Neighborhood organizations hold meetings informing residents about proposed zoning changes

Neighborhood associations are worried that the city of Grand Rapids is pushing through new changes to the zoning ordinances without community engagement under the guise of creating more affordable housing. Meetings on Saturday, February 17, 2018 informed residents of the proposed changes to zoning ordinances that could take neighbor’s say out of the mix on future development in their own neighborhoods.

Don Lee, Executive Director of the Eastown Community Association, addressed residents from multiple south side neighborhoods during an early afternoon meeting at the Seymour Church. Lee unveiled a Powerpoint presentation allowing the concerned residents that attended a chance to see and discuss the zoning recommendations.

A capacity-filled space at the West Grand Neighborhood Organization was a much more heated meeting that took place later in the same day. Staff member Chi Benedict also presented a Powerpoint allowing the concerned residents the chance to and understand the plan. At times residents became vocal, speaking up and engaged in heated discussion with others in attendance.

View the West Grand powerpoint presentation here.

After the meeting, West Grand Neighborhood resident Margo Johnson and I continued our conversation regarding the potential changes and pitfalls.

“One of the frustrating things that I see happening at the planning commission level is that there isn't a lot of training and the longevity, that history that goes into the process... there are usually six standards when it comes to a planning decision and approval and we can go up there and show them that it does not meet those standards and it still gets approved; that's a problem,” Johnson said.

Jim Davis, Executive Director of the Westside Collaborative and Planning Commission member, also took the time at the end of the meeting to meet with me.

“I want to just let everyone be reminded that the conversation that manifested surrounding the 'Housing Now' proposals, that is now before the city commission with amendments from the planning commission that the conversation record in the minutes and the video posted online will represent a heartbeat for the affordable housing that we need to see in the city, that we've lost or that we need to add given our current needs," Davis said.

"I am disappointed that so many people have misconstrued that as a land grab under the guise of affordability. No one went into this process hoping to give opportunity to people that have a bunch of money and property already. We were trying to eliminate the barriers and divides to the common neighbor to allow opportunities for people like me and my neighbors, to provide an additional unit for a family or neighbor who can't afford the ridiculous rents we have right now.” 

For those citizens who want their voice heard, neighborhood organizations are encouraging residents to attend the City Commission meeting at 7:00 p.m. February 20, 2018 in the Commission Chambers on the ninth floor of City Hall located at 300 Monroe NW.