KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – The Kalamazoo city commission has voted to reject a controversial rezoning request to put businesses near Asylum Lake after a long hearing last night.
The unanimous vote came at 1:19 this morning.
City planners and real estate attorney Emily Palacios argued that the rezoning request met the five criteria set in the zoning ordinance.
Palacios had a surprise, saying they had dropped plans for a car wash, after all the public opposition at previous hearings.
But she wasn’t able to say exactly what they are planning.
Nearly 70 residents turned out to speak, presenting blistering arguments disputing the claims that the proposal met rezoning criteria.
Many residents wondered why they were even discussing the issue again.
Commissioners were also presented with a petition with 14,585 signatures opposing the rezoning.
Commissioner Jae Slaby argued forcibly that the rezoning didn’t meet any of the five criteria required by the city ordinance.
Commissioner Chris Praedel says city staff based its argument for the rezoning on an out-of-date master plan and not current neighborhood plans.
Many spoke that their ultimate wish is for the city to acquire that land and maintain it as greenspace.
An effort to raise the funding last year apparently failed, but the owner may be willing to bring down the price now that his efforts to develop it has cratered.
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