GRAND RAPIDS, MI – The city's parking system is seeking Planning Commission approval to build a new downtown lot with 276 spaces, west of Founders Brewing Co. The commission this week also will consider the brewery's expansion plan, including a waiver to allow no on-site parking.

Hearings are scheduled 1:20 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 23, at the city's Development Center, 1120 Monroe Ave. NW.



"Neighbor input is really important, if there's a parking shortage in the area and we have businesses concerned about the availability of parking," said Suzanne Schulz, the city's planning director.

“Our goal when we look at parking, especially south of Fulton (Street), is to take an incremental approach to be able to continue to facilitate economic development while also allowing for parking reduction. We have to figure out how to do this transition in a way that does not disrupt existing businesses.”

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Grand Rapids is looking to spend $1.5 million tearing down two vacant city buildings at 235 and 273 Market Ave. SW and putting a parking lot on the site. The new spaces could alleviate some of the parking crunch occurring south of Van Andel Arena.

There's some opposition to the proposed Market lot among city parking commissioners, but the board earlier this year decided to spend $64,000 drawing up plans for the lot. The Grand Rapids/Kent County Convention-Arena Authority also is working on plans for a parking ramp south of the arena.

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The city’s Planning Commission on Thursday also will consider a parking waiver for Founders, which is looking to double the size of its production facility with a building addition reaching as high as 84 feet. The expansion would cover the entire block bordered by Grandville and Finney avenues and Barlett and Williams streets, eliminating 70 parking spaces currently on site.

Grand Rapids zoning code requires 142 off-street parking spaces for a building the size of the enlarged Founders, although that number can be waived or reduced based on the availability of other parking nearby.

For example, a separate request has been filed with the city for a temporary 170-space parking lot across Bartlett at Wolverine Printing Co. Also, the proposed city lot on Market “will be available to employees and patrons of the taproom,” a city memo states, and “The Rapid’s transit hub is located across the street” from Founders.

Founders President John Green wrote on the company’s application to the Planning Commission that “sufficient parking will be available in the vicinity.” He told the city's economic development committee earlier this month that the brewery also is working on a permanent parking facility. The company declined to disclose details on its long-term parking plans.

Matt Vande Bunte covers government for MLive/Grand Rapids Press. Email him at mvandebu@mlive.com or follow him on Twitter and Facebook.