by Deborah Johnson Wood
The city continues to gather community and neighborhood input before establishing new zoning ordinances designed specifically to implement the Grand Rapids 2002 Master Plan. A series of meetings between city staff and city residents, and follow-up meetings with the Grand Rapids Planning Commission are planned.
"New zoning areas are being planned since the Master Plan was finalized," said Beth Byron, assistant planning director. "[These meetings] are a continuation of meetings that started last spring."
The purpose of the meetings is to determine zoning that will strengthen and maintain the character of individual neighborhoods based on the findings and plan outlined in the Master Plan. The meetings focus on the language of the zoning ordinances, and on getting input from city planners and residents.
City planning staff will meet with residents to determine which issues can be decided by consensus, and which need further discussion. Matters needing further discussion will be referred to the Planning Commission for a tentative decision.
The proposed zoning ordinances will be presented at a public hearing with the Planning Commission on June 14. They will then be presented for a final decision at a public hearing with the City Commission on August 14.
The public is invited to attend the meetings and public hearings. Click here to locate the meeting schedule and the times for the public hearings.
Source: Beth Byron, Grand Rapids Planning Department
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