KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – Members of the Kalamazoo City Commission are not happy with staff’s proposed changes to an emergency housing ordinance.
The city adopted the ordinance two years ago, but not a single unit has been opened since. The only project that was started, Housing Resource Incorporated’s plan for 50 pods, could now be stalled again by those proposed revisions. .
The proposal would require such projects be phased in 20 units at a time.
HRI Executive Director Michelle Davis says their plan requires they put all 50 pods and support facilities up at once. She says the revisions would make it impossible.
Their pods have been in storage since 2021.
City Planner Christina Anderson says the incremental approach would give them a chance to do inspections between phases. She told the City Commission Monday night staff wasn’t comfortable doing it as originally proposed.
(courtesy City of Kalamazoo)
But Commissioners made it very clear they are far more concerned about the homeless., with Vice Mayor Don Cooney saying the city should be clearing a path to such projects, not putting up new obstacles.
He says he wants to see that reflected in the next set of ordinance revisions.
The current ordinance is set to expire in early December, and must be replaced before then.
Officials say, as things are going, those 50 pods could spend a third winter gathering dust in a warehouse.
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