Battle Creek Rejects Riverside Golf Club Rezoning Proposal

The Battle Creek City Commission has unanimously rejected a proposal to rezone the historic Riverside Golf Club property for industrial and residential development.

On Tuesday, commissioners voted to decline the introduction of Ordinance #16-2025, which sought to change the zoning of 245 E. Columbia Ave. from single-family residential to classifications allowing light industrial, commercial, and multi-unit housing.

The proposal, introduced by Interstate Capital Investments, faced significant opposition from local residents.

Concerns included the impact on existing infrastructure and potential conflicts with the city's Master Plan.

During a community engagement meeting in August, neighbors within a 400-foot radius of the property voiced their apprehensions.

These sentiments were echoed in public comments at the Planning Commission meeting in September.

The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) also weighed in, indicating that any roads affected by the rezoning would require a traffic impact study, with costs estimated between $80,000 and $500,000, to be funded by the developers.

City planning staff recommended against the proposal after an extensive review, leading the Planning Commission to advise the City Commission to deny the rezoning request.

At Tuesday's meeting, the City Commission acted swiftly, with all present members voting against advancing the ordinance.

Planning Supervisor Darcy Schmitt noted the unprecedented level of community involvement, stating, "We've had residents in that area reach out and say they want to be part of this. That's almost unheard of."

Schmitt emphasized the need for collaborative efforts to determine the property's future, suggesting that developing it for housing would be more feasible given its century-long history as a golf course.

The city is currently updating its Master Plan and is hosting housing strategy meetings to gather input from residents.

Upcoming public stakeholder meetings are scheduled for Tuesday, October 14, to discuss housing strategies with developers, realtors, and neighborhood planning councils.

These sessions aim to shape the future development of the Riverside property and other neighborhoods throughout Battle Creek.