City of Lapeer - City Commission Meeting - February 2, 2026 (Part 1)

The meeting of the Lapeer City Commission featured intense debate regarding the socioeconomic implications of various development projects. A primary focus was a public hearing concerning a CDBG grant for the Lapeer Opera House. While some residents expressed concern that the income-restricted nature of the grant might bring low-income populations into the city center, developers and city officials clarified that the 80% Area Median Income (AMI) threshold actually encompasses many middle-class residents, such as teachers and nurses.

In addition to housing, the Commission addressed critical infrastructure needs. This included approving a contract amendment to finalize a long-running road project and awarding a substantial bid for the improvement of Park Street, Pine Street, and Parking Lot Number 9. The Commission also moved forward with a first reading for a zoning change on Baldwin Road, shifting the property from residential to business use to align with the city's master plan.

• Lapeer Opera House Revitalization: Discussion of the CDBG grant application and the economic/demographic impact of income-restricted housing.
• Downtown Infrastructure: Approval of major contracts for street and parking lot improvements.
• Zoning Amendments: Rezoning of 888 Baldwin Road from R2 to B2.
• Infrastructure Management: Managing unforeseen costs and construction timelines for ongoing roadwork.

• Jeramy Hing: Mayor
• Joshua C. Atwood: Commissioner
• Stefan Brady: Commissioner
• Linda Glisman: Commissioner
• Melissa Petrie: Mayor Pro-Tem/Commissioner
• Lynne McCarthy: Commissioner
• Mike Womack: City Manager
• Brian Cloutier: Director and CEO of Oxford Public Library (Public Commenter)
• Wes Weber: City Resident (Public Commenter)
• Jacob LaRoy: Mayfield Township Resident (Public Commenter)
• Casey Carpenter: Resident (Public Commenter)
• Tom LaMagna: Developer/Owner (Public Commenter)

• Minutes Approval: Approved minutes from the January 20, 2026, meeting and closed session.
• Bill Listing: Approved the February 2, 2026, bill listing in the amount of $1,808,213.78.
• CDBG Grant Application: Resolved to authorize an $826,000 application for the "My Neighborhood CDBG Grant" for the Larel Opera House project.
• Engineering Contract Amendment: Approved a contract amendment for Road Professional Services for $79,225 for construction engineering services.
• Zoning Ordinance 2026-01: Approved the first reading to rezone 888 Baldwin Road from R2 (Single Family Residential) to B2 (General Business).
• Infrastructure Bid Award: Awarded the Park Street, Pine Street, and Parking Lot Number 9 Improvement Project to Deponio Contracting LLC for an amount not to exceed $3,960,000.

• Meeting Date: February 2, 2026.
• Zoning Second Reading: Scheduled for February 17, 2026.
• Parking Lot Construction: Estimated 50-day maximum duration for the parking lot portion of the project.

• Opera House Project: To utilize federal funds for the restoration and repurposing of the historic Lapeer Opera House.
• Infrastructure Projects: To finalize long-standing roadwork and improve downtown accessibility and safety through sidewalk and parking lot upgrades.
• Zoning Change: To align the use of the Baldwin Road property with the city's master plan.

• Mayor Hing: Presided over the meeting and facilitated discussions on infrastructure contingencies.
• Commissioner Brady: Championed the completion of existing projects, urging the commission to prioritize "fixing what we already have" over "new shiny objects."
• Commissioner Atwood: Raised concerns regarding traffic flow and the potential impact of construction on residents in his immediate area.
• City Manager Womack: Provided technical details on zoning, contract management, and the implementation of infrastructure improvements.
• Tom LaMagna (Developer): Provided historical context for the Opera House and clarified the income thresholds for the proposed apartments.

• Approval of Jan 20 Minutes: Passed.
• Approval of Bill Listing ($1,808,213.78): Motion: Glisman, Second: McCarthy. Roll Call: Atwood (Yes), Brady (Yes), Glisman (Yes), McCarthy (Yes), Petrie (Yes). Result: Passed.
• CDBG Grant Resolution ($826,000): Motion: Brady, Second: Atwood. Roll Call: Brady (Yes), Atwood (Yes), Glisman (Yes), McCarthy (Yes), Petrie (Yes). Result: Passed.
• Road Professional Services Contract Amendment ($79,225): Motion: Brady, Second: (Not stated). Roll Call: All (Yes). Result: Passed.
• Zoning Ordinance 2026-01 (888 Baldwin Rd): Motion: Brady, Second: (Not stated). Roll Call: All (Yes). Result: Passed.
• Park/Pine St/Parking Lot 9 Bid Award ($3.96M): Motion: McCarthy, Second: Brady. Roll Call: All (Yes). Result: Passed.

• Income-Restricted Housing vs. Prosperity: A debate between residents fearing a loss of tax base/demographic shift and developers arguing that the "low income" label is inaccurate due to the 80% AMI cap.
• Construction Contingencies: Discussion regarding "liquidated damages" (penalties of $1,500–$3,000 per day) to ensure contractors meet deadlines for downtown improvements.
• Traffic and Zoning: Concerns regarding how B2 zoning on Baldwin Road might impact traffic congestion and intersection safety.

• Staff Follow-up: City Manager/Staff to verify the specific lower AMI threshold for the CDBG grant.
• Easement Collection: Jim Alt to work with property owners to secure necessary signed easements for the parking lot project.
• Tree Well Experimentation: The Department of Public Services to potentially test rubberized surfacing for tree wells during the summer.

The community sentiment is divided. There is notable skepticism from some residents regarding the long-term economic effects of income-restricted housing and the rising costs of ongoing municipal projects. However, there is also significant support for downtown revitalization and the completion of essential infrastructure improvements.

• Wes Weber (Resident): "We need to weigh carefully... whether or not we want homes for the sake of homes... It puts people in homes that can't afford [them] without subsidy."
• Tom LaMagna (Developer): "To me, [the income limit] is not [low income]. We have many families that qualify within those limits."
• Commissioner Brady: "[I would] just speak to my desire as a commissioner to see the city improve the things that we already have fixed—roads, fixed pipes, repair buildings... prioritizing the stuff that really matters."

Overall Sentiment

The chat was extremely minimal, consisting of a single earnest plea for community investment.

Notable Messages

[51:04] "Please say yes to someone who wants to invest in our community." — @mamamin78