Decision delayed on proposal to change Coit Avenue mining plan
A developer has requested to change an approved mining plan for a 93-acre site on Coit Avenue, seeking to remove about half the amount of soil originally permitted. The developer states the timeline would not change, but the final restored land would be about five feet higher. The Planning Commission reviewed the request on January 27, 2026, and moved to delay a final decision while staff prepares findings for a potential recommendation of denial.
On January 27, 2026, the Planning Commission postponed a final decision on this item. The commission voted 5-1 to direct staff to draft findings for a recommendation of denial, with final action planned for a future meeting.
Minutes record: Secretary Cardosa moved, with support from Commissioner Ellerthorpe, to tentatively recommend denial to the Township Board for the request by Rusche/J.M. Development for the property located at 4640 and 4672 Coit Avenue NE...contingent upon the Township’s staff and the Township’s attorneys drafting the appropriate final findings of fact for final action by the Planning Commission at a subsequent meeting. The motion carried via roll call vote: 5 ayes: Curry, Koslosky, Cardosa, Hagedorn, Ellerthorpe to 1 nay: Justema
Timeline
- Agenda posted from agenda · published Jan 22, 2026
- Public hearing listed from agenda · published Jan 22, 2026
- Delayed from minutes · published Mar 5, 2026
Key facts
- The developer, J.M. Development LLC, requested to alter their mining permit for the property at 4640 and 4672 Coit Avenue NE.
- The proposal is to reduce the amount of material mined and removed from 1.2 million cubic yards to approximately 600,000 cubic yards.
- The developer is not requesting an extension to the time frame for removal and restoration.
- As a result of removing less material, the final restored site would be about 5 feet higher than in the original plan.
- A surety bond of up to $2 million is required to ensure the property is properly restored.
- On January 27, 2026, the Planning Commission voted 5-1 to direct staff to draft findings for a recommendation of denial, with a final decision to be made at a later meeting.
Discretion or exceptions
- The Planning Commission makes a recommendation, but the Township Board has the final authority to approve, deny, or approve with conditions the requested changes to the PUD and soil removal permit.
- The existing permit allows the Community Development Department to grant exceptions to the hours of operation.
Who could be affected
- The property owner, J.M. Development, LLC
- Residents near the mining operation on Coit Avenue
- Future owners or developers of the restored property
What could change
- If approved, the final grade of the land after mining is complete would be about 5 feet higher than under the current plan.
- The total volume of soil extracted from the site would be reduced by about half.
- The change would likely require amending the existing permit's penalty deadlines, which are tied to specific volumes of material being removed by certain dates.
What to watch
On January 27, 2026, the Planning Commission reviewed the request and voted to postpone a final recommendation. The commission directed township staff to draft formal findings for a potential recommendation of denial. The Planning Commission will take final action on its recommendation at a future meeting. If a recommendation is forwarded, the request will go to the Township Board for a final decision.
- What are the specific reasons that staff was directed to draft findings for a recommendation of denial?
- When will the Planning Commission hold the meeting to take final action on its recommendation?
- How would the existing penalty deadlines, which are based on removing a much larger volume of material, be adjusted if the proposal is approved?
Supporting records
These related records help explain the item, including the agenda listing, staff explanation, and draft text.
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AGENDA ITEM 5b: Coit Investors PUD Report by: Peter Elam | Action Requested | To provide a favorable recommendation to the Township Board (TB) to change and/or amend the Coit Investors PUD, Restrictive Covenants, and Soil Removal Permit | |--------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------…
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Conditions A soil removal permit shall be in effect prior to and during any soil removal operations or activities on the site. The following shall also apply to the PUD amendment and soil permit. Duration : Mining is allowed within the areas shown on the Grading Plan attached here as Exhibit C-102. Allof the following uses, activities and matters on and from the Property shall meet all of the following absolute requ…
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EXHIBIT C-106 Soil Removal Permit -Conditions
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Surety Bond: No mining shall occur until a surety bond, or other form of a ?nancial guarantee acceptable to the Township, in the amount speci?ed below is submitted to the Township to ensure the timely and faithful compliance with the Plain?eld Charter Township Soil Removal Ordinance, the PUD amendment approval, reclamation requirements and these conditions. The initial bond shall be in the amount of $2,000,000 initi…
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The surety bond, or other form of ?nancial guarantee acceptable to the Township, shall be noncancellable and also not be refunded, reduced or transferred (except as speci?ed above) until the site has received final inspection and reclamation approval by the Township and until the Landowner, or its successor, has fully complied with all of the terms, conditions and requirements of the Plainfield Charter Township Soil…
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Development Application for Consideration by the Planning Commission Project Name: J.M. Development, LLC Applicant: M r. Matt Cole and Mr. Mike Rusche. Project Address: 4640 and 4672 Coit Avenue NE Perm. Parcel #: 41-10- 29-400-019 and 41-10-29-400-005 Size of Site: Approximately 93.22 acres (combined) k j b h l u y g A p r o x i m a t e 0 . 9 8 c s ( n d ) Project Description & Action Requested of the PC: To provid…
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RESTRICTIVE COVENANT AGREEMENT FOR VALUABLE CONSIDERATION, the receipt and sufficiency of which is acknowledged by the parties hereto, J. M. DEVELOPMENT, LLC, a Michigan limited liability company ("Landowner"), with an address of 4510 Peach Ridge NW, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49544 and PLAINFIELD CHARTER TOWNSHIP ("Township"), a Michigan charter township, with its offices located at 6161 Belmont Avenue NE, Belmont, Mic…
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MEMORANDUM TO: Plainfield Township Planning Commission FROM: JM Development (Rusche) DATE: January 19, 2026 RE: Completion of Mining ______________________________________________________________________________ We are before you requesting an alteration of our mining permit and want to make it clear that we are NOT ASKING for either more time or the right to take out additional material. The following are salient f…
Meeting history
Agenda and minutes records showing when this item appeared and what procedural step it reached over time.
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The item appeared on the Planning Commission Meeting agenda: PUD Amendment / Soil Removal Permit - Public Hearing Coit Investors PUD 4640 & 4672 Coit Avenue Mr. Matt Cole and Mr. Mike Rusche on behalf of J.M. Development LLC PUD Amendment / Soil Removal Permit - Public Hearing Coit Investors PUD 4640 & 4672 Coit Avenue Mr. Matt Cole and Mr. Mike Rusche on behalf of J.M. Development LLC
Accuracy note
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