Developer seeks rezoning of 63-acre State Farm land

The same night Battle Creek developer Richard Trae Allman of Allman Development and Allman Partners, LLC appeared before the City of Marshall and Marshall Township Joint Planning Commission with a request to rezone the former site of a proposed State Farm Insurance office building, the panel unanimously approved a concept plan showing the property in a commercial zone. Currently, the 63-acre site at Exit 110 is designated as Professional Office Service District (POSD) but though Allman would not reveal his plans for the land, he has requested a change to B-4 Regional Commercial District. It appears the city is well on its way to adopting the concept plan which will later reflect in the master plan when the update is complete. Even so, Allman still must follow the steps to receive approval of his request. See more on this and on this unique joint planning panel, an unprecedented sign of cooperation, on the Sept. 15 front page edition of the Chronicle. It's this week's top story.