Professional consulting firms/teams are invited to submit a written proposal for the Zoning Ordinance (ZO) Update for the City of Grand Rapids, Michigan. 

In December 2024, the City adopted a new Community Master Plan (CMP), titled Bridge to Our Future. The CMP replaced the 2002 Maser Plan. Although the ZO has been amended in recent years, it is time to do an update to align it with the new CMP.

Grand Rapids’ ZO was fully rewritten after the adoption of the 2002 Master Plan. It has been amended in the years since based on recommendations from Area Specific Plans and policy goals from the Planning Commission and City Commission. It was most recently amended in 2024 to advance housing goals. The amendments over the years have led to a somewhat disjointed ZO hat can be hard to navigate. This, combined with the new goals outlined in the CMP and other changes identified by staff for ease of administration and enforcement, have created the need to update and streamline the document.

The ZO is a hybrid form-based code with two components: the neighborhood classification (form based) and the district (use based). Planning staff members find value in this approach and do not want to deviate from it greatly. The CMP does call for the ZO to focus further on form, as described in Chapter 5, and Planning staff desires a heavy reliance on graphics to convey ideas such as how to calculate building height.

Lastly, the consultant team should recommend and utilize a program or company to create an online, map-based tool to improve public accessibility. Planning staff envisions a parcel-based, interactive system for users to obtain applicable zoning regulations on projects ranging from fences to single-family homes to multiple-family and commercial projects.

Please review the full RFP at the link below.

Professional consulting firms/teams are invited to submit a written proposal for the Zoning Ordinance (ZO) Update for the City of Grand Rapids, Michigan.

In December 2024, the City adopted a new Community Master Plan (CMP), titled Bridge to Our Future. The CMP replaced the 2002 Maser Plan. Although the ZO has been amended in recent years, it is time to do an update to align it with the new CMP.

Grand Rapids' ZO was fully rewritten after the adoption of the 2002 Master Plan. It has been amended in the years since based on recommendations from Area Specific Plans and policy goals from the Planning Commission and City Commission. It was most recently amended in 2024 to advance housing goals. The amendments over the years have led to a somewhat disjointed ZO that can be hard to navigate. This, combined with the new goals outlined in the CMP and other changes identified by staff for ease of administration and enforcement, have created the need to update and streamline the document.

The ZO is a hybrid form-based code with two components: the neighborhood classification (form based) and the district (use based). Planning staff members find value in this approach and do not want to deviate from it greatly. The CMP does call for the ZO to focus further on form, as described in Chapter 5, and Planning staff desires a heavy reliance on graphics to convey ideas such as how to calculate building height.

Lastly, the consultant team should recommend and utilize a program or company to create an online, map-based tool to improve public accessibility. Planning staff envisions a parcel-based, interactive system for users to obtain applicable zoning regulations on projects ranging from fences to single-family homes to multiple-family and commercial projects.

Please review the full RFP at the link below.