EAST GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — The East Grand Rapids Planning Commission voted unanimously Wednesday to approve splitting one of East Grand Rapids’ historic properties into five residential lots, clearing the way for new development on the long-vacant Brookby Estate at 250 Plymouth Road Southeast.
The decision came after two meetings of deliberation, with commissioners openly divided over whether the proposed lot sizes were compatible with the surrounding neighborhood.
The commission approved dividing the roughly 5.5-acre estate into five lots, with the historic Brookby mansion preserved on one of them. The approval came with conditions: existing outbuildings along Robinson Road must be demolished before the land division is recorded, and the transfer of deeds must be filed with the Kent County Register of Deeds within 90 days…