(Once link above clicked, go to "I Want To..." at top of page, then "Report..."
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Welcome to the Oakland Drive - Winchell Neighborhood Association website!
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*Vermeulen Property Development
December UPDATE On December 3, the Kalamazoo City Commission voted to PASS a Resolution to place a six-month moratorium on rezoning and variance requests, and new building permits, for projects that require Site Plan approval on properties with the Natural Features Protection (NFP) designation as mapped on the Land Development Map in the 2025 Master Plan (except those properties under the oversight of the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ), Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR), United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), or City of Kalamazoo Brownfield Redevelopment Authority (BRA)). This moratorium is effective immediately and will be in place for a period of up to six months. This moratorium will give city staff the time necessary to finalize a policy and development standards to ensure consistent, cohesive, and sensible development in alignment with the 2025 Master Plan and Strategic Vision within ALL NFP - designated areas throughout the City. The city has been, and will continue to work with, a NFP Technical Committee, as well as work with Neighborhood Associations, local environmental groups, and the public at-large. This moratorium WILL include any rezoning, variance and/or building permit requests for the Vermeulen Property. Additional coverage of this can be found on MLive.com HERE The ODWNA will continue to keep you informed and updated on this important neighborhood issue. 
 Loring-McMartin Farmhouse
*Vermeulen Property Development
Additional Information The Loring-McMartin Farmhouse has sat at the southeast corner of Stadium Drive and South Drake Road, just north of Asylum Lake, possibly since 1847 after the railway came into the area. Miller Johnson, the developer, is preparing to clear the property, but the company and local historians hope someone will step up to move the 700-square foot home to keep its history intact. Miller Johnson is offering $10,000, which is what it would cost to demolish the home, to anyone willing to move it. Anyone interested in the 1848 panted brick, Greek Revival 1.5 story farmhouse, can contact Matthew B. Van Dyk at vandykm@millerjohnson.com with proposals. Click HERE for 11/13/18 WWMT story... *ODWN Neighborhood Plan
December Progress Report We received some great feedback, as well as confirmation, of the goals and actions we presented at the 10/17 Open House. We are beginning to incorporate the additional feedback and are scheduled to work with city staff to begin finalizing the Plan to get it ready for a final draft presentation to the neighborhood, then on to the Planning & City Commissions for approval and incorporation into the Master Plan. You can click HERE to see our five committee's draft of initially identified neighborhood Goals and suggested actions. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Each month, we will keep everyone informed via our eNews, website, Winchell Neighborhood FB page, etc. of our progress as well as reach back out to everyone for additional clarification and review of our progress.
======================= The Master Plan states that Neighborhood Plans will: • Align with the Strategic Vision and Master Plan at the neighborhood scale. • Develop individual strategies needed to achieve neighborhood completeness. • Establish a unique neighborhood vision, goals, and actions for implementation. • Establish relationships within the neighborhood to support implementation. • Use IK 2025 input from residents as a place to start. *"Right of Way" Yard Signage
The City of Kalamazoo reminds everyone that it is against City Ordinance to place signs of any kind, including election signs, in the City right-of-way without permission. Any signs placed in violation of the code will be removed without notice and disposed of. On streets with sidewalks, the right-of-way generally extends to the house side of the sidewalk. On streets with no public sidewalk - most right-of-way lines are 33 feet from the center of the road, though this is a general rule and there are exceptions throughout the City. Anyone with specific questions about proper sign location should call the City’s Right of Way Coordinator at 269-337-8436 *Neighborhood Crime
What should you do to report something that is of a non-emergency nature? Well, our friends at KDPS tell us you should:
KDPS is here to help us...but they need our help as well! By reporting non-emergency issues, KDPS can track and identify trends in our neighborhood, and not only respond, but understand how to best be pro-active to prevent crimes as well! *City Trash Ordinance
Property owners in the City are reminded of their responsibilities to keep properties trash free throughout the year. Chapter 15A of the City of Kalamazoo Code of Ordinances (commonly known as the Trash Ordinance) states, "…All garbage must be stored in a watertight container that is constructed of metal, plastic or other durable material impervious to rodents, has a tight-fitting lid or cover, and is capable of being serviced without creating unsanitary conditions..." After April 22, 2017, properties that are in violation of the ordinance will be issued a written citation allowing 10 days to clean up the property and a $77 fine. If the property is not cleaned up within 10 days, a crew will be dispatched to clean up the property on behalf of the property owner, who will be billed for the recovery of enforcement costs. Please take a proactive approach and help keep our city clean and inviting for everyone who lives, works, learns, or plays in Kalamazoo! *City Contacts
"Quality of Life" Issues/Who to Contact
Ordinance Enforcement As a follow-up to recent neighbor concerns regarding nuisance/quality of life ordinance adherence, we have listed on our Resource Links page the areas of concern as well as the City contact phone number you may call to report any perceived violations. Our City Rental Inspector has assured us that any complaints registered with the city will be followed up on, and the person reporting the violation will remain anonymous. You can also report violations via the City's website with their Report It! link Go HERE to read the full meeting minutes of this (or any) of our ODWNA Association meetings
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*** NO MEETING IN DECEMBER
(we traditionally do not meet due to the holiday season) ___________________________ JANUARY 16, 2019 Winchell Elementary - Library; 7:00PM (Meet your neighbors/ODWNA Board @ 6:30pm) Topic: Culinary Arts & Sustainable Food Systems Speaker: Chef Brian Hay, Director of Culinary Education, KVCC We will also have a short 10 minute presentation by Nicholas Baxter from the Kalamazoo Nonprofit Advocacy Coalition. They are working with the Disciples of Christ Church to "use the land there to build a place where impoverished individuals can learn valuable skills in growing and selling healthy and nutritious foods which may also be used to better the diets of impoverished communities in food challenged neighborhoods around the city." Nicholas will present to us a brief outline of their plans. ** Our Board can always be reached via EMAIL HERE * Leaf Collection: UPDATE
Kalamazoo Public Services is regularly updating the City website about pick-up and where the crews are: https://www.kalamazoocity.org/forestry Here is a map of where each section is *Sidewalks
....and Snow! The City of Kalamazoo has changed the sidewalk snow removal ordinance. The new ordinance requires the owner or occupant of a property to clear snow from the sidewalk adjacent, abutting or adjoining their residence within 48 hours of its accumulation. The occupant or owner will also be responsible for applying sand, salt, sawdust or similar material to prevent it from being slippery within 12 hours of its accumulation. Any person in violation of the ordinance will be responsible for a municipal civil infraction and subject to a fine of $50 for the first offense, $100 for the second offence and $200 for a third offence within a six month period. For more information regarding this ordinance please visit the City’s website HERE. To report uncleared sidewalks, go to the City's Report It link HERE * Annual Holiday Tree Drop Off
Real holiday trees are biodegradable and easily recyclable! After the holiday season, residents can drop off their real holiday trees at the Bank Street Market parking lot (located at 1204 Bank Street) through January 31. Please be sure to remove all ornaments and other decorations. NOTE: The City NO LONGER picks up your tree at the curb! *Downtown Kalamazoo Parking+ Stakeholder Survey
The Kalamazoo Downtown Partnership has initiated the Parking+ study to align the City’s parking management program with national best practices and to explore innovative strategies to address Kalamazoo’s unique opportunities. Parking, however, will be just one focal point for this study, as we know that more and better mobility options will ease pressure on parking supplies – creating the potential to grow more with existing resources. To do this right, however, we need your input to better understand our needs today, and the key issues and opportunities that will determine tomorrow’s opportunities. Answering the following questions (CLICK HERE) should take no more than 10 minutes. We greatly appreciate your time, consideration, and input. *City Public Services Information
*Upcoming City Projects
Curious about a project that is happening in the City? Want to find out what street construction projects are planned this year? Wondering about upcoming parks projects? All City-planned projects for 2018 can be found at: www.kalamazoocity.org/projects Projects are identified on an interactive map that includes the project scope and estimate start and completion dates (actual dates are dependent on weather and other factors and may differ). You can also sign up for email updates on road construction at that website that will be provided approximately every two weeks. Fall/Winter 2018-19 View From The Curb HERE
*Kalamazoo County Smart911 Available
Now Available! Public Safety Officials Encourage Residents to Sign Up For the Free Service That Provides Emergency Responders with More Information in the Event of an Emergency Public safety officials in Kalamazoo County announced today that Smart911 is now available to all individuals in Kalamazoo County. Smart911 is a free service that allows individuals and families to sign up online to provide key information to 9-1-1 call takers during an emergency. Smart911 allows citizens to create a Safety Profile at www.smart911.com for their household that includes any information they want 9-1-1 and response teams to have in the event of an emergency. When a citizen makes an emergency call, their Safety Profile is automatically displayed to the 9-1-1 call taker, allowing them to send the right response teams to the right location with the right information. *Are Your Service Water Pipes Made of Lead?
Check the map and database link below Kalamazoo's municipal water system has about 4,300 known lead service lines at about 2,800 addresses out of a total of more than 46,000 service lines in the system. At about 1,600 addresses, both the yard service lines and street service lines are lead. Of those addresses with one or the other, most of the lead pipes are yard service lines, according to city records. You can go to an MLive article HERE to access the map and/or search the database to see if your address is listed. Lead and Copper Program The City offers free lead and copper testing kits to City of Kalamazoo water customers. In an effort to streamline the City’s Lead and Copper program and respond timely to customers, the City requests that all calls and inquiries be directed to (269) 337-8550. ================== Here is a guide from the EPA, supplied to us by the City, that explains: • How lead gets into the body • About health effects of lead • What you can do to protect your family • Where to go for more information Protect Your Family From Lead in Your Home * Connect With City Government!
Connect with the city to receive news, updates, and alerts 1) Foundation For Excellence website 2) www.ImagineKalamazoo.com where the public can connect and collaborate with local decision makers and other residents on the future of our community. 3) www.kalamazoocity.org/connect provides information on how residents can connect with the city to receive important information and updates. 4) The city has created an online newsletter. This bi-monthly publication will contain information about what is happening around the City and include news, alerts, meeting schedules & agendas, and events. Go HERE to sign up. |
ODWNA Statement of Purpose
-Preserve and enhance the neighborhood living concept in the area.
-Protect the natural beauty of the area.
-Encurage the beautification, physical well-being and neighborhod spirit of the residential area.
-Constructively assist the Kalamazoo City and County Planning Commissions.
-Provide a forum for open and frank discussion of different points of view on neighborhood development.
-Provide for communication on matters of neighborhood interest to residents.
The Oakland Drive/Winchell Neighborhood Association was founded in 1973 in response to the City of Kalamazoo's proposal to widen Oakland Drive, which would have required the removal of many trees.
-Protect the natural beauty of the area.
-Encurage the beautification, physical well-being and neighborhod spirit of the residential area.
-Constructively assist the Kalamazoo City and County Planning Commissions.
-Provide a forum for open and frank discussion of different points of view on neighborhood development.
-Provide for communication on matters of neighborhood interest to residents.
The Oakland Drive/Winchell Neighborhood Association was founded in 1973 in response to the City of Kalamazoo's proposal to widen Oakland Drive, which would have required the removal of many trees.
2018-19 ODWNA Board Members
President - Peter Kushner
Vice President - Chris Shook
Treasurer - Kathy Shook
Board Members at-large:
Diana Morton-Thompson
Barb Ross
Paul Scott
President - Peter Kushner
Vice President - Chris Shook
Treasurer - Kathy Shook
Board Members at-large:
Diana Morton-Thompson
Barb Ross
Paul Scott
Oakland Drive - Winchell Neighborhood Map
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ODWNA ~ P.O. BOX 20061 ~ Kalamazoo, Michigan 49019
ODWNA ~ P.O. BOX 20061 ~ Kalamazoo, Michigan 49019
