IONIA, Mich. -- The City of Ionia is asking residents to respond to an online survey so it can use the input to help guide development of a new master plan.
The survey asks residents what their priorities are for future development in the city. The master plan is an official public document that sets long-range goals and policies that shape future land use.
The community-engagement process will include two neighborhood gatherings next month.
Here are more details from the city's news release:
Ionia’s new plan will address community needs informed by public input, and take into consideration the success of recent development projects to plan for the next five years. Some areas of the plan also will consider projects for the next 20 years.
The City has partnered with Williams & Works, a company that assists municipalities with land use planning, to guide this process. With a thorough understanding of community engagement best practices, Williams & Works’ award-winning planning group uses many hands-on traditional and digital means to elicit meaningful input to guide community-based planning projects.
The following opportunities will allow community members to share what’s important to them:
- An online survey launching May 15 asking residents and business owners to share their thoughts by Aug. 15.
- Two neighborhood gatherings: one on June 13 at Emerson Elementary School, 645 Hackett St., and one on June 20 at Jefferson Elementary, 420 N Jefferson St.
- A special pop-up event on June 27 at the community’s fireworks on the Ionia Free Fair grounds, 317 S. Dexter St.
- A community-wide engagement session focused on reimagining Deerfield/Riverside on July 30 at the Armory Community Center, 439 W. Main St.
- A community open house on Aug. 15 at Ionia City Hall, 114 N. Kidd St.
“The master planning process is a tremendous opportunity for all our stakeholders to have a say in what the future of our community looks like,” City Manager Precia Garland said. “Our goal is to hear from business leaders, community advocates, education leaders, nonprofits, residents and visitors to better understand their priorities and concerns as we build a roadmap to guide our City for years to come.”
A special focus of the master planning process will be to reimagine the former Deerfield/Riverside property, which gives a unique opportunity to repurpose 164 acres of land. The Michigan Department of Corrections vacated the property in the early 2000s. It is now being held by the State Land Bank Authority, which is in the final phases of handling environmental remediation.
By June, the former Deerfield site will be entirely cleared and ready for its next useful chapter. This is a rare and transformational opportunity to imagine new uses for a large parcel. The topography of this site offers beautiful views of the Grand River and the valley below that Ionia will take into consideration as part of reimagining this property. Potential new uses could include mixed housing stock, a high-tech industrial park, education, green space and more.
“As a well-established city, Ionia is a largely built-out community, which means our opportunities for continued economic growth center on redevelopment,” Garland said. “Rather than expanding into new, open spaces, Ionia must rethink current facilities and be innovative in the use of existing property. As local leaders, we want to hear from residents, businesses and other stakeholders so we can best shape the future of our community.”
In anticipation of this process, Ionia conducted a housing study, and the results underscore the urgent need for more housing in the community. The study found Ionia needs a mix of housing at all price points, from apartments and condos to single-family homes and senior housing. To better prepare for future housing needs, Ionia must review its residential zoning districts and future land use maps as part of the master planning process. This will ensure zoning aligns with community needs.
The City is also undertaking an evaluation of the community through MSU Extension’s First Impressions Tourism Assessment to better understand Ionia’s strengths and how newcomers view the community. Acting almost as “secret shoppers,” the MSU team will visit downtown and other parts of the community then share their first impressions, highlighting what the City is doing well and uncovering hidden gems.
The assessment will provide invaluable data to inform the master planning process, and propose additional improvements Ionia might want to undertake. The results of this program will be presented at a public community forum on the evening of Monday, Sept. 23. More details including the time and location will follow in the coming months.
The City of Ionia plans to share its completed master plan with the community during the first quarter of 2025 with a public presentation during an early spring City Council meeting in early spring.
Ionia plans to gather all information about the master planning process on its website at cityofionia.org/masterplan.
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