Community Master Plan Updates

Community Master Plan Update Presentations

September 2024 Community Master Plan Update Presentation 

Summary of Draft Plan Chapter Review and Public Comment Review

• Watch the City Commission Committee of the Whole High Level Briefing 1 Meeting
• Watch the Planning Commission Deep Dive 2 & Comments Update Meeting 

August 2024 Community Master Plan Update Presentation 

Release of Draft Plan for Public Review Period and Chapters 1-4 Review

• Watch the Planning Commission Meeting recommending the release of the plan for public review  
• Watch the City Commission Committee of the Whole Meeting authorizing the release of the plan for public review
• Watch the Planning Commission Deep Dive 1 Meeting 

July 2024 Community Master Plan Update Presentation 

Summary of Round 4 Engagement and Plan Overview

• Watch the Joint City Commission and Planning Commission Meeting

April 2024 Community Master Plan Update Presentation 

Summary of Round 3 Engagement 

• Watch the Planning Commission Meeting
• Review the Round 3 Public Comments 

October 2023 Community Master Plan Update Presentation

Summary of Round 2 Engagement 

• Watch the City Commission Meeting
• Watch the Planning Commission Meeting

• Review the Round 2 Public Comments 

April 2023 Community Master Plan Update Presentation

Summary of Round 1 Engagement 

• Watch the City Commission Meeting 
• Watch the Planning Commission Meeting

• Review the Round 1 Public Comments 

November 2022 Community Master Plan Update Presentation

Summary of where we're at in the process

• Watch the City Commission Prioritization Workshop

February 2021 Community Master Plan Update Presentation

Summary of results of the Facilitator Program

• Watch the City Commission Meeting
• Download Presentation(PDF, 3MB)

November 2021 City Manager's Vlog

Update on the Community Master Plan

• Watch the City Manager Vlog

November 2020 Community Master Plan Update Presentation

Progress update for the Facilitator Program

• Download Presentation(PDF, 25MB)

March 2020 Community Master Plan Update Presentation

Introducing the Community Master Plan process

• Download Presentation(PDF, 2MB) 

The Community Master Plan Steering Committee consists of the following individuals, appointed by Mayor Bliss with consultation from City Commissioners. The Steering Committee members represent all three City wards and a variety of Grand Rapids businesses and non-profit organizations:

• 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 

In keeping with the values outlined in the City's Strategic Plan, the charts below break down committee membership by race/ethnicity, gender, geography, sector representation and other key areas:

The City of Grand Rapids issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) for obtaining proposals from professional consulting firms/teams to provide professional and technical expertise for the preparation of a CMP. A proposal evaluation team composed of Steering Committee members and Planning Department staff selected Planning NEXT. To view their proposal, which includes a scope of work, please visit here.

Subconsultants:

• 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 

Overview  

Pre-Planning Phase

In 2020, 20 facilitators, hired by the City, hosted a variety of meetings to discuss the future of Grand Rapids and how the Community Master Plan (CMP) can better represent and serve its residents. The facilitators were individual community members and representatives from community organizations.

This pre-planning phase of the CMP process gathered information from the community on the successes of the 2002 Master Plan and sought information on where improvements could be made. 

Community Input Phase

The 2002 Master Plan contained common themes such as improvements to neighborhoods, business districts, transportation and culture.

In the coming months, a Steering Committee of community representatives and an external consultant will coordinate a robust, inclusive community engagement campaign to develop the new CMP.

The process will help build community consensus and establish a vision for the city's growth and development over the next 20 years.