By Greg Chandler
Zeeland Record
Zeeland city officials are responding to concerns raised by some residents on the city’s east side over a possible expansion of the Reckitt manufacturing facility.
In a statement released last week, City Manager Tim Klunder said that the council understands the community’s desire for more details on Reckitt’s potential expansion plans, but no plans have been submitted to the city yet.
About 25 residents who live in the area of East Main Avenue, Division Street and Park Street expressed their worries about a possible expansion at a February City Council meeting.
Reckitt acquired the 31-acre plant at 725 E. Main Ave., which produces the Enfamil infant formula, from Mead Johnson Nutritionals in 2017. The plant has been in existence since 1924.
“The lack of plans is the result of Mead Johnson not yet deciding on if they will invest in their Zeeland site or some other site in the U.S. as they continue to perform their due diligence,” Klunder said. “This due diligence does include Mead Johnson’s evaluation of property needs in Zeeland.”
On Feb. 17, Division Street resident Ryan Gamby told the City Council that Reckitt had made inquiries about buying every property just north of Main, from Fairview Street to Carlton Street, and had recently purchased the residential property at 633 E. Main. Gamby also said that the company had also looked into buying the transportation garage and adjacent fields owned by Zeeland Public Schools across the street from the plant.
In a recent email to the Zeeland Record, Gamby wrote that ZPS would not sell the garage or fields to Reckitt. He wrote that district Assistant Superintendent Jon Voss confirmed that the district would not sell the property.
In the city’s statement, Klunder said that the city has told Reckitt that it does not support any development south of Main.
“Mead Johnson has confirmed they have no desire for any development south of Main and they are no longer pursuing any property south of Main,” the city manager said.
Klunder said that the city supports the company’s construction efforts focused on the interior portions of its property, which is zoned for industrial use. But as far as any expansion is concerned, no position has been taken.
“Until the city knows the full scope of the plans and their possible impacts – positive or negative – the city cannot issue a firm position for or against potential expansion north of Main on property that is not currently zoned for industrial use,” Klunder said.
Klunder recently arranged for Gamby to meet with Reckitt officials to discuss the neighborhood’s concerns. Gamby wrote in his email that the company told him they had selected the properties they were interested in, had begun their master planning and were looking to begin construction by the end of the year.
“They advised this expansion was an investment in updating their aging assets and was not about expanding production size or volume,” Gamby wrote. “In short, (Reckitt) needs to essentially build replacement facilities while their existing facilities continue production, which is why they need so much additional land. They also reportedly need onsite office space, which is being contemplated by the expansion.”
Reckitt was unable to share the status of its property acquisition efforts, what the new facility might look like or what type of rezoning requests they might make to the city during that meeting, Gamby wrote in his email.
“While I appreciated (Reckitt) meeting with me, the meeting did not change my position regarding their proposed development or our Neighborhood First goals,” he wrote.
“We were left with only a vague idea of their contemplated development at this time and what it might mean for the neighborhood.”
Gamby has created a website, neigh borhoodfirst.org, to spread the word about the neighborhood’s concerns about a possible Reckitt expansion.
In the city’s statement, Klunder said that until the city has more information on the potential property acquisitions, it will keep an open mind “so that decisions can ultimately be made for the betterment of the community.”
“As applications, plans, etc. may be submitted, those will be publicly made available, and they will go through all the required public hearings and rigorous review processes for approval/denial considerations,” Klunder said.
Zeeland Record
Zeeland city officials are responding to concerns raised by some residents on the city’s east side over a possible expansion of the Reckitt manufacturing facility.
In a statement released last week, City Manager Tim Klunder said that the council understands the community’s desire for more details on Reckitt’s potential expansion plans, but no plans have been submitted to the city yet.
About 25 residents who live in the area of East Main Avenue, Division Street and Park Street expressed their worries about a possible expansion at a February City Council meeting.
Reckitt acquired the 31-acre plant at 725 E. Main Ave., which produces the Enfamil infant formula, from Mead Johnson Nutritionals in 2017. The plant has been in existence since 1924.
“The lack of plans is the result of Mead Johnson not yet deciding on if they will invest in their Zeeland site or some other site in the U.S. as they continue to perform their due diligence,” Klunder said. “This due diligence does include Mead Johnson’s evaluation of property needs in Zeeland.”
On Feb. 17, Division Street resident Ryan Gamby told the City Council that Reckitt had made inquiries about buying every property just north of Main, from Fairview Street to Carlton Street, and had recently purchased the residential property at 633 E. Main. Gamby also said that the company had also looked into buying the transportation garage and adjacent fields owned by Zeeland Public Schools across the street from the plant.
In a recent email to the Zeeland Record, Gamby wrote that ZPS would not sell the garage or fields to Reckitt. He wrote that district Assistant Superintendent Jon Voss confirmed that the district would not sell the property.
In the city’s statement, Klunder said that the city has told Reckitt that it does not support any development south of Main.
“Mead Johnson has confirmed they have no desire for any development south of Main and they are no longer pursuing any property south of Main,” the city manager said.
Klunder said that the city supports the company’s construction efforts focused on the interior portions of its property, which is zoned for industrial use. But as far as any expansion is concerned, no position has been taken.
“Until the city knows the full scope of the plans and their possible impacts – positive or negative – the city cannot issue a firm position for or against potential expansion north of Main on property that is not currently zoned for industrial use,” Klunder said.
Klunder recently arranged for Gamby to meet with Reckitt officials to discuss the neighborhood’s concerns. Gamby wrote in his email that the company told him they had selected the properties they were interested in, had begun their master planning and were looking to begin construction by the end of the year.
“They advised this expansion was an investment in updating their aging assets and was not about expanding production size or volume,” Gamby wrote. “In short, (Reckitt) needs to essentially build replacement facilities while their existing facilities continue production, which is why they need so much additional land. They also reportedly need onsite office space, which is being contemplated by the expansion.”
Reckitt was unable to share the status of its property acquisition efforts, what the new facility might look like or what type of rezoning requests they might make to the city during that meeting, Gamby wrote in his email.
“While I appreciated (Reckitt) meeting with me, the meeting did not change my position regarding their proposed development or our Neighborhood First goals,” he wrote.
“We were left with only a vague idea of their contemplated development at this time and what it might mean for the neighborhood.”
Gamby has created a website, neigh borhoodfirst.org, to spread the word about the neighborhood’s concerns about a possible Reckitt expansion.
In the city’s statement, Klunder said that until the city has more information on the potential property acquisitions, it will keep an open mind “so that decisions can ultimately be made for the betterment of the community.”
“As applications, plans, etc. may be submitted, those will be publicly made available, and they will go through all the required public hearings and rigorous review processes for approval/denial considerations,” Klunder said.
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