Commission approves final site plan, materials for riverfront amphitheater with conditions

The Grand Rapids Planning Commission on Sept. 26 approved final site plan review for the riverfront amphitheater project, voting to carry forward conditions from the projects 2023 approval and to add limits on architectural lighting and a revised landscape plan along Market Avenue and the back-of-house elevation.

The commissions action came after staff summarized an administrative review that split the project into four functional zones — a Market Street plaza, back-of-house/office space, a riverside entrance and the main canopy/drum shell — and after the applicant presented material selections and a SketchUp model. Derek Molina, an architect at Progressive Companies, said the ground level will use high-density limestone, upper levels will include translucent polycarbonate panels with continuous ambient illumination (not flashing), and the drum shell is proposed in zinc shingles.

The commissions deliberations focused on two practical concerns: the visibility and pedestrian experience of a large corrugated metal back-of-house wall along Market Avenue and the potential for off-site lighting or sound impacts. Ron Vanderveen, an attorney representing residents of the nearby Plaza Towers, urged the commission to require a sound mitigation barrier for the buildings to the northeast, saying the available dBA metrics do not adequately measure low-frequency beats. Bill Culhane, the applicants owners representative, said the design teams sound consultant has coordinated with the citys consultant and that a final sound report is expected in October.

Director Trickelson told the commission that their legal purview for the hearing was limited to final site plan review for building elevations and materials per the 2023 resolution; the director and city staff remain responsible for continuing noise review and mitigation outside the commissions site plan approval.

Commissioner Kyle moved to approve the final site plan for the Grama Action Foundation/amphitheater project described in the record as a "plus or minus 12,000-seat outdoor amphitheater," with conditions that the June 2023 conditions remain in effect, that architectural lighting not flash, scroll, pulse or otherwise visually move across the translucent panels, and that a revised landscape plan be submitted to mitigate the solid metal fence and back-of-house visibility. The motion passed by voice vote.

The approval does not remove ongoing noise review. Staff and the applicant told the commission the final sound study will be completed and reviewed by the planning director as previously directed. The commission did not set additional audible-noise thresholds or roll-call tallies in the public record; the vote was recorded as a voice vote.