Why Michigan Should Embrace Zoning Reform

The Mackinaw Center's Issues & Ideas Forum hosted a session entitled "Why Michigan Should Embrace Zoning Reform". The three guest panelists included Joshua Lunger of the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce, Jessica Letaw who is an activist and organizer in Ann Arbor, and Emily Hamilton an urban economic and land-use policy scholar of George Mason University.

If you are not planning for your housing future as a community you are committing economic suicide.

- Joshua Lunger, quoting Malcom Gladwell. πŸ‘πŸ‘πŸ‘

City Connection (November, 2023)

On November 6th the community access show "City Connection" hosted Kyle Van Strien, current chair of the Grand Rapids Planning Commission, and City Commissioner Melinda Ysasi (2nd Ward). In the show's traditional format the host interviews the Commissioner Ysasis, then Planning Commissioner Van Strien, and then the two together.

MDOT's Plans For US-131

The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) - or more correctly: The Michigan Department of Spending Money On Roads - would like to expand US-131. This would involve the seizure of property currently occupied by the Downtown Market, Heartside Park, and the Rapid Transit Center. For a lane of highway, through an urban area, in the year 2023, during a climate crisis, a water quality crisis, and rising economic inequality.

The Rapid's On-Time Performance

The Rapid's goal for on-time performance of fixed route service is 90%. "On-time" is defined by the industry standard of being less than five (5) minutes late, and less than one (1) minute early. All the vehicles in the Rapid's fixed route fleet are equipped with real-time vehicle location and information systems.

On-time performance since fiscal year 2021:

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Commissioner Priorities 2023

The πŸ‘‰Grand Rapids Strategic planπŸ‘ˆ, adopted in 2019, outlines six (6) priorities

Thirty New Four Story Buildings In Easttown?

The πŸ‘‰2023-05 meeting of the Rapid Planning meeting contained the "Rousing Debate".πŸ‘ˆ. Truly riveting reading for those of us who are the type of people who read meeting minutes. πŸ™‚ Fortunatley for us, this conversation continued at πŸ‘‰the 2023-09 Planning meeting (PDF, minutes)πŸ‘ˆ

The text from the meeting minutes has been edited slightly for readability.

Planning Agenda: 2023-11-09

UPDATE 2023-11-10: The stream is available on Youtube πŸ‘‰hereπŸ‘ˆ. The public comment for the 959 Bristol Ave NW development is πŸ”₯litπŸ”₯! πŸ˜‘ The discussion at the end of the meeting related to the topic of reducing or eliminating residential parking minimums starts πŸ‘‰hereπŸ‘ˆ.

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