Zeeland planning commission OKs Mead Johnson’s $836M expansion plan
Posted By: mlive on June 5, 2026. For more information, please click here to read the source article.
The Zeeland Planning Commission on Thursday, June 4, unanimously approved the site plan for baby formula manufacturer Mead Johnson’s expansion of its facility at 725 E. Main Ave. The site plan approval comes a full year after the company presented a draft expansion plan in June 2025.
“We look forward to continuing our engagement with the community as we advance this project, which reflects our long-term commitment to local employees, operational excellence, and the industry-leading quality standards that make us a trusted partner in pediatric nutrition for families around the world,” Mead Johnson said in a statement.
The approved site plan includes multiple new industrial buildings of varying heights totaling approximately 619,000 square feet, along with associated site improvements such as 377 employee parking spaces, truck access and loading areas, landscaping, screening and related site infrastructure to support the new operations. The development is expected to occur in multiple phases over several years, a company spokesperson said.
The planning commission reviewed the long-awaited site plan at an earlier meeting in May. Mead Johnson spokesperson Art Pike told commissioners that the proposed expansion would have a smaller footprint than what last year’s preliminary designs showed. Mead Johnson had acquired several properties along East Main Avenue adjacent to the factory. The company spent the latter half of 2025 working with the planning commission to have them rezoned to accommodate the expansion project.
At the time, Mead Johnson said it planned to invest more than $836 million in the project, but the scope and associated costs are expected to change based on detailed design and construction planning, a company spokesperson said.
The company has said the project is necessary for it to meet its internal expectations, as well as the ever-changing government regulations worldwide.
“Our assets are aging; we will not be able to use those assets forever,” Pike said at the June 2025 meeting. “That’s why we’re spending a very large sum of money that we know we need to build this, because the assets we have are nearing the end of their shelf life.”
The project, however, face continuous pushbacks from residents due to the possibility of increased traffic, odor, noise and pollution from the expanded factory. At least two parcels at 605 and 633 E. Main Ave. were zoned for residential use, sparking concern at a time when housing supply is already low.
Mead Johnson in its application said it made several site adjustments to improve noise-reduction performance. Most notable is the increased setback for all buildings. All manufacturing facilities are now positioned at a minimum of 225 feet from the property line — far exceeding the required 50-foot setback.
The company also requested a height variance as several areas of the new facility exceed the code-specified maximum height of 40 feet, according to the application.
« Back to Insights