KALAMAZOO REZONING

IT STARTED WITH ASYLUM (for us, at least!)

2 LAND PARCELS IN RED:

• Residential → Community Commercial zoning
• Remove Natural Features Protection Overlay
• Owner planning on putting in carwash

NOW:

• City has removed parcels from city-wide rezoning, remaining residential.
• Asylum is safe from car wash (for now)!

for more info on asylum lake car wash, check out @protectasylumlake & @rivervalleyrevolt on instagram!

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Asylum Lake Preservation Association website

WHAT’S HAPPENING NOW

& WHAT WE’RE DOING (summary)

• Currently in process to adopt a new City Plan
• Planning/Policies changing throughout nearly every sector
• Many Goals include sustainability and environmental responsibility, but

the proposed changes are not in alignment with those goals

• Next several months are last opportunity for public input to change the

proposed plans before the City Commission adopts it

• WHAT WE’RE DOING: writing public comments for City Meetings, writing letters to city officials

IMAGINE KALAMAZOO 2025

• DEFINITION: “Framework to help stakeholders make decisions about a shared vision

that improves quality of life for all” … aka complete overhaul of city plans/goals/policies

• TWO PARTS: Strategic Vision & Master Plan
• STRATEGIC VISION: city’s guide to shape all plans being created in the future, provides

direction to anyone working in city on projects/policies

• 10 GOALS: Shared Prosperity, Connected City, Inviting Public Places, Environmental Responsibility, Safe Community, Youth Development, Complete Neighborhoods,

Strength Through Diversity, Economic Vitaly, Good Governance

• MASTER PLAN: guide for land use regulation, development actions & decisions, public infrastructure to support land use activities. State-mandated document provides goals, objectives, & recommendations to guide city decisions

WHAT IS IT?

IMAGINE KALAMAZOO 2025

IMPLEMENTATION PROCESS

• 5-phase work plan: Imagine It, Plan It, Design It, Draft It, Adopt It

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• Adopt It: Draft document presented to public, take input from community to fine-tune & eventually adopt

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• once adopted: action plans implemented, annual progress report cards

IMAGINE KALAMAZOO 2025

HOW IS IT IMPLEMENTED?

• Through projects!

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• Each project is an implementation of one or more Strategic Vision or Master Plan Goals

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• Everything from traffic management & neighborhood planning to Natural Features Management and Zoning Code/Map Updates

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• Full list of projects (past & present) can be found @ imaginekalamazoo.com/projects/

small excerpt of projects:

PROJECTS: ZONING UPDATES

• “A project to update the zoning ordinance for commercial districts and related standards, such as sign, landscaping, lighting, and design standards.”

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• GOAL: ensure zoning code supports community vision outlined in 2025 Master Plan

PROJECTS: ZONING UPDATES

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WHAT IS ZONING?

• Zones/Zoning District: areas of land with similar uses where regulations for building, development, and activities are the same.

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• Several types: residential, commercial, industrial, green spaces, etc.

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• Zoning Code: document specifying the definitions, locations, and regulations/requirements for each zone

CITY INFO PRESENTATION ON ZONING CHANGES

PROJECTS: ZONING UPDATES

WHY UPDATE?

• Update old or out-of-date standards (modernize).

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• Align zoning code with Strategic Vision Goals of Good Governance, Complete Neighborhoods, Connected City, Economic Vitality, and Environmental Responsibility.

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• Support economic development and community investment through better written and streamlined rules.

PROJECTS: ZONING UPDATES

WHAT’S CHANGING?

• Adding/removing some districts, changing wording of some zoning district standards, overall, simplifying language of code

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• District changes: current 8 commercial districts simplified down to three-- Community Commercial, Community Commercial 2, and Commercial Node
• Community Commercial: large commercial areas
• Community Commercial 2: where major corridors intersect
• Commercial Node: small-to-medium commercial/mixed use development where major corridors intersect with residential streets or blocks
• MAJOR CORRIDOR: area along main road with the largest variety of goods&services

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• District Standards: wording changes in Natural Features Protection and Riverfront Overlays

NATURAL FEATURES PROTECTION OVERLAY

DEFINITION

• Overlay: Property Regulations and zoning standards that apply to designated properties on top of traditional district standards

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• NFP OVERLAY: standards for development on/near areas with Natural Features for better management and long-term preservation

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• Criteria for an NFP Overlay: 1) have/are near areas with streams, rivers, lakes, wetlands; 2) have steep slopes with tree cover; 3) are in woodland areas identified by the community; 4) are immediately adjacent to public preserves

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• Intent of the Overlay (city): “The NFP Overlay District is intended to protect Natural

Features in the City of Kalamazoo, specifically Wetlands, Water Resources, Trees,

Woodlands, Floodplains, Slopes, Natural Heritage Areas and Habitat Corridors.”

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• How It Works: new buildings/parking lots set back from lakes/rivers & slopes, limits

land clearing, prohibits planting ‘problematic’ plants

NATURAL FEATURES PROTECTION OVERLAY

CHANGES

The NFP Overlay District is intended to SUPPORT DEVELOPMENT while protecting Natural Features in the City of Kalamazoo, specifically Wetlands, Water Resources, Trees, Woodlands, Floodplains, Slopes, Natural Heritage Areas and Habitat Corridors. The standards in this overlay district are not intended to prevent development from occurring, but to guide site development to balance growth and redevelopment with the protection of our existing Natural Features.

NATURAL FEATURES PROTECTION OVERLAY

WHY MAKE THIS CHANGE?

according to the City

• due to the IMPLIED purpose of the NFP-O (stated on the FAQ page, but not a part of the actual language of the NFP): “to guide development to be as protective as possible of Natural Features at the site while still allowing for the zoned use of the property

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• That is, NFP does not stop development, redevelopment, or improvements

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• basically, adding language to make the implied commercial purpose concrete & actionable

NFP: WELLHEAD PROTECTION

(In City-Speak): Use. In addition to the uses permitted in the Base Zoning District, the following apply.:

(a )Appendix A 3.5 Wellhead Protection Overlay 10-year use restrictions.

(b) Outdoor storage of loose materials is prohibited within five hundred (500) feet of a Water Resource or Wetland. (approx. one-and-a-half football fields)

(c) Appendix A 3.5 Wellhead Protection Overlay 1-year use restrictions apply within five hundred (500) feet of a Water Resource or Wetland

(In English): In addition to normal uses permitted by zoning district, under the NFP Overlay, these things apply:

• certain uses restricted in the area in which it would take 10 years for water/contamination to flow through aquifer (body of permeable rock which can contain/transmit groundwater) & reach water source
• you can’t store any type of loose material within 500 ft of a water resource or wetland
• certain uses restricted within 500 ft of the water resource or wetland that would release contaminants that would take 1 year to flow through aquifer and reach water resource or wetland

NOW (note: wellhead = any well that supplies drinking water)

NFP: WELLHEAD PROTECTION

• (2) Use. In addition to the uses permitted in the Base Zoning District, the following apply.

(a) Ten-year time-of-travel use restrictions in Chapter 39 Wellhead Protection apply within 300 feet

of a wetland or water resource. (a little under one football field)

(b)One-year time-of-travel use restrictions in Chapter 39 Wellhead Protection apply within 500 of a

wetland or water resource

• Other regulations moving from Appendix A to Ch 39 (means nothing to us)
• adding 300 ft buffer for 10-yr use restriction (I think, but that would be good)
• REMOVE MATERIAL STORAGE REGULATIONS (BAD)
• WHY? “UNNECESSARY” no other evidence given.

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CHANGES

NFP: LOT COVERAGE

• Lot Coverage Requirements: some districts have a percentage requirement of impermeable to pervious land, lot coverage section dictates location and maintenance of that pervious coverage
• Pervious land: land that allows water to pass through (e.g. not concrete, asphalt, etc)

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• Requirements (the big ones):
• areas designated to meet pervious area requirement must remain undisturbed UNLESS
• restoration/maintenance guided by a plan developed by a qualified professional
• planting/restoration of plants and/or trees, or
• installing stormwater Best Management Practice
• Pervious land must be located
• in a contiguous area, or clusters that equal at least 20% of total pervious area, and
• adjacent to Natural Features
• Pervious areas must be protected during construction/site development through barrier fencing

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NOW

NFP: LOT COVERAGE

CHANGES

• REMOVE ALL REQUIREMENTS
• doesn’t change coverage requirements of district, just location and maintenance requirements

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• WHY? “not a clear tie to defined Feature, and doesn’t do what’s intended”

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natural

permeable

impermeable

NF

Example: Hypothetical zone with 50:50 Ratio

dirt

gravel

NF

RIVERFRONT OVERLAY STANDARD

• Now: divides area along Kzoo river into 9 sub-areas. Set of development standards and future uses different, specified for each. Emphasis on high quality development. Many of its goals are major goals of SV

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• Change: Remove this overlay

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• Why? ‘regularly served as a barrier to development’

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• How do we feel about this? Because most of the standards are included in SV/MP Goals, this action makes sense. HOWEVER, we should advocate for environmental protections along the riverfront.

USE REGULATIONS

• Uses of land differ between zoning districts. What’s allowed in one may not be allowed in another

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• Each zone has different regulations for uses, separated into 4 categories:
• Use is permitted by right
• Use is permitted with Development Standards
• Special Use Permit Required
• Use Prohibited

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• SPECIAL USE PERMIT: use may be allowed within greater district, but only suitable for certain properties due to land use and/or pollution. Permit needed to make sure the land is suitable for the use

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• Change: remove car washes from the vehicle services required to have Special Use Permit

WHY ALL THESE CHANGES MATTER

• NFP-O LANGUAGE CHANGE: counter-intuitive. Defeats purpose of concept. Compromises ability to fight things like Asylum Lake Car Wash in future, habitat fragmentation.

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• WELLHEAD PROTECTION: development/storage near drinking water sources, increased possibility of contamination and water pollution

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• LOT COVERAGE: Natural Feature protection, runoff, habitat fragmentation, biodiversity loss

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• **PLACES SV GOALS OF CONNECTED CITY & ECONOMIC VITALITY ABOVE ALMOST ALL OTHERS**

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• CONTRADICTS CITY CLIMATE EMERGENCY RESOLUTION & COMMUNITY SUSTAINABILITY PLAN

STRATEGIC VISION CONTRADICTIONS

• Big ticket for City since this is their vision for the future and they are actively working against it

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• The proposed changes directly contradict several aspects of 6 out of 10 Strategic Goals:

Shared Prosperity

Connected City

Inviting Public Places

Environmental Responsibility

Safe Community

Youth Development

Complete Neighborhoods

Strength Through Diversity

Economic Vitality

Good Governance

INVITING PUBLIC PLACES

Language in Goal Description:

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“encourage the integration of nature into neighborhoods throughout the city.”

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“Public spaces must be designed to: consider the nearby physical environment… [and] create an accessible network that fosters welcoming activities and opportunities for the community to access nature.”

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Contradictions: NFP Language change and removing Lot Coverage Requirements-- promoting less green space

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See Strength Through Diversity for explanation of Placemaking discrepancies

ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY

Language in Goal Description:

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“invests and planning reflect thoughtful urban design that can both preserve & enhance the City by conserving energy, water, and natural resources…”

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“includes creating well-defined walkable neighborhoods that have access to nature…”

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“Other key components include: protecting our sources of drinking water, lakes, and streams…protecting & expanding the tree canopy throughout the City; and actively encouraging sustainable commercial redevelopment.”

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Contradictions: every aforementioned change

NFP: promoting less green space

Lot Coverage: ^^, habitat fragmentation, biodiversity loss

Wellhead Protection: removing extra safety for drinking water

Permit: Urban runoff → water pollution, enviro degradation

SAFE COMMUNITY

Language in Goal Description:

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“The City will continue to invest in new and existing facilities that contribute to public health and safety.”

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“Maintain reliable Utility Infrastructure to deliver safe & clean water to all residents & facilitate wastewater treatment & stormwater management”

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Contradictions: Wellhead Protection, Lot Coverage

pervious ground and intact ecosystems with protected water resources means Nature will do the job for you

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See Strength Through Diversity for explanation of further public health & safety discrepancies

YOUTH DEVELOPMENT

Language in Goal Description:

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“The City invests in our community’s youth, building their future with resources and services to provide learning experiences and emotional support to grow & thrive.”

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“Basic Needs: provide…safe drinking water.”

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Contradictions: safe drinking water & “provid[ing]…emotional support” and addressing health care discrepancies

2017 Study in Journal of Pediatric Nursing:

“Access to green space was associated with improved mental well-being, overall health, and cognitive development of children. It promotes attention restoration, memory, competence, supportive social groups, self-discipline, moderates stress, improves behaviors & symptoms of ADHD, and was even associated with higher standardized test scores.”

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See Strength Through Diversity for explanation of health care discrepancies

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STRENGTH THROUGH DIVERSITY

Language in Goal Description:

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“Promote a safe, attractive…community that addresses institutional racism and enriches the culture of the city.”

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“The City is working to create an equitable environment for all people regardless of race, ancestry, place of origin, ethnic origin, citizenship, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, status, income, or socio-economic status.”

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“The City strives to eliminate discrimination & disadvantage…”

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STRENGTH THROUGH DIVERSITY

Contradictions: removing protections on greenspace

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Associate Professors of North Carolina State University:

“We think about green space as a term that includes both natural ecosystems & key components of the built environment.”

“These spaces are especially important for physical health.”

“[they] provide a variety of ecosystem services by improving air quality, regulating temperature, and attenuating the impacts of severe weather.”

emotional/mental health benefits listed in Youth Development apply to greater community as well

HOWEVER, “these resources often remain inequitably distributed across diverse communities. Neighborhoods with a large proportion of low-income or racial/ethnic minority residents typically experience limited access to quality park and green space… [and] they tend to be of lower quality and therefore used less frequently [when they are in these communities].

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ECONOMIC VITALITY

Language in Goal Description:

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““...[support] the local economy to benefit individuals across all income levels”

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“Promote the revitalization and redevelopment of existing properties to encourage sustainable economic growth.”

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“Develop and sustain public infrastructure that serves the needs of the community including… water supply…”

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Contradictions: removing protections on green space

Same NCSU Article: “Green land cover also yields economic benefits, and has been linked to lower levels of health care spending and higher levels of financial well-being and security.

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CLIMATE EMERGENCY RESOLUTION & COMMUNITY SUSTAINABILITY PLAN

• Climate Emergency Resolution adopted by City in Oct 2019
• Community Sustainability Plan unanimously adopted June 2021 as action plan to address Climate Emergency
• 4 Action Areas: Accessible Connected Network, Affordable Efficient City, Healthy Prepared Community, and Green Circular Economy
• Accessible Connected Network & Healthy Prepared Community most applicable

ACCESSIBLE CONNECTED NETWORK

GOAL: Design a greener transportations network that easily and safely connects all users to places they need to go.

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METHOD: Invest in resilient stormwater infrastructure

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ACTION: Revise stormwater & wellhead policies & standards

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…by removing 500 ft buffer???

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pg 32-33 of CSP

HEALTHY PREPARED COMMUNITY

GOAL: Protect the natural environment for urban resilient

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ALL METHODS AND ACTIONS ARE INCONSISTENT

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pg 94-95 of CSP

HEALTHY PREPARED COMMUNITY

GOAL: Support a healthy & resilient community

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METHOD: Mitigate flooding to protect people & property

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ACTION: Evaluate flood diversion alternatives & design flood mitigation projects

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**an NFP to support NF Protection (FLOODPLAINS!!) & not development = preserve natural floodplains, reducing human impact**

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pg 108-109 of CSP

TIMELINE

• Present Drafts to Planning Commision - NOW
• Planning Commision Review - Midsummer
• City Commission First Reading - Midsummer
• City Commission Public Hearing & Action - Late Summer/Fall

WHAT THAT MEANS:

• RIGHT NOW: draft plan being presented to City Planning Commission. Opportunities for public comment at the end of each meeting
• NEXT: Planning Commission will review information and present a recommendation to adopt, a recommendation to reject, or a recommendation to adopt with certain changes to City Commission
• AFTER THAT: City Commission reads suggested document. More time fo public comment.
• FINALLY: City Commission accepts/rejects document in a Public Hearing. Final time for public comment. After this, the document is final.

HOW WE FIGHT THIS

• Use our voices -- Give Public Comments & write letters to city officials
• Spread the word -- organize & educate peers and greater Kalamazoo Community

WHAT IS A PUBLIC COMMENT?

• We live in a democracy (yay!), so government decisions must take input from public
• At every Commissioners meeting, time for the public to give feedback & opinions
• Content can be everything from suggestions to additional information to requests for more research/information

HOW TO WRITE A PUBLIC COMMENT

Example 1: May4 Planning Commission Speeches

Example 2: In Support of the Urban Bird Treaty

Example 3: No New Oil Leasing in 2023-2028

Example 4: Oil Leasing Comment Template

REQUIREMENTS

• Your Name, member of NYCE, affiliation with the City

(do you live in the county, in a downtown neighborhood, etc.)

• DO NOT CHANGE THE LANGUAGE OF THE NFP-O
• DO NOT REMOVE THE MATERIALS STORAGE BUFFER FROM THE WELLHEAD PROTECTIONS
• DO NOT REMOVE THE LOT COVERAGE REQUIREMENTS
• DO NOT REMOVE CAR WASHES FROM SPECIAL USE PERMITTING
• Maximum of 1 to 1.5 pages. You only have three minutes to speak

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That’s it! The rest is up to you!

HERE IS YOUR TEMPLATE: Zoning Commission Meeting Template

WHY IT’S IMPORTANT THAT WE SPEAK UP

• OUR FUTURE!!!
• Our voices are powerful.
• youth/young people usually don’t take part in these types of government activities and decisions
• Even by showing up, we show a level of care and concern that can’t be ignored
• They will listen to us (hopefully)

OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS

• Tree cover - weather protection, urban hot spot prevention
• Habitat Fragmentation
• Biodiversity loss
• urban runoff
• Climate justice (strength through diversity evidence)
• Rare/Endangered species conservation
• Water/air pollution
• local GHG absorption loss
• aesthetics

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*To learn more, email NYCE, DM on slack, or do your own research!*

PROGRESS SO FAR

• SUN, APR 23: attended River Valley Revolt info meeting
• THURS, APR 27: attended City info meeting
• APR 28-MAY 3: drafted speeches for planning commission
• THURS, MAY 4: spoke at planning commission (watch the meeting recording here!)

UP NEXT

• TUES, MAY 23: Natural Features Protection Review Board meeting
• WED MAY 17: Environmental Concerns Committee meeting
• THURS, JUN 1: 7-9 Planning Commission Meeting

(on topics other than those talked about on this slideshow, but still welcome to go!)

• MON, JUN 5: 7-9 City Commission Meeting
• WED JUN 21: Environmental Concerns Committee meeting
• TUES, JUN 27: Natural Features Protection Review Board meeting

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*all meetings located at Kalamazoo City Hall