Ypsilanti plans to reform zoning to accommodate artists

The city of Ypsilanti is making it easier for artists of all stripes to set up shop in the college town now that it is revamping its zoning rules to accommodate them.

The City Council will look at approving creating one classification of artist studio on Nov. 17. Currently there are several different zoning classifications for artist studios, including photographer, performance, crafts, gallery and film, among others.

“It’s an attempt to clean up and streamline some of that language our zoning has for artist studios,” says Richard Murphy, a city planner with Ypsilanti.

The different classifications are an accumulation of zoning variations that have evolved over the years. It’s created a confusing patchwork of red tape that says what’s allowed and not allowed in certain districts in the city.

“It’s reasonable to treat these equally across zoning districts,” Murphy says.

Source: Richard Murphy, a city planner with Ypsilanti
Writer: Jon Zemke