City unveils draft Community Master Plan

The City of Grand Rapids has unveiled “Bridge to Our Future,” a draft blueprint for the city’s growth and development over the next 20 years. This release marks the culmination of a four-year, community-led process to create a new Community Master Plan. The City Commission introduced the draft on Tuesday and simultaneously launched a 63-day public comment period for community members to review and provide feedback on the document.

Once adopted by the City Commission, the “Bridge to Our Future” will serve as a guiding framework for the city’s municipal government, particularly in relation to land use. This document will inform the City’s five-year strategic plan, and its priorities will be integrated into departmental operations, policies, annual work programs, budgets, development decisions, and economic initiatives.

“It is important to recognize that this is a land use plan,” said Planning Director Kristin Turkelson. “Bridge to Our Future is a foundation document and does not operate independently. The Community Master Plan guides the future growth and development of our city. It does inform other important plans such as our capital improvement plan, our Equitable Economic Development & Mobility Strategic Plan, and our community development work. The partnership of these plans will advance our entire holistic vision.”

The initiative to develop a new Community Master Plan began in 2020, with a community review of the 2002 Master Plan to identify necessary changes for the upcoming plan. After this pre-planning phase, the Mayor appointed a 50-person Steering Committee that reflected the city’s diverse demographics. This committee guided the four rounds of public engagement, which commenced in early 2023 and concluded in June 2024. The public engagement included community-wide meetings in each ward, smaller gatherings hosted by Community Connectors and Community Development Block Grant-funded Neighborhood Organizations, and online engagement opportunities. The effort engaged over 4,700 participants in total.

The City and Steering Committee set a goal to ensure the engagement process was representative of the entire community. The “Bridge to Our Future” process met this goal, particularly in terms of race and ethnicity, with Black/African American participation reaching 24% (exceeding the city’s Census data of 19%) and Hispanic/Latinx participation at 26% (surpassing the Census percentage of 16%).

The findings from public engagement and data analysis have shaped the community goals and themes embedded in the “Bridge to Our Future” recommendations. When fully implemented, the CMP aims to create a sustainable, inclusive city where residents across all neighborhoods can live in safe and affordable housing, access diverse mobility options, earn living wages through meaningful employment, and gather in vibrant spaces that celebrate unique cultures and histories.

The document outlines several key goals:

• Great Neighborhoods : Ensuring connected and diverse neighborhoods where residents have access to housing, retail, open space, and amenities that meet their needs across all life stages.
• Vital Business Districts : Developing a network of unique, diverse businesses across neighborhoods, providing a variety of products, services, and amenities in walkable, safe environments.
• A Strong Economy : Fostering an economy that supports a prosperous quality of life, offering a range of employers and job opportunities to enable all residents to earn a living wage.
• Balanced Mobility : Creating a transportation network that is safe, reliable, and affordable, with multiple mobility options for moving around the city and beyond.
• Development Character : Promoting a strong sense of place through high-quality design, where new developments enhance the existing fabric of each neighborhood.

The plan is also structured around the following themes:

• Equity : Providing all residents with access to resources that enable opportunity, influence, and positive life outcomes, regardless of their starting point.
• Safety : Ensuring that all people feel secure and protected in all communities, no matter their location, background, or appearance.
• Vibrancy : Offering a variety of amenities, including arts, culture, and recreational opportunities that contribute to the city’s year-round energy.
• Culture : Celebrating traditions and experiences that reflect residents’ backgrounds and lived experiences, fostering shared cultural appreciation.
• Sustainability : Balancing growth, environmental stewardship, and well-being in a way that meets the needs of current and future generations.

In addition to the citywide plan, three Area Specific Plans were developed as part of the process, focusing on the Creston, Butterworth, and Southtown neighborhoods.

Community members are encouraged to submit their comments on the “Bridge to Our Future” CMP until October 16. Feedback can be provided via email at planning@grcity.us , through the online form at bridgetoourfuture.com, or by mailing the City of Grand Rapids Planning Department at 1120 Monroe NW, 3rd Floor, Grand Rapids, MI 49503.