Master Plan Content Index

The Master Plan draft was sent from the Planning Commission to the City Commission on 2024-08-08. The City Commission is expected to accept the plan on 2024-08-13, which will begin the required 63 day public review period on 2024-08-14. If accepted the required review period will complete on 2024-10-16. At that point the Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on 2024-10-24 and recommend the City Commission adopt the plan. The City Commission will then schedule and hold a public hearing on 2024-11-19. The City Commission will ratify the plan, most likely, on 2024-12-03. At this point a rewrite of the zoning ordinance will begin, to align the ordinance with the new plan.

UPDATE 2024-11-16: The public hearing of the master plan is on the City Commission agenda for 2024-11-19, as expected.

UPDATE 2024-12-03: The "Bridge To Our Future" Master Plan was adopted.

The Plan Documents

These are the documents as proposed to the City Commission for the 2024-11-19 public hearing and subsequent adoption.

Drafts

Updates & Presentations

Public Comment

Accessory Dwelling Units

Duplexes

Triplexes and Quadplexes

Participants

  • The Steering Committee are individuals appointed by the Mayor Bliss; this group represents all three wards and a variety of Grand Rapids businesses and non-profit organizations. There is some overlap between the steering committee and neighbor organizations.

  • Neighborhood Organizations are CDBG funded neighborhood organizations and associations which participated in engagement and organizing engagement events.
  • Community Connectors are individuals hires by the city to organizing and host engagement events.

Steering CommitteeConsultants
Tommy Allen, Rapid Growth Media
Ryan Anderson, Mobile GR Commissioner, Herman Miller
Jathan Austin, Ethel Empowerment Church
Rev. Katherine Baker, Ecumenical and Interfaith Ministries and Spiritual Wellness
Tasha Blackmon, Cherry Health
Brenda Brame, Kent County Tax Credit Coalition at Heart of Michigan United Way
Guillermo Cisneros, West Michigan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Kristina Colby, Neighbors of Belknap Lookout
Belinda Cunningham, Corewell Health Healthier Communities
Lauren H. Davis, Friends of Grand Rapids Parks
Isaac DeGraaf, LINC UP
Evelyn Esparza-Gonzalez, Hispanic Center of Western Michigan
Cindy Foley, Grand Rapids Art Museum
Sonja Forte, Baxter Community Center
Aaron Ferguson, Michigan Department of Health and Human Services
Synia Gant-Jordan, Community Collaboration on Climate Change (C4)
Emma Garcia, Access of West Michigan
Representative Kristian Grant, Southtown Corridor Improvement Authority, Grant Development, LLC
Lisa Haynes, Grand Valley State University
Dale Hotelling, Ward 2 City Commissioner appointee
Chip Hurley, Jones Lang LaSalle
Erick Kind, MDOT
Emily Loeks, Studio C
Ted Lott, Lott3Metz Architecture
Josh Lunger, Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce
Jameela Maun, Healthy Homes Coalition of West Michigan
Paola Mendivil, El Granjero Mexican Grill/Ferris State University
Nathaniel Moody, Former City Commissioner
Nick Monoyios, Interurban Transit Partnership (The Rapid)
Minnie Morey, West Michigan Asian American Association
Tim Mroz, The Right Place, Inc.
Isaac Norris, Issac V. Norris & Associates, P.C. and Southtown CIA
Javier Olvera, Supermercado Mexico (Olvera Enterprises)
Shawn Platt, Continuum Ventures
Lynn Rabaut, Former City Commissioner
Lindsey Reames, Grand Rapids Housing Commission
Terry Rostic, Black Calder Brewing Company
Paul Rozenboom, Planning Commissioner
Mark Schaub, Ward 1 City Commissioner appointee
Alex Smart, Grand Rapids Public Schools
Megan Steenwyk, Vizient/Corewell Health
Monica Steimle-App, Rockford Construction
Eddie Tadlock, Devos Place/Van Andel Arena (ASM Global)
Annette Vandenberg, West Grand Neighborhood Organization
Angélica Velazquez Estrada, La Casa de la Cobija
Teresa Weatherall Neal, Lead 616
Rick Winn, AHC Hospitality/Experience GR/River For All
Ron Yob, Grand River Bands of Ottawa Indians
CNT- sustainability, resiliency, and equity
Güd Marketing- communications and public relations
Interface Studio- urban design and area planning
Ninigret Partners- economic development and housing
Sam Schwartz- transportation and mobility
Sidewalk Detroit- outreach and engagement
Vías- translation services and Latinx engagement
Neighborhood Organizations
Gregg Hampshire, Creston Neighborhood Association
Jessica Young, East Hills Council of Neighbors
Steven Martinez, Eastown Community Association
Fran Dalton, Garfield Park Neighborhoods Association
Barbara Draughon, Heritage Hill Association
Isaac DeGraaf, LINC UP
Matt Bowman, Midtown Neighborhood Association
Kristina Colby, Neighbors of Belknap Lookout
Amy Brower, Roosevelt Park Neighborhood Association
South West Area Neighbors DBA John Ball Area Neighbors
Annette Vandenburg, West Grand Neighborhood Organization
Community Connectors
Marian Barrera -Young, Baxter Neighborhood Association
Elianna Bootzin, Resident of Ward 2
AC Cluely
Jackie Frens, West Michigan Asian America Association
Noemi Gonzalez, Grandville Avenue Arts & Humanities
Betsy Hernandez, North East Citizens Action (NECA)
Dee Kimbrel, Sophisticated Gentlemen's & Women's Auxiliary Club
Tecca Lynn Jones, Baxter United
Ryan McCahill, Fulton Heights Neighborhood Association
Kimberly Moore, Kids Food Basket
Steff Rosalez, Grandville Avenue Arts & Humanities
Eleanor Moreno, Grandville Avenue Arts & Humanities
Mallory Patterson, Heartside Downtown Neighborhood Association
Kareem Scales, Formerly NAACP of GR + GR CMP SC
Latricia Sosebee, Dwelling Place of Grand Rapids
Regenail Thomas, Seeds of Promise
Jenine Torres, Resident of Ward 1
Victor Williams, Boston Square Neighborhood Association
Adam Tuano Williams, Highland Park Neighborhood Association
Michael Williams, Disability Advocates of Kent County

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