February 12, 2025 - Why the Master Plan Review Matters & What Comes Next for Coopersville
I want to take a moment to thank everyone who reached out to me over the past several months to share your thoughts and engage in this important discussion about the future of Coopersville. Your voices have been invaluable in shaping the decisions we make as a city.
Through this process, I have learned a great deal about what residents and business owners want Coopersville to look like moving forward. It has also become clear that many of these ideas do not fully align with our current Master Plan, which is why the upcoming Master Plan revision will be so important. I encourage everyone to be active participants in this process to ensure that our shared vision for Coopersville is reflected in future planning and development decisions.
Additionally, I am working with my fellow City Council members and the City Manager to improve communication about what happens at council meetings. Ensuring that residents are well-informed and engaged in decision-making is a priority, and we are exploring ways to provide clearer updates and greater transparency on key issues affecting the city.
I have also sent a second letter to the Ottawa County Board of Commissioners, informing them that the City Council has rescinded its support of the Brownfield TIF (the city manager also has sent the formal notification). This letter reinforces the strong opposition from residents and businesses and asks the county to uphold its original decision not to pursue the TIF.
Again, thank you for your support and engagement in this process. Your input is essential to shaping the future of Coopersville, and I encourage everyone to stay involved. If you have any further thoughts or questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
Q: 1. What ideas have you clearly seen that require a change to the master plan that didn't get brought up in January of 2023 at the planning commission meeting?
2. Are you and the city willing to go on record that there was a vote in January 2023 regarding the master plan and that the city recommended no changes?
Peter: Thank you for your questions. I can only speak for myself, but I want to clarify a few things regarding the January 2023 Planning Commission meeting and the upcoming Master Plan revision.
________________________________________
1. What ideas have you clearly seen that require a change to the Master Plan that didn’t get brought up in January 2023 at the Planning Commission meeting?
Since the January 2023 Planning Commission meeting, the public response to the Brownfield TIF and the proposed apartment complex has made it clear that many residents feel the Master Plan does not fully align with their vision for Coopersville’s future. The concerns I’ve heard most frequently from citizens and business owners include:
• Preserving Small-Town Character – Many people who contacted me were opposed to large-scale multi-family housing developments and want to ensure that future growth does not change the identity of Coopersville.
• Prioritizing Single-Family Housing Development – There is strong community preference for single-family homes over apartment-style housing, but the current Master Plan does not provide a clear framework for encouraging this.
• Infrastructure & Growth Management – There have been concerns about how future growth will impact roads, sidewalks, utilities, and public services, and whether expansion should be more measured and community-driven.
• Housing Affordability & Lot Sizes – While reducing minimum lot sizes was briefly discussed in 2023 as a way to encourage affordability, this conversation needs further exploration to ensure it aligns with community priorities.
In short, while some housing concerns were acknowledged in 2023, the strong community response over the past year has made it clear that we need a more comprehensive review to ensure the Master Plan reflects what residents truly want for Coopersville.
________________________________________
2. Are you and the city willing to go on record that there was a vote in January 2023 regarding the master plan and that the city recommended no changes?
I cannot speak for the city, only myself. Based on the meeting minutes, the Planning Commission did not formally vote to reject changes to the Master Plan. Instead, staff recommended that a full rewrite wasn’t necessary at that time and suggested that updates could be made by reviewing maps, community data, and addressing areas of concern. The Planning Commission then voted to initiate a review process, which included sending letters of intent to neighboring municipalities, as required by law.
Several concerns were raised during that meeting, including:
• Sidewalk conditions and infrastructure
• Housing needs and potential lot size reductions for affordability
• The availability of land for apartment-style housing
The meeting minutes make it clear that there were concerns about housing and infrastructure, and that the Planning Commission did not reject the idea of updates:
"Mr. Vuong stated that Staff believes it is not necessary to contract with a firm, just five (5) years into a twenty (20) year plan because at this point, many aspects of the plan are still relevant, and we should be reviewing the progress that has been made towards achieving the overall vision of this plan. We will update all of the maps and community data within the current Master Plan to reflect changes that have occurred since 2017, provide a new capital improvement plan, incorporate any new ideas that the city would like to see, and address areas of concern. This process will take approximately one (1) year."
Given the recent public response to the Brownfield TIF and proposed development, it seems clear that many community members have questions about the direction of our Master Plan. Whether your concerns focus on the proposed apartment complex or stem from broader concerns about growth, development, and the character of Coopersville, these issues suggest that a comprehensive review of the Master Plan may be in order.
________________________________________
Moving Forward: Why This Matters & How to Get Involved
This is why having strong public input into the Master Plan is so important. Decisions at the city, Planning Commission, and City Council are driven by two major things: public comments and the Master Plan. My initial decision to help move the housing project forward was driven by the lack of initial public comments and the fact that the Master Plan designated this area for higher-density housing. Additionally, I heard concerns about the lack of housing options and high home prices in the area.
Once I started to receive feedback that there was strong opposition to the complex, I, as a representative of the citizens, began looking deeper into the issue by creating a survey to better understand public sentiment. Based on the responses, I realized that many residents felt the Master Plan did not fully align with their vision for Coopersville’s future.
This is why I rescinded my vote—to ensure that I am representing the voice of our citizens as best as I can.
Looking back at sentiment in December 2022, when the Planning Commission meeting took place, there was no significant public input suggesting a disconnect between the Master Plan and citizen priorities. However, the public response in 2023-2024 shows that many people feel differently now.
This is why I strongly encourage everyone to stay engaged in the upcoming Master Plan revision process. The city will be hosting public meetings, surveys, and discussions, and this is the best opportunity to ensure your vision for Coopersville is heard.
I truly appreciate everyone who has reached out and participated in this discussion, and I encourage all residents and business owners to continue sharing their thoughts. Your voice matters, and now is the time to shape the future of Coopersville.
Let me know your thoughts, and thank you again for being part of this conversation!
edit: Here is the link to the minutes discussed.
https://cityofcoopersville.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/20230116.pdf