The Grosse Ile Downtown Development Authority on Oct. 1 agreed to proceed with developing a scope of services for an update to the Macomb Street zoning ordinance and to work with the planning commission and OHM to finalize the work plan and fees.

DDA staff introduced a newly delivered scope-and-fee packet that did not arrive in time to be included with the meeting materials. Staff described the packet as a fee schedule showing a consultant cost range of $32,000 to $40,000 and asked the DDA for its “blessing” to meet with OHM and the planning commission chairman to finalize the scope before any contract returns to the DDA for formal approval.

Ross, the DDA director, said the planning commission is "pretty excited to get started" and described the proposed process: the DDA would authorize staff to notify OHM to move forward, the planning commission executive committee and the DDA chairman would meet with OHM to finalize the scope, and the DDA would then review the final contract and scope and vote on any cost before work begins. The DDA will fund the professional-services work; meeting materials referenced an estimated professional-services line of roughly $34,000 in the capital plan.

Board members discussed the kinds of changes that could be included in an updated ordinance. Items mentioned on the record included allowing certain temporary uses (food trucks outside of special events), permitting short-term temporary market structures, and considering short-term rentals on Macomb Street — items the DDA said it had previously recommended to the planning commission.

No contract was executed at the meeting. The DDA approved adding the zoning-scope item to discussion and authorized staff to proceed with arranging the scope-finalization meeting with OHM and planning-commission leadership. A final contract and any required budget authorization will return to the DDA for a formal vote.

Why it matters: Updating zoning in the Macomb Street district could change what commercial or temporary uses are permitted on the town’s main commercial corridor. The DDA is financing the consultant work and will coordinate recommendations with the planning commission as the ordinance update moves into the planning process.

What’s next: Staff will coordinate a meeting among the DDA chairman, planning commission representatives and OHM to finalize the scope of services, then return a proposed contract and scope for the DDA’s formal approval.