Top from Left: Scott VanStrate, Mark Miller, Steve Nauta, Marv VandenBosch
Bottom from Left: David Bennett, Former Village President Bill Filber, Not pictured: Bill Meyers 

The Village of Spring Lake Village Council meets the 1st and 3rd Mondays of every month, unless there is a holiday then it is the following Tuesday. Meetings are open to the public and Agendas are available on this website, at the Village Hall and at the meeting. The Village Council consists of six council members and the Village President, all of whom are elected at large from the community.  Council members serve a 4-year term of office.  The Village President is elected to a 2-year term.  For questions about the Village Council please contact Village Manager This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it )

Planning Commission

The Village of Spring Lake Planning Commission meets the 4th Tuesday of every month, if necessary, at 7:00 PM at the Barber School Community Building, 102 W. Exchange Street. The meetings are open to the public.  The Planning Commission reviews and approves all site plans and project details for commercial, industrial and Planned Unit Development projects.  The Planning Commission is responsible for developing and updating the Village Master Plan.  They are also the board that develops new zoning ordinance regulations.  Agendas are available on this website, at the Village Hall and at the meeting.  

The Planning Commission is made up of nine members, including one member of the Village Council.  The current members of the Planning Commission are: Chair Christine Miller, Vice-Chair Sherry Miller, Scott Bennink, Erick Johnson, David Kauchek, Joanne Unkovskoy, Lesley Van Leeuwen-Vega, Scott VanStrate (Village Council representative) and John Yasenak.

Agendas & Minutes

Anyone with development and site plan questions should contact the Village Planner, Kristen . ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it )

Zoning Board of Appeals

The Village of Spring Lake Zoning Board of Appeals meets the 2nd Tuesday of every month, if necessary, at 7:00 PM at the Barber School Community Building, 102 W. Exchange Street. The meetings are open to the public.  The Zoning Board of Appeals reviews all requests for variances from the requirements of the Village’s Zoning Ordinance and requests for interpretations of the Zoning Ordinance.  Agendas are available on this website, at the Village Hall and at the meeting.

Residents with zoning questions or Zoning Board of Appeals, should contact Lukas Hill ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ) at 616-842-1393.

Central Business District Development Authority

The Central Business District Development Authority (CBDDA) was established by the Village Council on September 15, 1980 in an effort to "halt property deterioration and increase property tax valuation where possible in the Village of Spring Lake's downtown business district, to eliminate the causes of that deterioration and to promote economic growth of the Village of Spring Lake's downtown business district."

While the Downtown Development Authority Act of 1975 gives the Authority broad powers with regard to planning for economic development of the downtown district, the Village's CBDDA has been charged primarily with the mission of constructing public improvements required to attract private investment and promote retail, commercial and industrial business activity in the Village of Spring Lake Central Business District development area.

The CBDDA is responsible for the maintenance of the Village of Spring Lake Development Plan and Tax Increment Financing Plan and the use of tax increment financing revenues on projects identified in the Development Plan.  Projects completed under the guidance of the CBDDA include the construction of Lakeside Trail Linear Park (1991), the Savidge Street Corridor Beautification and Improvement Project (1995) and the West End Community Boardwalk Project (2000).

Village Manager Ryan Cotton works with the CBDDA.

The CBDDA provides support to businesses in the Downtown Development District in a number of ways.  

The Downtown Façade Grant program is a matching grant of up to $5,000 per building for improvements to the exterior of the building that enhance the aesthetics of the principle building and contribute to the overall aesthetics of the downtown district.  The grant may be used for such things as architectural improvements, new entryways, masonry work, brick restoration and window repair or replacement.  

Façade Grant Application

The CBDDA also has a Fire Suppression and Elevator Assistance Grant.  This is also a matching grant, up to $10,000, that is intended to provide an incentive for downtown business owners and operators, who own significant existing buildings, to invest in older facilities within the CBDDA District by providing matching grants to businesses to make these improvements (elevators and fire suppression systems) that give existing significant buildings new life and/or allow for a change of use.  The state building code often requires upgrades to buildings, such as elevators and fire suppression systems, when the use of the building is changed.  These improvements can be very expensive.  With the help of the grant a downtown business owner can extend the life of the building with a new or different business and thereby help to retain the character of the downtown.

Fire Suppression and Elevator Grant Application

The CBDDA offers a lease program for Village design sandwich board signs in the CBDDA District.  A business owner may lease a sandwich board sign for $1.00 to help call attention to their business and advertise specials.

For more information about the programs listed above please contact Ryan Cotton at 616-842-1393.

The Village recently hired Fleis and VandenBrink Engineers to facilitate Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) Downtown Façade Grant Program in the Village.  They are currently working with Field’s Fabrics and the French Academy to help them secure grants for major façade renovations.

The Village also assists businesses with efforts to obtain a commercial facilities tax exemption for the value of new construction to buildings in the CBDDA District.  For more information about the MEDC Downtown Façade Grant Program and the commercial tax exemption please contact Village Manager This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Commercial Facilities Exemption Certificate Application: 
http://www.michigan.gov/documents/taxes/4757_292963_7.pdf

Commercial Facilities Exemption Certificate Information:
http://www.michigan.gov/taxes/0,1607,7-238-43535_53197-222387--,00.html

Downtown Development Plan and Downtown Design Manual

Historic Conservation Commission

The Spring Lake Historic Conservation Commission is comprised of 7 Village residents (we have one vacancy at present) whose mission it is to "promote pride in Spring Lake's past, present and future". They are governed under a Village ordinance and meet once a month for about 1 hour. The Commission processes designations of historic value for public and private structures and provides educational programs on the history of the area and other historic preservation work. The Historic Conservation Commission also organizes and hosts the annual Spring Lake Wooden Boat Show.  If you are interested in attending a meeting, please call This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it at Village Hall, 616-842-1393, for the date and time of the next meeting.

Agendas & Minutes:

September 21, 2004 Minutes
December 21, 2004 Minutes
January 18, 2005 Minutes
February 15, 2005 Minutes

Historic Preservation Award Form

Parks Boards Committee

Click here to view Parks Boards meeting schedule

Parks and Recreation Minutes, August 2011

Parks and Recreation Minutes, October 2011

Parks & Rec Committee Minutes, January 2012

Parks & Rec Committee Agenda, January 2012

Parks & Rec Committee Minutes, February 2012

Parks & Rec Committee Agenda, March 2012

Ken Gleason, Chair

Michele Yasenak