City of Kalamazoo issued the following announcement on January 24.
The City of Kalamazoo will host a series of neighborhood discussions in January and February to discuss potential zoning updates and street design with residents and community members.
The City’s 2025 Master Plan calls for updating the Zoning Ordinance so that it aligns with the community’s vision and removes barriers to neighborhood-focused development, home rehabilitation, and new types of housing options. Under the current zoning ordinance, many properties have unnecessary restrictions on what property owners may do, and some allow more intense use than is appropriate for the area. Currently, many projects or rehabilitation projects would require a zoning variance, which complicates the process for a property owner. Updating the ordinance will make it easier for many homeowners to rehabilitate their homes, for different types of new housing to be built, and for neighborhood-nodes to be developed. The Plan also considers streets, requiring that they be designed in a way that complements land use and makes them safer for all users.
These meetings are intended to open a dialogue with neighborhood residents to explain how the process works, what they can expect, and how the goals of the Master Plan can be achieved in collaboration with each neighborhood. Each meeting will begin with a brief “Zoning 101” presentation, which will be followed by discussion and an opportunity to offer feedback on both zoning and street design. Residents, property owners, and business owners are invited to come whenever they can; there is no set time to arrive.
| Date | Time | Meeting Location | Focus Area of Discussion |
| Tuesday, January 28 | 7 to 8:30 p.m. | Mt Zion Baptist Church (120 Robertson St) | Eastern area of the Northside neighborhood |
| Thursday, January 30 | 6:30 to 8 p.m. | Kalamazoo Eastside Neighborhood Association (1301 East Main St) | Area along East Main Street in the Eastside neighborhood |
| Tuesday, February 4 | 6:30 to 8 p.m. | Vine Neighborhood Association (814 S Westnedge) | Area along Westnedge Avenue |
| Wednesday, February 5 | 6 to 7:30 p.m. | KPL Washington Square Branch (1244 Portage St) | Area along Portage Street between Stockbridge and Crosstown |
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