(Once link above clicked, go to "I Want To..." at top of page, then "Report..."
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*Streets Design Project
Next Meeting: MARCH 4 The need for changes to the street network is not a new idea. The community has been voicing a desire for calmer streets, active and inviting public spaces, and safer travel for all users. Until recently many of these roadways were under the jurisdiction of the Michigan Department of Transportation, however, in January of 2019, the City of Kalamazoo was transferred control of these streets. Local control of these streets creates the opportunity to realize many aspects of the Imagine Kalamazoo 2025 (IK2025) plan that relate to connectivity, transportation, and safety. More information can be found HERE See the flyer below for meeting details: 
* Vermeulen Property: January 27 UPDATE
Rezoning Request Withdrawn The ODWNA has just heard from our City Planner: 1) The request to rezone this property from Residential to Community Commercial, and to remove the NFP Overlay, will NOT be on the February 3rd City Commission agenda. This means there is no need for people to go to that meeting to voice their thoughts on this issue 2) At the request of the applicant, the items were removed from the agenda. 3) The applicant is reviewing his options for moving forward and no new City Commission date has been set or requested. 4) The applicant can certainly:
Thank you all for your involvement; no matter what the issue is, it is always important for all city residents to participate in the process and have their voices heard! What can YOU do? Stay tuned; we will post updated information as we learn it. We will post updates both here on our website and the Winchell Neighborhood FB page. * Consumers Energy Lindbergh/Phillips Line Upgrade Project
February 5, 2020 Update In response to neighbors reaching out regarding the process of how Consumers Energy is cutting down the trees along Broadway. We contacted CE yesterday and below is the response received this morning from their forester. We hope this information proves helpful. we will post further updates as received! 1. A private party has expressed interest in hauling off a lot of the wood. He has been coming in steadily behind us and taking it away. We didn’t want to haul it off if there is a chance it will be utilized. (NOTE - the agreement was that all wood would be hauled away - if the property owner didn't want it - within 7 days) 2. We will be bringing in a loader truck with a grapple to take down the bigger pieces (the tall "trunks"). It is more efficient to do this all at once when we can make a full load rather than a little bit at a time. This is why the big stubs are still standing. 3. Line crews are constructing very quickly and we need to expend maximum effort in front of them so they can keep going. If they have to wait while we are cutting and hauling wood, it will delay the whole process on Broadway, further inconveniencing the neighborhood. 4. Much of the work area where we have to finish tree work is occupied by the line crews. We are waiting for them to finish so we’re not in each other’s way. *ODWN Neighborhood Plan
February Progress Report Our Plan is complete!! Next Steps:
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======================= 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. 
*Neighborhood Crime
Here's a great new (FREE to you) initiative that partners KDPS and "Ring!" * You can also put the FREE app on your PC or Mac if you don't have a smartphone! Just go HERE ================== 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! * "Ring" Hardware - INFORMATION UPDATE:
On November 20th, 2019 the ODWNA hosted members of Kalamazoo’s Department of Public Safety at our monthly neighborhood meeting. The topic of conversation was Amazon’s Ring Neighbor’s App and their accompanying security camera technology. In an effort to ensure that our neighbors have a complete understanding of these technologies, we wanted to summarize a couple of key pieces of information that were not discussed at the event. As with any new technology purchase or app installation, we always encourage you to do additional research so that you fully understand how these applications may impact you. Here are a couple of links that will help you gather more information so that you can determine for yourself whether or not the RING and Neighbors App are right for you.
The more information we have the better. We all share the same end goal of creating a safer neighborhood for all and believe that it is important that we fully understand all the implications these new technologies have before we begin using them. *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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February 19, 2020
Winchell Elementary - Library 7:00PM (meet your board & neighbors @ 6:30pm) Topic: We Built This City Speaker: Lynn Houghton Lynn is the Regional History Curator at the WMU Archives and Regional History Collections. She leads the Gazelle Sports Historic Walks, a series of free architectural and historic walks around Kalamazoo County held during the summer and fall and is the co-author of Kalamazoo Lost and Found. She also participated in the PBS series, “10 that Shaped America.” She has a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in history from WMU and a master’s in library and information science from Wayne State University. See our full 2019-20 Speaker Series Lineup HERE ======================== ** Our Board can always be reached via EMAIL HERE * City-Wide Historic Resources Inventory Starts February 5
The City will start a three-year-long historic resources inventory on Wednesday, February 5 with a kick-off event in the Van Deusen Room at the Central Library (315 S Rose Street) from 7 to 8:30 p.m. This event will include a presentation followed by a question and answer session as well as an opportunity for interested community members to sign up to volunteer. This city-wide historic resources inventory, Inventory Kalamazoo 2022, will include photographing and documenting the existing condition of every building in the City that is visible from the public right of way. There are an estimated 24,000 resources in the built environment of Kalamazoo. Find out more HERE * Registration Now Open for Kzoo Parks' Spring Programs
Registration is now open for Kzoo Parks' spring programs, including Spring Break Field Trip Fest, Mini Kickers Soccer (age 5-7), Little Tot Soccer (age 3-4), and Swim for Success. Adult softball leagues are also forming and interested players or team managers are encouraged to attend the Softball Manager's Meeting on Monday, February 17 at Mayors' Riverfront Park. Women's and co-ed teams meet from 6:30-7:30pm and men's teams meet from 7:30-8:30pm. Go to their website HERE for details * Cheer on the Kalamazoo Wings Hockey Club and support Kalamazoo Friends of Recreation
Saturday Feb. 22 Game Cheer on the Kalamazoo Wings Hockey Club and support Kalamazoo Friends of Recreation when the K-Wings face the Wheeling Nailers at 7:00pm. A portion of ticket sales will help provide scholarships for youth to participate in Kzoo Parks programs! *Recycle Coach
Free App For Personalized Trash, Recycling Info. And More! The City of Kalamazoo has launched of a mobile app (iPhone & Android) and website plug-in containing all of the information residents need to know about residential trash and recycling services, tailored specifically to your neighborhood. Other features include:
The app is available for Android and iPhone users and can be downloaded from the App Store and Google Play for free by searching for “Recycle Coach” *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 2019 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. *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.
-Encourage the beautification, physical well-being and neighborhood 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.
-Encourage the beautification, physical well-being and neighborhood 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.
2019-20 ODWNA Board Members
President - Peter Kushner
Vice President - Chris Shook
Treasurer - Kathy Shook
Secretary - Chris Bovid
Board Members at-large:
Eric Boersma
Diana Morton-Thompson
Paul Scott
President - Peter Kushner
Vice President - Chris Shook
Treasurer - Kathy Shook
Secretary - Chris Bovid
Board Members at-large:
Eric Boersma
Diana Morton-Thompson
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
