June 16, 2025: GTC to Co-Host Zoning Atlas Open House

Housing North and Grand Traverse County to co-host Zoning Atlas Open House

The event will take place on Thursday, June 26 from 2:30-4PM at the West Shore Bank Community Space in Downtown Traverse City.

Traverse City, Michigan (Grand Traverse County) – On Thursday, June 26 from 2:30-4 PM Grand Traverse County’s Economic Development Corporation and Housing North are hosting a public open house to showcase the Grand Traverse County Zoning Atlas. 

About the Zoning Atlas 

Housing North, in partnership with Grand Traverse County’s Economic Development Corporation (GTEDC), has developed a Zoning Atlas for Grand Traverse County—creating a map that translates local zoning regulations into a county-level format. The public is able to access the Zoning Atlas, online by visiting zoningatlas.org/atlas.

The Zoning Atlas is a data-driven tool designed to help our community better understand local zoning conditions. By converting local zoning regulations into standardized, user-friendly data, the Atlas enables clear, accessible mapping and analysis of land use across the County. The project includes a database and interactive map of all the housing-related zoning codes in the county. The project is part of the National and Michigan Zoning Atlas project. 

Yarrow Brown, Executive Director of Housing North comments “With this resource we are hoping to give residents, policy makers, lenders, developers, and nonprofits a better way to understand the types of housing, including single family, multifamily, and mixed-used development that can be built by right throughout the county.”

Chris Forsyth, Deputy County Administrator comments “Grand Traverse County is the second location in Michigan to pilot the National Zoning Atlas.  We are committed to taking a data-driven approach to develop solutions that meet the needs of Grand Traverse County and the region; this means working to address housing affordability for our residents and planning for sustainable economic growth so that our county can continue to prosper.” 

Just Getting Started

While initial work on the Zoning Atlas has been completed, project leaders have already begun work on the second phase of the project, which includes the development of a growth corridor mapping tool that will help guide community development efforts related to housing and beyond. The goal is to further support the development needs in the county, in collaboration with local units of government and other stakeholders.

Kevin Endres Chair of the Grand Traverse County Economic Development Corporation comments “As our region continues to attract new residents, this second phase of the project is critical and will provide valuable data to communities that face continued development pressures. Communities will be able to utilize the Zoning Atlas and growth mapping to help identify the areas of the county that can support higher density development”.

Open House Event

The Zoning Atlas Open House will take place on Thursday, June 26, from 2:30–4:00 PM, at West Shore Bank’s Third Floor Community Space located at 400 E. Eighth Street, Traverse City, MI 49686. Refreshments, sponsored by DTE Energy, will be provided. 

The event will include:

  • A brief demonstration of the Zoning Atlas
  • A Q&A session
  • Discussion of next steps for the project
  • An optional hands-on skills lab, led by the Michigan Association of Planning, where participants can try using the Atlas.

About Housing North

Founded in 2018, Housing North is a nonprofit organization that works to build awareness, influence policy, and grow capacity and resources for housing solutions in Antrim, Benzie, Charlevoix, Emmet, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, Leelanau, Manistee, Missaukee, and Wexford counties. They are also the lead for the Regional Housing Partnership for Region D. More information is available at www.housingnorth.org.