
opment. Health and fitness
facilities are a permitted use
within that zoning designa-
tion.
The zoning approval fol-
lowed site-plan approval of
the new fitness facility by the
township planning commis-
sion in June. In its site plan,
Max Effort proposed a facil-
ity that includes a basketball
court, soccer field, batting
cages, softball infield and
workout area.
“It is to be used by mem-
bers only, and not for com-
petitive competition or tour-nament-type competition for
outside entities,” Township
Supervisor Bryan Harrison
said.
The owners of the new
training facility also own
Max Effort Performance at
10011 Crossroads Court, just
off 100th Street.
Parking was a topic of
discussion at the planning
commission in June. The
current lot has 86 spaces, and
Max Effort did not submit a
plan to expand parking.
“We believe the current
parking is sufficient to serve
the requested use, but if they
change the type of use tocompetitive events, they will
have to revisit the planning
commission to review park-
ing needs of those types of
events,” Harrison said.
Scholastic moved out of
the site in April, an FCC
Construction representative
said at the June planning
commission meeting.
In other business
Wednesday:- The board gave final
approval to an updated out-
door lighting ordinance. The
ordinance sets four lighting
zone levels, ranging from
LZ0 (very dark, in the more
rural areas of the township)
to LZ3 (medium levels, as
defined by the township
planner or administrator).
Searchlight-style lighting is
banned, as is flashing or
blinking lighting. Pole light
heights will be limited to 20
feet in LZ0 and LZ1, 25 feet
in LZ2, and 30 feet in LZ3.
The ordinance also requires a
developer to provide a light-
ing plan if outdoor lighting is
part of a project site plan. - The board had a first
reading on a request by Dave
Wozniak to rezone a 33-acre
parcel of land at 8700 Kraft
Ave. SE from agricultural to
medium-density single-fami-
ly residential. Fifteen homes
are planned on the property. - The board had a first
reading on a request by
Deborah Bly and Megan
Baareman to rezone property
at 491 Johnson St. from agri-
cultural to medium-density
single-family residential. - Township Treasurer/
Administrator Richard
Robertson reported that the
township would soon receive
the first portion of $1.4 mil-
lion in funding through the
American Rescue Plan Act.
The township will receive
about $700,000 now and
another $700,000 next year,
Robertson said.- Robertson reported that
construction on the two new
pickleball courts at
Community Green was
delayed a week because of
the chalk art event Friday.
Construction on the new
courts will start next week. - Clerk Joni Henry provid-
ed an update on the town-
ship’s new website, which
went online earlier this sum-
mer. Henry said residents
can subscribe to text and
email messages under a
“notify me” option on the
website, and that an “alert”
feature enables information
to be sent out to the commu-
nity. The website address is
caledoniatownship.org.GAINES CHARTER TOWNSHIP
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
The Gaines Charter Township Planning Commission will hold a public hearing to
consider the following request:Summary of Request: Consideration for installation of Consumer Scale Ground-
Mounted Solar Energy Collectors. Location in rear yard on
south side of house.
Property Address: 62 Coleman Street SE
Parcel Number: 41-22-07-305-
Applicants: Vernon Simpson
Date and Time of Hearing: August 26, 2021 at 7:00 p.m.
Location of Hearing: Gaines Charter Township Offices, Board Room
8555 Kalamazoo Avenue SE, Caledonia, MI 49316
Any interested party may appear and be heard on said proposal. Information related to this
request may be inspected, by appt., during regular business hours at the Planning Department
window located in the Gaines Charter Township Offices. For information related to this request,
contact Dan Wells at (616) 980-6188 or [email protected]. In order to be entered
into the public record, signed written comments must be received by 5:00 PM on August 26,
2021.
Persons with disabilities needing special accommodations should contact Kim Triplett at
616-698-6640 one week prior to the meeting to request mobility, visual or any other assistance.165831GAINES CHARTER TOWNSHIP
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
The Gaines Charter Township Planning Commission will hold a public hearing to
consider the following request:Summary of Request: Special land use request to allow a Group Child Day Care
Home in the Summer Shores Planned Unit Development zon-
ing district. Six to twelve children for less than 24 hours a day.
Property Address: 6640 Madison Ave. SE
Parcel Number: 41-22-06-451-
Applicants: Emmanuel Mbarushimana & Veronique Bitondo
Date and Time of Hearing: August 26, 2021 at 7:00 pm
Location of Hearing: Gaines Charter Township Offices, Board Room
8555 Kalamazoo Avenue SE, Caledonia, MI 49316
Any interested party may appear and be heard on said proposal. Information related to this
request may be inspected, by appt., during regular business hours at the Planning Department
window located in the Gaines Charter Township Offices. For information related to this request,
contact Dan Wells at (616) 980-6188 or [email protected]. In order to be entered
into the public record, signed written comments must be received by 5:00 PM on August 26,
2021.
Persons with disabilities needing special accommodations should contact Kim Triplett at
616-698-6640 one week prior to the meeting to request mobility, visual or any other assistance.165832(^) GAINES CHARTER TOWNSHIP
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
The Gaines Charter Township Planning Commission will hold a public hearing to con-
sider the following request:
Summary of Request: Site Plan and Rezoning consideration for a pedestrian oriented
mixed-use commercial, retail and residential town center. Proposed:
20,800 SF retail; 130 single family homes; 80 condos & townho-
mes; 312 apartments; +/-110 units senior apartments; total of
+/-522 residential units.
Property Address: 8460 Kalamazoo Ave. SE
Parcel Number: 41-22-21-100-
Applicants: Michael Speedy/American Kendall Properties, LLC
Date and Time of Hearing: August 26, 2021 at 7:00 p.m.
Location of Hearing: Gaines Charter Township Offices, Board Room
8555 Kalamazoo Avenue SE, Caledonia, MI 49316
Any interested party may appear and be heard on said proposal. Information related to this
request may be inspected, by appt., during regular business hours at the Planning Department
window located in the Gaines Charter Township Offices. For information related to this request,
contact Dan Wells at (616) 980-6188 or [email protected]. In order to be entered
into the public record, signed written comments must be received by 5:00 PM on August 26,
2021.
Persons with disabilities needing special accommodations should contact Kim Triplett at
616-698-6640 one week prior to the meeting to request mobility, visual or any other assistance.
165833
First and foremost, a huge and heartfelt thanks to everyone
who has attended our recent events. Riverbank Music, the
farmers market and the shop hop have had incredible
attendance. Those who work hard to plan those events greatly
appreciate the community coming out in droves to support
their efforts. The market continues to run 3-7 p.m. Fridays,
followed by Riverbank Music from 6:30 to 8:30.
A new event this year will take place at Grimsby Hollow
from 5 to 7 p.m. Aug. 20 The Humane Society of West
Michigan will be on site with its adoption trailer, showcasing
adoptable dogs. Twenty percent of Grimsby Hollow’s sales
for the evening will go toward the HSWM cause. After the
market, come try some meads, have a snack and pet some
dogs.
The next big event is Heritage Days. Aug. 20-21 is the
annual celebration of Middleville, our history and our future.
The morning kicks off with the annual Thornapple Area Parks
and Recreation Commission 5K race, followed by events all
day, from the parade to a cornhole tournament, volleyball, and
a vendor market. Stay tuned for more information on both
events.
The United Way Day of Caring is Sept. 16 and 18 this
year. Village staff has submitted three proposals to the United
Way for consideration for community improvements this year.
If you’re interested in helping out, contact the United Way for
more information on how to participate.
In construction news, the Johnson Street rebuild is in full
swing and should be complete in the next few weeks. The
traffic light at Crane Road and M-37 should also be installed
by the end of August. MDOT, village staff, and our contracted
construction company appreciates your support and patience
during construction.
I look forward to seeing you all in the near future on the
trail, downtown, and out and about. Stay cool. Have a great
“end” of summer.
- Wheel Alignments
- Auto Glass Installation
- Insurance Work Welcome
- Visa & MasterCard Accepted
Over 40 years experienceBruce’s Frame and Alignment
415 2nd • Middleville
795-
brucesframe.com
Full Service
Body Shop
Middleville
TOPS 546
The Aug. 2 meeting opened
with roll call and the secre-
tary’s report.
Three fish jumped into the
fishbowl.
The club discussed “taking
the fail out of the scale,” or
how to minimize frustration
when the scale doesn’t reflect
the result they expect to see.
Non-scale victories can be
ego-boosters, too, such as
improved sleep, feeling more
like oneself and clothes fitting
better.
Maryellen won the Ha-Ha
box.
The meeting ended with
the KOPS and TOPS pledges.
TOPS, a weight loss group
meets every Monday at
Lincoln Meadows in
Middleville. (Press Apt. 205
for entrance.) Weigh-in is
from 4 to 4:15 p.m., and
meetings begin at 4:15. A
mask must be worn when in
the building. Social distanc-
ing is practiced.
Anyone with questions
may call Chris, 259-953-- The first meeting is
free.