Kentwood · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Kentwood public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Vacancy on the Commission — First Ward seat (Coughlin resignation)
Commissioner Coughlin's resignation left openings on the Parks and Rec Commission and the EDC; the mayor's recommended appointments were approved.
Garden Park Estates site condominium development
The Garden Park Estates developer will help pay for 56th Street improvements south of Kellogg's Woods Park. The construction contract for the 56th Street extension was also awarded at $1,012,588.
Aging water main replacement program
Kentwood is starting to replace 50-70 year-old cast iron water mains prone to breaks, budgeting $1 million a year and hiring Prein&Newhof to design the first projects.
Coral Valley cul-de-sac improvements
The city is finally fulfilling decades-old promises to add landscape separation and berms between the Coral Valley neighborhood and 29th Street, and improving the cul-de-sac.
Police department promotions
The police department promoted two lieutenants and two sergeants, expanding its command team for the first time in years.
Housing TIF for the Meadows on Wing — housing for adults with special needs
The brownfield housing TIF was tabled again until October 12 because commissioners received finalized numbers too late to review them. It's been in front of the commission for multiple meetings.
First Companies industrial project on 36th Street
The city created a district on part of the old Steelcase property, the first step toward tax abatements for two companies interested in locating there. No abatement is guaranteed — applications would come back to the commission later.
Police Department 2025 performance
Kentwood firefighters handled 5,507 runs in 2025 — most of them medical calls — while keeping average response times at 4:34, beating the 5:20 promised to residents. The department also installed nearly 1,000 free smoke alarms and logged over 3,200 inspections.
Cascade Engineering and Trane tax abatements
The city's $23 million tax abatement now goes to Trane US, Inc., which plans 250 full-time jobs making air-cooled chillers at 4175 60th St. SE — more than triple the 80 jobs originally tied to Snackcraft. Hiring starts in the second half of 2026, mostly for local workers.
FY 2025-2026 budget adjustment for street funds
About $1.4 million in resurfacing, chip sealing, patching and striping work is coming to residential streets this year, plus a full reconstruction of the Schaefer/36th Street roundabout area from June through September. Commissioner Artz noted Kent County is separately doing work on Patterson Avenue.
32nd Street bridge replacement over Broadmoor (M-37)
MDOT will replace the 32nd Street bridge next year. Kentwood will pay about $308,000 as its share, including added paving on 36th Street while crews are on site, plus a street-lighting contract change.
PearTree Development at 1900 Gerda (former Dolphin Swim Club site)
The long-vacant swim club site will become ten single-family homes around $475,000 each, with a private road, an HOA-maintained path to Rondeau Park, and on-site stormwater retention designed for a 25-year storm. A neighbor warned of chronic drainage problems along Rondo Street that he hopes the development won't worsen.
Zoo & Museum Millage Renewal on the November 3 ballot
A ten-year, .4086-mill renewal for John Ball Zoo and the Grand Rapids Public Museum goes countywide on November 3 — about $5.11 a month for a $150,000-SEV home. It funds education programs, exhibits, collections care and zoo animal care, generating an estimated $15.5 million in year one.
44th Street reconstruction (Eastern to Kalamazoo)
The failing white-topped stretch of 44th Street will get a full rebuild next spring, with a $1.785 million grant covering most of the $3.07 million cost. Until then, the city plans hot emulsion patching and gap mastic to hold the road together through winter.
Adaptive recreation program recognition
Former mayor Rev. Jerry DeRuiter was honored for helping launch Kentwood's adaptive recreation program, one of only a handful in the country, serving residents with disabilities.
Street sweeping and MS-4 compliance
A $370,809 sweeper replaces the aging unit; owning the sweeper saves the city big versus the county's rate of $173,000 per year to sweep all streets twice annually.
48th Street reconstruction (Division to Eastern)
48th Street gets a mill-and-pave rebuild with new curbs added on the half-mile that lacks them, costing the city about $1.142 million after grant funding.
Code enforcement and neighborhood blight
A 44-year resident said Kentwood is getting run down, with trailers and trash in yards and landlords neglecting properties. City staff countered that code enforcement officers patrol daily and pointed her to the online complaint portal.
Automatic license plate readers and privacy
Steve Bennett urged the commission to remove automatic license plate reader cameras, arguing they collect data without warrants and can profile residents. The city hasn't decided anything yet, but the issue is stirring privacy debate.
New Deputy Fire Chief sworn in
Darren Duffany, a Navy veteran with 25 years at Royal Oak Fire Department, was sworn in as Deputy Fire Chief, filling the seat vacated when Mike Hip retired in December.
Road condition ratings improve
The city's transportation asset plan shows Kentwood's average road rating rose from 5.9 to 6.1, above the regional average of 5.76 — good news for future paving priorities and Act 51 funding flexibility.
ZBA quorum crisis resolved
Sue West's resignation left the Zoning Board of Appeals without seven members, postponing cases and leaving applicants waiting. Two new appointees should restore a full board before its September 21 meeting.
Winter equipment for DPW
The new compact loader and snow pusher will let the city clear parking lots — including the new community center — without pulling its big salt-loading loader off road duty.
Princeton Estates neighborhood maintenance
Resident Bob Hines says the neighborhood's yards, sidewalks, and shrubs have visibly declined, with some owners unable to afford upkeep. He asked whether the city can offer assistance programs or stronger maintenance codes. A town hall on the issue is set for September 17 at the police department.
Pedestrian lighting on Eastern Avenue and 52nd Street
A teacher and her students gathered 174 petition signatures asking for better lighting where Stephon Harris and another pedestrian were killed. The mayor committed to having Consumers Energy conduct a lighting study.
Front-yard vegetable garden ordinance
The city ordered a resident to remove her front-yard vegetable garden or face fines up to $250/day under zoning ordinance chapter 19, section 19.05. The mayor agreed to hold off enforcement while staff consider a text amendment or variance path.
Storm sewer repair billed to fiber company
A fiber installer dug through a city storm sewer at East Paris and Stahl Drive at the wrong depth, so the city is hiring Quantum Construction for a $45,980 repair and sending the bill to 123.Net — with permit leverage if they don't pay.
Community center playground built with Amway
The city is building an inclusive playground meant to be a regional destination, especially for kids with disabilities. It's mostly donor-funded — Amway gave $100,000 — but if fundraising falls short, other parks projects like the Covenant Park clubhouse or trail work could be scaled back.
Resident alleges false information in police records
A resident alleges Kentwood police became improperly involved in her custody and CPS matters, including late subpoena timing and behind-the-scenes communications, and asks the Commission to order an independent review. The Commission did not act on the request at the meeting.
Poverty exemption policy cleanup
The city formally adopted a Poverty Exemption Policy and Guidelines, which sets out how income-qualified homeowners can get property tax relief.
Lakewood Homes utilities installation agreement
The developer of 2854 & 2920 52nd Street and 5253 & 5491 Wing Avenue will install water and sewer utilities that Grand Rapids will accept as public, with $48,700 escrowed for inspection. Commissioner Artz noted open questions about the larger project but was told the utilities work is needed regardless.
New Grand Rapids apartment complex may strain mutual aid
A 181-unit development just over the city line in Grand Rapids could draw Kentwood police into mutual aid responses if Grand Rapids' coverage of that southern area is slow, the chief and a commissioner noted.
Extensive 2027 road construction season
Next year will bring major closures: the Beltline bridge at 32nd Street removed, the Beltline at I-96 shut down with no detours, plus MDOT work on 28th and 48th Streets and Eastern Avenue. Plan for longer commutes.
44th Street white topping failure
The experimental concrete white-topping on 44th Street is breaking apart and damaged cars this spring. The mayor warns February through April could be rough before a federally funded rebuild next year, with one-way traffic and detours during construction.
Rising fraud and scam complaints targeting residents
Fraud complaints jumped to 83 last quarter, often targeting seniors through phone and internet scams. The police chief says education is the best defense and officers present at retirement communities, but commissioners want scam alerts shared more broadly.
City Hall heat pump replacement
Seven of City Hall's 37 heat pumps, all installed in 2004, are being replaced by Trane. The rest are aging too, and staff say they'll be swapped out in batches to spread out the cost.
Paul Henry Trail repaving after contractor defects
The trail's new pavement cracked because the contractor's equipment broke tree branches that ended up in the asphalt mix. The city withheld payment and is having the top course milled and repaved, starting next week, from roughly Stoffer to Wing and other select areas.
Road salt supply for 2026-27 winter
The city locked in up to 4,550 tons of salt for winter road clearing at up to $356,766 from street funds.
Water and sewer rates for FY 2026-2027
Water meter costs go up to cover expenses, and the Clerk's office adjusts passport photo and notary fees while adding a non-resident notary fee.
3125 44th Street mixed-use development next to Cobblestone
A five-acre commercial parcel from the 2004 Cobblestone PUD would get two townhouse condo buildings, two single-family condos, and two retail buildings. Cobblestone neighbors worry about cut-through traffic on their private streets, parking, and emergency vehicle access, so the city is hitting pause for a traffic study and more talks.
Fire hydrant repainting program
The city will sandblast and repaint its 218 hydrants with durable water-tower paint, starting with major streets this month, so hydrants stay visible and bright yellow.
Brush grinding and disposal services
The city's yard-waste brush program gets a new vendor, Brink Wood Products, under a three-year deal after Renewed Earth could no longer handle the growing volume.
Kent District Library community report
The library reported record circulation of 1.9 million items, 30,000 free summer meals with Feeding America, a 2025 Library of the Year honor, and a 10,000-person author event at Van Andel.
Breton Ravines stormwater drainage easements
The city is signing drainage easements that protect two off-site properties and keep stormwater moving from the Breton Ravines development's detention basin.
Division Avenue form-based code amendment for fuel stations
Existing businesses like auto repair shops on Division Avenue that became non-conforming when the form-based code was adopted can now expand through a special land use review, keeping them viable in the corridor.
Heyboer Acres Site Condos Phase 1
Final approval of the site condominium plan means the second phase of the Heyboer Acres development south of the original phase can move forward.
FOIA policy amendment and appeals committee
The commission removed its proposed Freedom of Information Act policy update from the consent agenda and will keep refining it before bringing it back.
Honoring Peter Lamberts, Kentwood's founding father
Lee Lamberts asked the city to keep his father Peter Lamberts' legacy alive — the township supervisor who fought off annexation and led Kentwood to cityhood in 1967 — by naming City Hall or another feature in his honor.
FY 2026-2027 budget and millage adoption
Mayor Kepley said the budget process begins the first week of March, with rising health benefit premiums and other costs creating pressure, but he's confident Kentwood will have a strong budget year.
Police Staffing Shortage
Six new officers were sworn in, a first for the department's size, funded partly by the voter-approved millage. The department is still short of its 86-officer goal with retirements expected this year.