In the spring of 2023, an update to the 2020 Housing Needs Assessment was presented by the City’s Housing Practice Leader, Ryan Kilpatrick of Housing Next. The update determined that by 2027, approximately 34,700 dwelling units are needed countywide, with 14,106 of the units in the City of Grand Rapids, to accommodate household growth and older home replacement. In response to the Assessment, the City Commission expressed a desire to evaluate the City’s housing policies and requested that the Planning Commission provide them with recommendations.
Summary of proposed housing policy text amendments:
Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU) w/ Mark Up
- Streamline review process and allow as a permitted use
- Remove owner occupancy requirement
- Modify height and setback requirements
- Permit in association with single- and two-family dwellings
- Eliminate parking requirement
Group Living - Single-Room Occupancy - w/ Mark Up
- Modify definition of Family, increasing unrelated occupants from four (4) to six (6) Group Living
- Modify Single-Room Occupancy (SRO) requirements:
- Modify SRO definition
- Allow small-scale SROs in residential zone districts
- Provide a tiered review process for small, medium and large-scale SROs
- Require a Good Neighbor Plan when permitted as a Special Land Use
- Increase tenancy requirement from 32 to 90 days
- Modify Transitional/Emergency Shelter requirements:
- Allow small-scale shelters in residential zone districts
- Add additional use regulations
- Require a Good Neighbor Plan when permitted as a Special Land Use
Small Scale Residential Infill - w/ Mark Up
- Within the TN-LDR Zone District:
- Reduce lot area and width requirements for two-family and multiple family residential developments of six (6) or fewer units
- Permit multiple-family residential developments of six (6) or fewer units when located on Link Residential or Network residential streets (as defined by the Vital Streets plan)
- Eliminate established (i.e. median) lot area and width requirements
- Allow conversion of existing single- and two-family housing stock to higher densities
- Within the TN-LDR Zone District, eliminate parking requirements for developments of six (6) or fewer dwelling units on Link Residential or Network residential streets
- Modify the required distance to transit (from 300 feet to ½-mile) to allow for increased utilization of the parking reduction
Read the Planning Commission Meeting Minutes below.
