Your Voice Needed! Potential Zoning Changes
Attention Residents:
We would like to get your feedback on proposed changes to zoning on the Westside. Currently the City of Grand Rapids is considering changing the zoning from a Traditional City Center to a City Center. This could affect building height and parking. There is a questionnaire at the bottom of this page! Thank you for your time!
To give a short summary on the proposed zoning:
Map of proposed zoning changes. Click on the image to make it larger.
CURRENT - Two (2) overlay districts
- Overlay A:
- 85’ max height (6-8 stories) by right
- Additional stories (up to 7 stories) allowed as bonus
- Bonuses for:
- Urban open space (up to 4 stories)
- Ground floor retail (up to 7 stories)
- Residential space (up to 7 stories)
- Overlay B:
- Unlimited height
- Unlimited height
Below are the definitions and sources so you may review to be able to provide feedback. Below this information is the questionnaire!
Definitions:
Transitional City Center - The Transitional City Center is the buffer district between downtown and its surrounding neighborhoods. This zone district provides a transition from downtown's intense development patterns to less intense residential and commercial areas. Unique features of TCC's such as large warehouse buildings, provide opportunities for innovative re-use.
City Center - The intent of this District is to maintain and enhance the vitality of downtown, reinforce its intense development pattern, provide compatible services near one another, allow diverse uses, and keep older, often historic, buildings in viable use. The compact development pattern of downtown establishes a pedestrian-oriented and transit-friendly environment. The City Center Zone District stresses pedestrian circulation, urban and civic design, protection of natural features, and encourages the reuse of existing buildings.
Complete Description of these terms start on Page 20 starting under Sec. 5.6.02. - Traditional Neighborhood Mixed-Use Commercial Zone Districts: Purpose and Intent. Here
PROPOSED - Maintain two overlay districts
- DH-1:
- Unlimited height
- DH-2:
- 10 stories max height by right
- 16 stories max with bonuses
- Bonuses for:
- Public art
- Mixed income
- Green infrastructure
- Bonuses for:
Sources:
- City of GR - Master Plan Summary (2002)
- Westside Area Specific Plan (ASP) - Final Draft (May 2015) This was done by WGNO residents & stakeholders.
- GR Forward - Info/Recommendations/Public Comment (Spring 2014-Fall 2015) WGNO/JBAN/SWAN residents participated.
- U to the Zoo ASP - Revisions (October 2013) This was done by SWAN/JBAN residents & stakeholders.
- City of GR - Proposed Zoning Ordinance Text (2017)
- City of GR - Map Amendments - Proposed map changes & addresses (2017)
- City of GR - 11/30/1016 Meeting Presentation - This summarizes the proposed changes to zoning. NOTE: See "Map Amendments" to get a better view of the images. (2016)
It is important to note that at the time the GR Forward Public Engagement Meetings were done, the top concerns by residents and stakeholders of the WGNO/JBAN/SWAN neighborhoods were:
- Parking
- Zoning (Specifically building height).