(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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*Natural Features Protection (NFP) Ordinance / Vermeulen Property Development
February UPDATE: Draft NFP Ordinance - Neighborhood Meeting Wednesday, February 20 at 7:00 PM in the Winchell Elementary School Cafeteria Since December 3rd, City staff has been working to create the Natural Features Protection (NFP) Ordinance with the assistance of an ad hoc technical committee of local experts. The draft is nearly ready for public review and discussion. Over the next month, the City will present and discuss the draft to three groups of stakeholders – 1) environmental/conservation groups, 2) key neighborhoods, and 3) development interests. The Oakland Drive/Winchell, Oakwood, and Parkview Hills neighborhoods are part of the “key neighborhoods” group. As such, please feel free to join the ODWNA for the first “key neighborhood” meeting on Wednesday, February 20 at 7:00 PM in the Winchell Elementary School Cafeteria. At this meeting City staff will present the NFP draft ordinance and lead a discussion of it. **The NFP Draft Ordinance, and the NFP area map, are now available for review on the City’s NFP Project webpage: http://www.imaginekalamazoo.com/projects/nfp/ * The NFP Ordinance will apply to all NFP-designated lands in the city, not just the Vermeulen Property. As such, please note that our neighborhood has many other NFP lands; most notably, along Stadium Dr. from Howard St. to Rambling Rd. Looking ahead, the City is planning a city-wide draft NFP Ordinance presentation on Tuesday March 21st. We will post more information from the city as it becomes available, or you can check the “NFP” link above. NOTE: This is one of our regularly scheduled Association meetings. As such, we have a previously scheduled speaker who will discuss Lakeside for Children. That will begin around 7:00pm. The NFP discussion will begin immediately after; around 8:00pm. All are welcome at 7:00pm to hear both speakers. ================ As the city moves forward with the NFP, they will be using www.imaginekalamazoo.com/projects/nfp/ page to post their progress and drafts for public review. (it is currently "live") City staff contact information are also on this page; feel free to reach out to inquire about the process or if you have any questions. =========================== December 2018 - 6 Month Moratorium 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. ================= Future Land Development Map 2025 HERE  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... *ODWNA Neighborhood Plan
February Progress Report Our committees have been working the past month to finalize goal/actions into an efficient, easy to work with format to ready all work for a final presentation to the neighborhood before it goes on to the Planning & City Commissions for approval and incorporation into the Master Plan. We anticipate a final draft to be ready in the next couple of months; we are continuing to work with the city on finalizing roles and responsibilities so we, as a neighborhood, can efficiently and confidently move forward with all of our goals and actions...not just with our partners, but with the city as well. 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. *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 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 20, 2019
Winchell Elementary - CAFETERIA; 7:00PM (Meet your neighbors/ODWNA Board @ 6:30pm) 1) Topic: Lakeside For Children Speaker: "Sam" Lealofi, CEO / Jeff Palmer, Board member 2) Topic: NFP Draft Ordinance Presentation & Discussion Speaker: City staff ======================== ** Our Board can always be reached via EMAIL HERE *Water Customers Advised to Run Water to Avoid Frozen Water Lines
The City of Kalamazoo Public Services Department has issued an advisory to its water utility customers. Water services are freezing between the water main in the street and a customer’s home/business due to the depth of the frost in the ground. In some cases, freezing is also occurring on the customers side of the meter due to lack of heat in the structural area around the meter and water line. Water customers are advised to take all necessary precautions to prevent their water services from freezing and are advised to run their water at a pencil size stream 24 hours a day in a utility tub or sink until April 1st unless otherwise notified. Please note that you should continue to run your water even if there are a few warm days at anytime prior to April 1st. Symptoms to look for when your pipes or meter may be freezing:
The current service renewal time-frames can be up to three weeks. For more information please contact Public Services Dispatch water emergency line at 269-337-8148. *Join the Complete Streets Advisory Committee
The City of Kalamazoo recently approved a Complete Streets Policy. This policy establishes an advisory committee made up of advocates, residents, and a planning commissioner. This committee will be responsible for reviewing best practices, education and outreach, and recommending priorities for street projects. If you are interested in applying, you can fill out an application online or in person. Applications are due by Friday March 8th. Learn how to apply here. *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 *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
The Fall/Winter 2018-19 View From The Curb is available and full of very helpful information! Download it 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. 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.
-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.
2018-19 ODWNA Board Members
President - Peter Kushner
Vice President - Chris Shook
Treasurer - Kathy Shook
Secretary - Chris Bovid
Board Members at-large:
Diana Morton-Thompson
Paul Scott
President - Peter Kushner
Vice President - Chris Shook
Treasurer - Kathy Shook
Secretary - Chris Bovid
Board Members at-large:
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
