Township board delays rezoning decision

The Laketown Township Board of Trustees on Wednesday, April 2, 2025, tabled a decision on a rezoning request to turn a residential property into a commercial site.

Board members had concerns about the property’s legal status, boat storage and the smell of zebra mussels.

The board plans to again address the issue of Gator Properties at its May 7 workshop meeting. That meeting starts at 5 p.m. at the township hall, 4338 Beeline Road.

Contract zoning

The Laketown Township Planning Commission recommended on February 5 that the township board agree to Gator Properties request to rezone two parcels just south of South Shore Drive from residential to commercial. Gator Properties is associated with Eldean Shipyard.  The Planning Commission vote was two members for conditional rezoning and one member against (one member was absent and one member abstained).

The township board makes the final decision because it is a rezoning request.

The planning commission approval used a process called contract zoning. It is a written agreement initiated by the property owner to change the zoning. The property owner and the township agree in a contract to the uses of the property. If a use is not listed, it is not allowed. If the contract is violated, the township has the option to change the zoning back to its original status.

Planning commission

Wade Eldean of Gator Properties came to the planning commission last year asking to rezone land from R-2 Low Density Residential District to C-2 General Business District with conditions.

Eldean told the planning commission in February he does not plan to change the use, which includes a volleyball court, parking and marina-related storage, with the contract rezoning. He said he wants to align the land’s actual use with its proper zoning to reduce neighbor complaints.

At the November planning commission meeting, the township received 44 letters about the proposal and had an almost 45-minute public hearing during which 11 people spoke. Public comments have continued at other planning commission meetings and at the township board level.

Township board

Residents have said the boat storage blocks their view to the water and that the zebra mussels left on the boat lifts smell. On April 2, four of the members of the board were concerned about the boat lifts and the odor from the zebra mussels. Eldean’s attorney Jim Doezema in response asked the township board to delay a decision until May so he can work on contract changes regarding boat lift cleaning.

Supervisor Steven Ringelberg was the only board member to vote against the request to table, saying he opposes the proposed rezoning because most of the property was platted as a “park” and that plat has never been vacated, which means that technically Gator should not interfere with any Macatawa residents’ use of Fern Park as a park; the township’s master plan designates the area as residential, not commercial, and rezoning to commercial is not consistent with the master plan; the lot is able to be developed as residential; and Gator’s proposed uses are not compatible with the surrounding residential housing.

In other business:

• The board unanimously approved a letter of recommendation request from Frontier Communications for the submission of a Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment grant application. The approval does not exclude the board from supporting other providers as well. About 200 homes in the township do not yet have broadband access.
• Clerk Jim Delaney said he has accepted the invitation to join the Friends of the Felt Estate Board that oversees the Felt Mansion.