The Planning and Zoning department specializes in carrying out the City's Codified Ordinances and formulating methods to implement the ideas set forth in the Comprehensive Plan. The Planning Director works with the Planning Commission to review site plans, ordinances, and conduct visioning sessions. Examples of these efforts are ultimately visible in the community in the form of regulated sign heights, higher quality architecture in commercial buildings, abundant landscaping, along with safe passage routes for pedestrians and vehicles alike. The Planning Commission meets on the third Monday of the month, 7:00 P.M. at City Hall.

The Zoning Administrator and Ordinance Compliance Officer insures that City Ordinances are enforced throughout the city. Insuring homes are placed properly on lots, notifying property owners about tall grass, sign permit reviews, and providing staff support to the Zoning Board of Appeals are examples of what the Zoning Department does on a daily basis. The Zoning Board of Appeals has the power to grant variances or modify zoning ordinances based on practical difficulty or unnecessary hardship.

Although planning and zoning are different, they complement one another in that planning sets a course for the future while the zoning department insures that it gets implemented at the "street level".

Site Plan Review Process

The applicant confers with the Zoning Administrator to discuss the preliminary development plans.

A site plan application is completed and fourteen (14) copies are filed at the office of the City Clerk, along with the appropriate fee. (New - $200.00 or Addition/Renovation $100.00) Applicants will pay for professional services for review, if required, in addition to the application fee.

Application, Site Plan and appropriate fee must be submitted fourteen day prior to the scheduled Planning Commission Meeting.

Site plan application and subsequent approval by the Planning Commission are required for all land uses except a solely residential single family or two-family dwelling.

Upon receipt of the application, the clerk shall verify the property’s parcel number(s) and legal description(s) and will send one (1) copy to the Building Inspector, members of the Planning Commission and if necessary to the City Attorney and Engineer.

The Planning Commission will review the application and either deny or approve the application. If denied, the Planning Commission will state its reasons for denial. If revisions need to be made, the Planning Commission must notify the applicant and the applicant will then resubmit the site plan with the required revisions.

The Planning Commission shall follow the standards provided in Codified Ordinances of the City of Coopersville section 1284.10.

After approval the City Clerk shall determine the additional professional costs and bill the applicant as soon as possible after the review procedure has been completed.

Two copies of the site plan must be signed and dated by the City Clerk, one for the record and one for the applicant. Notification must be given to the Planning Commission Chairperson, Zoning Board of Appeals Chairperson, Zoning Administrator, City Engineer, Building Inspector and City Assessor.