Planning commission sends master plan amendment to City Commission with parking, land‑use conditions

The East Grand Rapids Planning Commission voted to send a draft amendment to the 2018 master plan to the City Commission with two conditions: amend the future land use map to show the recommended multifamily (MFR) extensions along Wealthy Street and remove a parking graphic from the draft while adding language requiring future parking studies tied to new development and the high‑school renovation.

City planning consultant Paul LeBlanc told the commission the update is intended as an amendment to—not a replacement of—the 2018 master plan and focuses on four subareas (Gaslight Plaza, Greenwood, Northwest Wealthy and the Saint Stephen school block). LeBlanc said the update is driven by state law that requires zoning be based on a plan and by updated local data: a citywide survey drew 615 responses (about 16% of households), East Grand Rapids’ population is roughly 11,400 — up by about 700…