What is Zone GR?

Zone GR is our community's effort to update our zoning ordinance—the rules that determine what can be built where and how our city grows. This update will bring the vision you created in our Community Master Plan, Bridge to Our Future, to life.

Why Zoning Matters

Bridge to Our Future is our shared vision that describes what we want Grand Rapids to become.

Zoning is the legal tool that makes it happen. It regulates how land can be used, what types of buildings can be built, and how they should be designed.

Our zoning code has been updated many times over the years, but it doesn't always support the goals you helped create, such as allowing more housing options in neighborhoods, creating walkable business districts, and protecting our environment.

Updating our zoning means turning your priorities into concrete rules that shape how Grand Rapids is preserved and grows. 

What We'll Do

Through Zone GR, we'll:

• Align our rules with our vision
  Connect the ordinance to our Community Master Plan, area-specific plans, and recent policies so all our planning efforts work together.

• Balance preservation with support for positive change
  Protect what makes neighborhoods special while welcoming new housing options and development that fits.

• Make zoning easier to understand and use
  Create clear rules with pictures and examples, speed up approval timelines, and give projects the flexibility to adapt when it makes sense.

Your Voice Matters

Over the planning process, more than 4,780 Grand Rapids residents shared Bridge to our Future, our roadmap for the next 20 years. Key community values included: equity, safety, vibrancy, culture, and sustainability. 

Now, your continued partnership is needed to get the details right.

Over the coming months, there will be Ward workshops, citywide pop-up events, and online ways to share your input.