(Once link above clicked, go to "I Want To..." at top of page, then "Report..."

Welcome to the Oakland Drive - Winchell Neighborhood Association website!

*New Neighborhood Business and eNews Supporter Kellogg Community Credit Union!

They are now open and located in the Oakwood Plaza (taking the spot of where Mercantile Bank was).

They are convenient to our neighborhood, friendly and helpful; stop in, say "Hi", welcome them and perhaps check them out for any banking needs you may have.  You will find their ad down the right column of our eNews, and it also links to their website.
*ODWN Neighborhood Plan
September Progress Report

All five committees have now met with city staff to look for ways to work with the city, and other area partners we can identify, to help us formulate plans to accomplish them.

We are getting a better vision of what is possible, what is probable, and what we will need to do (and who we need to partner with) to accomplish our more detailed, complex goals.

We look forward to seeing you at our October Association meeting, when we will hold an Open House to present our "final" draft for your review and feedback.

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You can click HERE to see our five committee's draft of initially identified neighborhood Goals and suggested actions. (NOTE: we are currently in the process of updating this based on our conversations with City staff)
  • Click HERE for a detailed outline of our Neighborhood Plan.
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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.
  • email us HERE with any further thoughts or ideas
  • You can download a full copy of the City Master Plan and Future Land Use Map HERE

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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.
*"Vermeulen Property" Update
The "Vermeulen" property, a 17 acre tract of land situated at the southeast corner of Stadium Dr. and Drake Rd. was recently sold to an Indiana-based developer.

Many local citizens, environmental groups as well as the ODWNA have been communicating with the City in anticipation of the re-zoning of the land to Commercial as well as the impact the Master Plan's Natural Feature Protection (NFP) Overlay will have on future development.

The concern lies in the fact that this property lies adjacent to the Asylum Lake Preserve, with potential light, noise and visual impact issues, as well as increased surface and groundwater discharge, and air pollution being distinct possibilities as a result of the future commercial development of this land.

You can read more about this important issue HERE; an MLive article published August 9.
*"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

We have been alerted to the fact that there have been quite a number of break-ins, attempted break-ins, suspicious activity, etc. going on in our neighborhood for the last month or so.

Of course, any emergency situation should be reported immediately by calling 9-1-1.

But 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
  • Lt. Craig Habel of the Kalamazoo Dept. of Public Safety stopped by our February with two of his officers to introduce himself to the neighborhood and let us know that KDPS is always here for us. He stressed that if anyone ever has a (non-emergency) question or issue about public safety to not hesitate to contact him.  He can be reached here:
  • Yvonne Wright is our Rental Inspector.  Any questions or concerns you have about rental properties (or blight issues) can be addressed to her directly:
"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 ​
As always; feel free to email us with your thoughts for the neighborhood!
SEPTEMBER 19, 2018

​Winchell Elementary - Library; 7:00PM
(Meet your neighbors/ODWNA Board @ 6:30pm)

​[UPDATE: Jim is unable to speak at our W 9/17 meeting, but Laura Lam, Assistant City Manager, Foundation for Excellence, will fill in for Jim and address the same topics listed below]

Speaker: Jim Ritsema, City Manager
Topic: City Budgeting, Neighborhood Plans, Foundation For Excellence 
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** Our Board can always be reached via EMAIL HERE
*2018-19 ODWNA Speaker Series
Full Season Lineup Set!

​[UPDATE: Jim is unable to speak at our W 9/17 meeting, but Laura Lam, Assistant City Manager, Foundation for Excellence, will fill in for Jim and address the same topics listed below]

Our Speaker Series has been finalized for the season; you should have received a postcard earlier this week with the full slate of speakers.

​As a reminder, our first speaker on Wednesday September 19 will be Jim Ritsema, City Manager.  Jim will be speaking to three important topics, as well as taking your questions: 
  1. Priority-based City budgeting (what is it, how does it work, etc.)
  2. Will the budgeting process address dedicated funding for Neighborhood Plan goals/actions?
  3. Does the Foundation for Excellence affect priority-based budgeting process, and if so, how?

​October - ODWNA Open House.  As part of the ongoing Neighborhood Plan initiative, we would like to present our work (Goals and Actions) to-date in an informal, "open house" basis.  Our five committees will be represented to discuss our progress with you; our goal is to insure that we are "on track" in accurately representing the neighborhood's views.  Our next step after this meeting will be to incorporate any new feedback, with the plan of finalizing the Plan for full neighborhood review (via eNews, website & Winchell FB postings) and then presenting to the Planning/City Commissions for approval (sometime early next year).

Remember - ODWNA meetings are open to all!
​NON-Association neighbors are always welcome!

CLICK HERE for the full 2018-19 Speaker Series schedule
*City Public Services Information
 
  • The Fall/Winter 2018-19 View From The Curb is available and full of very helpful information! Download it HERE
  • Fall Hydrant Flushing Schedule: Starts TU 9/18.  Check the map HERE for your date

  • Quarterly Bulk Trash Pickup: Friday September 21 for our neighborhood (you can check by your address HERE)

  • 2018 Brush Collection: ENDS in October, on the scheduled pickup day for your street (you can check by your address HERE)
*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.
Spring/Summer 2018 View From The Curb HERE
*Lunchtime Live!
Every Friday: 6/28 thru 9/28
Bronson Park; 11:30 AM – 1:30 PM

Live music, great scenery, fun summertime games, and amazing food….Lunchtime Live has it all! Get the family out of the house this summer and head to Bronson Park in Downtown Kalamazoo for a Friday afternoon on the town. There will be great local food trucks and homegrown musical talent.
*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.

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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
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Protect Your Family From Lead in Your Home
* Connect With City Government!
Connect with the city to receive news, updates, and alerts
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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.
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

Oakland Drive - Winchell Neighborhood Map

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ODWNA ~ P.O. BOX 20061 ~ Kalamazoo, Michigan 49019