Vermeulen Property - Information & News
* 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Rezoning Request Withdrawn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:
  • Reschedule his application hearing for a later date
  • Modify his application to ask for a different commercial or residential zoning.
    • If that happens, the new request will again have to first go through the Planning Commission for a recommendation.
So – the ODWNA will stay on top of this issue and update you as it progresses.

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
* Vermeulen Property: January 15 Update
Rezoning Request RESULT:
TU 1/14 Planning Commission Meeting

So...after a loooong night with well over 300 citizens showing up to have their voices heard, the Planning commission voted:
1) To recommend NOT to remove the NFP Overlay from the two Stadium Dr. parcels of land, and
2) To NOT recommend to rezone any of the three parcels to Community Commercial (CC), the most intense-density commercial development zoning district allowed in Kalamazoo.

We will keep you updated as to the next meeting; this issue will now go before the City Commission, the commission that actually has the authority to change (or not change) city zoning.

The ODWNA Board has taken the position that we are not opposed to some, lower-density commercial development on portions of that property, but that CC (the highest intensity-level of commercial development allowed by the City) is unacceptable.

Additionally, the applicant is asked the City to remove the NFP Overlay from 2 of the 3 parcels. The ODWNA Board is strongly opposed to removing the Overlay.

  • You can read our full statement that we submitted to the Planning Commission HERE
 
  • The information packet for the Planning Commission meeting on January 14, 2020 can be viewed HERE.  Note that this packet includes the city staff report, developer information as well as letters of opposition.

What can YOU do?  Stay tuned; we will post updated meeting information as we learn it
*Natural Features Protection (NFP) Ordinance/Vermeulen Property Development

May 20, 2019 UPDATE
At their 5/20 meeting , the City Commission voted to APPROVE the NFP Overlay Ordinance as well as the overlay map as presented to us throughout the process. Many environmental groups, concerned citizens, as well as the ODWNA spoke in favor of passing this zoning ordinance. This is a great step forward for natural preservation in our neighborhood as well as the city at-large.

NEXT STEPS:
Per the city's NFP webpage:
  • June 2019 – November 2019 – NFP Map Review
  • August 2019 & Beyond – NFP Property Stewardship

The ODWNA January 15, 2020 speaker will be Jamie McCarthy from the city, who will discuss the NFP: Phase 2, in detail!
​
We will keep you up to date, and you can always go to: http://www.imaginekalamazoo.com/projects/nfp/ for updated NFP information.

The Board of the ODWNA supported the NFP Ordinance and revised Map.  You can read the letter of support we submitted to the Planning and City Commissions, and city staff HERE
Loring-McMartin FarmhouseLoring-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 [email protected] with proposals.​

Click HERE for 11/13/18 WWMT story...
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ODWNA ~ P.O. BOX 20061 ~ Kalamazoo, Michigan 49019
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