A referendum pits growth against preservation in an affluent West Michigan suburb

Cascade Township residents will head to the polls on August 4 to decide whether to keep or discard a sweeping new zoning ordinance that has divided the community. The referendum was triggered by a resident-led petition that gathered enough signatures to force a public vote.

The township board approved the new zoning code in a 4-3 vote on February 11, 2026. The ordinance is not currently in effect while the referendum process plays out. The original 1989 zoning code remains active for now.

What the ballot question asks

Voters will see the following language on the August 4 ballot, according to the Cascade Township website:

Shall Ordinance No. 6 of 2025, "Cascade Township Zoning Ordinance," adopted by the Cascade Township Board on February 11, 2026, which updates and replaces the Township zoning ordinance originally adopted in 1989, be approved?

A yes vote would put the new zoning code into effect. A no vote would nullify the changes and force the township to restart the zoning update process.

The case for the new rules

Township Supervisor Grace Lesperance said the old zoning code was written decades ago with the goal of attracting big-box stores and industrial developments. She argued the new ordinance aligns with what residents said they wanted in the most recent township master plan.

I hope voters really look at the actual facts of the zoning, and see for themselves that it's not drastic, but it's a sensible and necessary step to preserve Cascade's character and ensure that we have smart growth.

According to a February 11 board memo summarizing the changes, the new code includes:

• Stricter density limits on private neighborhood developments
• Required road widths of 26 feet on private streets to allow fire truck access
• Architectural style requirements in the village area
• Density bonuses for green space preservation and mixed-use development
• Limits on new developments in areas without existing water and sewer connections

Under the old rules, a private neighborhood development could have up to 20 homes with an 18-foot street width. The new rules would cap those developments at 8 homes unless developers use the Planned Unit Development process to request more.

The case against the new rules

Daniel Grzywacz, 63, a Cascade resident who filed the referendum petition, argued the changes are too restrictive. He said the rules will deter new housing construction and limit property rights.

We have to be progressive. We have to grow. We need more housing. The more you limit housing development, you're just telling people, we don't want you here.

Grzywacz submitted 1,954 valid signatures to place the issue on the ballot. The township clerk required 1,799 valid signatures for the referendum to qualify.

Some residents who oppose the zoning changes have argued during board meetings that the restrictions will block affordable housing options like apartments and condominiums, according to MLive/Grand Rapids Press.

Real estate groups weigh in

Representatives from the Greater Regional Alliance of Realtors and Michigan Realtors have spoken out against the proposed changes. Campaign finance records show the opposition group has spent more than $100,000 on legal counsel, a public relations firm, and a professional signature-gathering company, according to the MLive report.

What happens after the vote

If voters approve the new zoning code, it will apply only to new development and redevelopment. Existing properties will not be forced to make changes.

If voters reject the code, the township will need to draft a new zoning ordinance from scratch. Grzywacz said he wants the board to slow down and engage more thoroughly with residents.

That's not good democracy, he said of the board's narrow 4-3 vote. I think we just need more transparency.

The August 4 election is a primary election in Michigan. Early in-person voting begins June 19 and runs through August 1, according to the Michigan Secretary of State.