Grand Rapids Reporter

GRAND RAPIDS — The public will get its first look at the initial big ideas generated from community members and stakeholders to drive further development of the City of Grand Rapids’ Community Master Plan (CMP) during a series of events that will take place Nov. 14, 15 and 16.

The public meetings represent the next round of Bridge to Our Future, the ongoing initiative to develop the CMP that will guide “how Grand Rapids will grow, evolve and prosper over the next 20 years or so,” said Grand Rapids Mayor Rosalynn Bliss.

“We’re calling the workshops ‘Visualizing Outcomes’ because we want residents and others to see what we’ve come up with so far and get their feedback,” Bliss said. “This really will be the first opportunity for the public to see how we took their concepts and developed those early ideas for planning our community’s future. Nothing at this point is set in stone and that’s why it’s critically important that community members give us their feedback during these sessions.”

Next week’s meetings will cover topics such as housing, economic development and transportation. Many of the ideas that will be discussed originated from public input gathered earlier this year at workshops and through other public outreach efforts.

The public may attend any or all of the events. The city encourages people from all backgrounds and points of view to attend the workshops, where Spanish-language interpretation services will be available. Each meeting will provide an opportunity to give feedback in an interactive setting.

The workshops are family-friendly events and dinner will be provided. Attendees are welcome without registering, but completing the RSVP will help ensure there is enough food and materials. RSVP here: BridgeToOurFuture.com.

The events are scheduled for:

Tuesday, Nov. 14, 5 to 7 p.m.GRPS University 1400 Fuller Ave. NE

This meeting will begin with a creative performance with teaching artists Derek Welch and Ebony “Gemini” Davis from The Diatribe and will provide an opportunity for feedback on the direction of the CMP.

Wednesday, Nov. 15, 5 to 7 p.m.Center for Community Transformation (The 1530 Event Space)1530 Madison Ave. SE

A community-led panel discussion will kick off this meeting to address key topics of the CMP with an emphasis on equity and culture in the planning process. The panel will be facilitated by Kimberly Moore of Kids’ Food Basket and panelists will include Belinda Cunningham of Corewell Health’s Healthier Communities program, Salvador Lopez of KConnect, Kareem Scales of Michigan Environmental Justice Coalition and Michael Williams of Disability Advocates of Kent County.

Thursday, Nov. 16, 5 to 7 p.m.Leslie E. Tassell M-TEC622 Godfrey Ave. SW

This meeting will feature nationally recognized urban planning and transportation policy expert Shane Phillips, author of “The Affordable City.” Phillips will address strategies for addressing housing affordability and access.

The CMP is expected to be presented to the Grand Rapids City Commission for adoption next year. Leading the initiative, among others, are planning NEXT­, a nationally recognized municipal planning consultant; the Grand Rapids City Commission; the city’s Planning Commission and Planning Department; and the Community Master Plan Steering Committee. Grand Rapids’ last plan was developed in 2002 and has been updated since.

Original source can be found here.