Departments

Planning And Zoning

Overview   Building Permits  Forms/Permits  Schedule of Fees   Sign Ordinance   Zoning Ordinance and Map
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Planning and Zoning

The City Planning office works to coordinate growth within the City of Douglas. Staff Specialist Ryan Kilpatrick is responsible for reviewing rezoning requests; subdivision plats and site plans. He also provides direction, support and acts as liaison to the Planning Commission and Zoning Board of Appeals. On January 14, 2009 the Douglas Planning Commission reviewed and recommended adoption of  a revised and updated Zoning Ordinance for the City of Douglas. This culminated a year-long process of reviewing and rewriting the city's Zoning Ordinances.

Zoning is a "police power" regulation adopted to advance and protect the public health, safety and general welfare. Other police power regulations are building codes, subdivision regulations and health codes. Zoning is a tool to protect the value of property, prevent the establishment of nuisances, ensure compatibility between adjacent users of land, protect and properly use natural resources and help implement the land use objectives of our Master Plan.

Our Master Plan is an important document that the Planning Commission, City Council and land owners use as a guide for growth and development decisions. The Master Plan includes a detailed evaluation of current conditions, a future land us plan, mapping and a narrative to provide policy and land use guidance for the city.

Ryan Kilpatrick is in the City of Douglas office Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Call 269-857-1438 to setup an appointment with him.

Department Head Biography

Ryan Kilpatrick began working full-time for the City of Douglas as the Director of Community & Economic Development in April of 2009. Prior to that, Ryan worked as a planning consultant with Williams & Works from 2005 to 2009 and provided planning and zoning administration services to the City on a contractual basis from 2007 to 2009. While employed at Williams & Works, Ryan worked with several municipalities throughout West Michigan and provided services ranging from the writing of new zoning code, public participation and design charrettes, Master Plan revisions and planner of record assignments. Ryan has experience with a wide range of issues pertaining to both urban and rural land use policy.

Ryan received a Bachelor of Arts in Community Development from Grand Valley State University. He is a member of the American Planning Association and Michigan Planning Association as well as the Michigan Municipal League.

Ryan and wife, Amber, live in the City of Grand Rapids with their son Henri. In his free time Ryan volunteers with the High School youth ministry at Fountain Street Church, serves on the Michigan Street Corridor Association Steering Committee and occasionally teaches the Citizen Planner courses for Michigan State University Extension offices in Kent County.