Grand Rapids — The Planning Commission on Oct. 9 approved the Hispanic Center of Western Michigan’s plan to build a three‑story, mixed‑use facility at 735 Ritzma Court SW that will house a childcare center, community center and office space, with conditions to improve pedestrian access and a waiver for required parking.

Laura (staff planner) summarized the project and staff recommendations before the applicant described operations. “A new 18,000 square foot 3 story building will be constructed in the general location of where the church was sited previously,” she said, noting the 1.34‑acre lot and nearby Cesar E. Chavez Elementary School.

What the commission approved: The resolution authorized the special land use and site plan review with conditions requiring construction and maintenance of a pedestrian walkway along the north side of the parking lot, the construction of a public sidewalk along the Ritzma frontage connecting the existing walkway on the Grand Rapids Public Schools drive to the new facility parking lot, and a waiver of 13 required parking spaces.

Project details and constraints

Nathan Palmer, representing Pinnacle Construction Group and the Hispanic Center, said the new facility will include a childcare center with capacity for about 50 children and eight employees, playground space separated from the parking lot by a 5–7 foot retaining wall, and offices and community programming with 28 staff total. The proposed site plan shows 31 on‑site parking spaces; the zoning ordinance minimum for the combined childcare and community uses is 44 spaces, producing the 13‑space deficit for which the commission approved a waiver.

Staff and commissioners raised safety and circulation issues. Laura recommended adding a north‑side pedestrian walkway within the parking lot to provide safe passage from parked vehicles to the childcare entrance and the building’s main entrance. Ritzma Court is narrow (about 25 feet wide) and functions more like an alley; there are no sidewalks on either side of Ritzma adjacent to the site. Staff also recommended that a public sidewalk be added at the east side of the property to connect the site to the public way and transit corridor along Cesar E. Chavez Avenue.

Drop‑off, pick‑up and operations

The applicant said on‑site configuration allows stacking for about seven vehicles and that the center can manage drop‑off/pick‑up by adjusting windows if needed; the applicant indicated willingness to lengthen morning drop‑off or afternoon pick‑up windows and to consider staff traffic control. The applicant also confirmed the food distribution program will remain at the existing Hispanic Center location and will not move to the new facility.

Findings and neighborhood engagement

Staff noted letters of support from the Roosevelt Neighborhood Association, Roosevelt Park Neighborhood Association and Grand Rapids Public Schools. Commissioners pressed on façade materials, site grading and how the building will present from surrounding streets; commissioners generally supported the architectural approach shown and recommended including the pedestrian and sidewalk conditions to mitigate neighborhood impacts.

Outcome and conditions

The commission’s approval included: standard plan and permitting conditions; a waiver of 13 required parking spaces; a condition limiting construction to previously improved areas outside steep slopes; a requirement for a pedestrian walkway along the north side of the parking lot; and construction of a public sidewalk along the Ritzma frontage between the existing GRPS walkway and the new facility parking lot, plus an internal walkway connecting that sidewalk to the building’s front door. The resolution took effect after the commission vote.