ZEELAND — Mead Johnson gave community members and officials a first glimpse at plans for renovations and expansion in the city of Zeeland during a public presentation June 5.
The company, owned by Reckitt, will participate in a public hearing for the project at 6 p.m. June 12 before the Zeeland Planning Commission, as it seeks initial approval of a rezoning request for two properties essential to the expansion.
“Mead Johnson Nutrition takes pride in our deep roots in the Zeeland community, where we have been producing some of the nation’s most trusted baby formula products for more than 100 years,” Mead Johnson told The Sentinel in a written statement.
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The business hopes to rezone residential land at 605 and 633 E. Main Ave. for commercial use. The expansion into surrounding properties, the company said, will allow operations to continue as usual while the original plant undergoes renovations.
Mead Johnson’s Infant Formula Supply Center in Zeeland officially celebrated 100 years in operation in September 2024.
“Repurposing nearby residential land for commercial use allows us to establish an essential facility to prevent disruption, avoid supply shortages and ensure families across the country continue to receive the formula they depend on,” the presentation, supplied to The Sentinel by Mead Johnson, read.
The new facility would include employee-focused spaces, including a new front office, an employee center, breakrooms, locker rooms, a hot food cafeteria, a mothers’ room and collaborative workspaces. The plan would also include a new community park on the corner of East Main Avenue and Carlton Street, as well as an upgraded Veldhof Playground, currently located at Bethel Christian Reformed Church. According to the presentation, the location of the upgraded playground has yet to be determined.
It wasn’t immediately clear how Bethel — which sits at 515 E. Main Ave. — might be impacted by the project, though draft maps provided for the land between East Main Avenue, Fairview Avenue, North Carlton Street and East Washington Avenue notably don’t include the church. They also don’t include Bennett Wood Specialties at 109 N. Carlton Street; which, according to property records, was purchased by Mead Johnson in December for $3.7 million.
A draft of possible expansion plans from Mead Johnson between East Main Avenue, North Carlton Street, Fairview Avenue and East Washington Avenue.
There are several other residential properties along East Main Avenue that would need to be demolished for the pictured plan to come to fruition.
The presentation addressed some public concerns that have already been voiced, such as environmental impact, noise and traffic pattern changes.
“We hear you,” the presentation read. “Our plan for modernizing our facility is designed with a ‘community-first’ approach.”
The company cited new and better technologies for noise control and odor elimination, and re-routing on-site traffic flow to reduce traffic on Fairview Avenue and Main Avenue.
The plant in Zeeland has been around since 1924 and currently employs about 500 full-time workers. It’s unknown if the addition to the main plant will add new jobs.
Residents indicated they are considering the presentation and plan to respond during the upcoming public hearing. The city released a statement on the presentation June 6.
“While discussions between city staff and Mead Johnson have occurred regarding Mead Johnson’s potentialdesire to invest in Zeeland, the June 5 presentation was the first opportunity Zeeland’s City Council andPlanning Commission have had to see the proposed site modernization plans,” the city wrote in a release.
“Although they are currently conceptual, we are glad Mead Johnson’s potential plans have now been shared so the city can take time to discern how best to respond to official requests and site plans as they are filed. (Officials) and interested members of the public will have many opportunities to engage with this project through a multi-step process, beginning with the formal rezoning request on June 12.”
The city noted Mead Johnson will need to submit numerous, multi-step requests throughout the process, each of which will be considered individually.
Mead Johnson gave community members and officials a first glimpse at plans for renovations and expansion in the city of Zeeland during a public presentation June 5.
“Though the (city) cannot and will not guarantee approval of a request before it is voted on by agoverning body at a public meeting, city leaders continue to convey to Mead Johnson our desire to retain theirbusiness in Zeeland, if executed appropriately,” the release read.
“Mead Johnson’s 100+ year presence as one of Zeeland’s largest employers and taxpayers is very important to our community. Mead Johnson’s proposal would retain 400-500 jobs and invest millions of dollars … none of which is insignificant to the health of our city.
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“We understand that change can be unsettling, especially when it comes to a neighborhood. We are committed to open-minded and fact-based decision-making to ensure the peaceful and attractive co-existence of the East Main Avenue neighborhood and Mead Johnson.”
For more information, visit cityofzeeland.com.
— Cassidey Kavathas is the politics and court reporter at The Holland Sentinel. Contact her at ckavathas@hollandsentinel.com. Follow her on Twitter @cassideykava.
This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Mead Johnson gives first look at impactful expansion plan in Zeeland