The Planning Commission is finalizing the 2025 Master Plan. In the most recent revision (August), the Future Land Use for Smith Elementary School and East Middle School was changed to a higher-density category. If the school district ever sells these properties, this designation would allow 18–27 homes per acre and buildings up to 4 stories high. This change was included in the August Planning Commission’s agenda with little notice and could have been approved within days.
WHAT’S HAPPENING?
New higher-density allowances are being added to the Master Plan without meaningful citizen input.
- 3 church parcels are already being debated which the Keep Plymouth Charming group is fighting to keep zoned R-1 Single-Family.
- Now, two large school parcels have been quietly moved to even higher-density designations allowing 18 to 27 units per acre and building heights of 4 stories.
- The Old Village between Starkweather and Mill will allow densities of 12 to 18 units per acre and increases allowable building heights to 3 stories.
WHY SHOULD YOU CARE?
The Master Plan is the long-term vision for our city and should be built on the input of residents. Once adopted:
- It will be treated as community consensus in future zoning decisions.
- Developers will point to these designations to justify higher-density rezoning.
- It will be much harder for residents to oppose density later, since officials can say it was already “approved” in the Plan.
The time to speak up is before adoption, not after.
WHAT CAN YOU DO?
Email the Planning Commission at: planning@plymouthmi.gov
Email the City Commission at: commission@plymouthmi.gov
Ask them to remove the density allowances from the Master Plan and keep the churches and school parcels zoned as R-1 until the community is effectively engaged on the topic of density. The Master Plan is to be based on the “community’s” long-term vision, and we have not been given the opportunity to discuss and provide input on what density we should have in the future. Ask your email to be included in the agenda of the Planning Commission meeting when the topic is on the agenda so it will be documented as part of the public record.
LINKS TO CITY DOCUMENTS
City Zoning Map
April 7, 2025 DRAFT MASTER PLAN
Planning Commission Agenda (includes latest Draft Master Plan)
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