Zoning Board of Appeals - Regular Meeting

[clears throat] Good evening and welcome to the December 11th, 2025 meeting of the city of Kazoo zoning board of appeals. We're a volunteer advisory board appointed by the city commission. Will the staff please conduct a roll call? Sylvester present. Brandon Hamburgg here. War here. Harington is absent but uh we understand she will be arriving here shortly. Uh Mcrenolds here. Han here.

For each public hearing comments will be accepted during the times as indicated on tonight's meeting agenda. Community members that wish to provide public comments over the phone can call 888382-9556. That's 888 3829556 during the public comment period. They'll enter a queue and will be prompted to offer their comments in turn. Callers will be commenting to the board live and will no longer be able to leave a recorded message. Are there any announcements or changes to the original agenda?

We have no announcements or changes for tonight. We'll move on to the acceptance of last month's minutes. Are there any changes to the minutes? Is there a motion to approve the minutes? I motion to approve the minutes. I get a second. A second. Any discussion? All those in favor, please signify by saying I. I. I. I. I.

None opposed. Um I'll now explain our procedure for tonight's public hearing. For each request, the secretary will read the application into public record. The applicant or representative will have 10 minutes to provide their comments. Following that, the public is invited to step up to the podium starting with others in favor of the application. Clearly state your name and address and present your comments within 3 minutes. Following all comments for those who wish to speak in favor of the request, we will then wish to those who wish to speak in opposition may come up and do the same. Next, any call-in comments will be aired for um for the board and the audience. After this, we'll close a public hearing. Once the public hearing is closed, the boards will then conduct what is called a finding of fact where the board states what they feel the facts are of the request. The board must approve [clears throat] the finding of fact. Therefore, the first vote you hear is not a ruling on the request, but a finding of fact. Then the board discusses the request in order to determine the ruling. The board reserves the privilege to ask questions of persons who have already spoken even after the public comment portion is closed. Once discussion is ended, the board will move to a roll call vote. A full board consists of six members with four votes required to grant a non-use variance or variance request. Mr. Secretary.

Yes. Will you read the first application into the record?

An application for a variance for provisions of the zoning ordinance has been filed with the zoning board of appeals by the city of Kalamazoo for 130 Portage Street in the downtown-2 district. The applicant is asking is requesting a dimensional variance from chapter 50-8.5D2 B2 to erect a 2.5 ft picket fence around the ground mounted mechanical units where a solid fence tall enough to screen the mechanical units is required. Please note that this request will not change the zoning classification of the property. This is a request for a variance only regarding the item described above.

Thank you.

Will the applicant please step up to the podium and explain the request? Hi, good evening. Um, so my name is Brandon Muddle. I'm a landscape architect with Smith Group. I'm presenting this on behalf of Rebecca Kick. I'm the deputy city manager here. I'm sorry, what was your name?

Brandon Wood. W O DL E.

Okay, thank you. Um and so the the variance request that we are um replying is applying for is for the the thick picket fence for some improvements to Farmer's Alley. And so this project includes um redeveloping the pedestrian open space in kind of this location within Kazoo, what we're kind of calling Farmer's Alley. This is a property that's kind of between the Farmers Alley, Exchange Place, and Portage Street. Right. Today the pavement's in really pretty poor condition and the landscape as well. Um and so the city is going to um hired us Smith Group to do design and engineering services for kind of redesign um and construction documents for this space. And so this project includes pedestrian paths, landscape irrigation, the fence around the mechanical equipment, um a fence along the parking lot and um a security camera that's not a part of this contract, but the city is putting into the space as well kind of concurrently with this effort. It doesn't include kind of underground utilities um or any kind of curb or roadway pavement. And so this is aligned with the the 2025 strategic or the master plan because it, you know, hits on the strategic goal of creating inviting public spaces. This is a plan of the um proposed improvements to Farmer's Alley that was included in your packet. Um and so you can see the kind of sidewalk that will get um replaced after kind of removal of kind of the current um pavement and landscape in there. [clears throat] And the the kind of question at hand, right, for for you all tonight is this screen fence around the equipment area. So the equipment area is existing. Um and today there's kind of like landscape around it. Um and so the the reason why we are requesting a variance for this is because it is a kind of public safety concern. Um, included in your packet is an email from Matt, uh, I don't know if it's pronounced Huber or Hover, but the deputy um, police chief with KDPS in support of a lower fence in order to kind of increase visibility through and

around this space um, because they have had issues in the past. This kind of came up in our on discussion um, and engagement kind of throughout the process as we were designing it. And so by having this fence be lower, you can kind of see how where the red arrow is, it's going to increase a lot of kind of visibility through this space. Um, and you know, increase kind of perception of safety for kind of all the people that are walking through here. This is a street view of it in 2025. Um, and so you can see kind of the existing landscape today. Um, really blocks that view to and through the space. Um and so it creates this kind of blind corner and creates the place where like people have kind of hidden behind or been sleeping behind um and kind of these other kind of um issues from the um KDPS standpoint. [snorts] This is a view included in your packet of the proposed conditions. Um a note that the landscape in this does not include all the kind of mix of species and actual kind of plants we're proposing, but it does show the heights. So you can get a sense of that kind of relevant to this variance request. It also shows um the proposed fence as well, like an illustration of that. Um so you can see kind of dashed in there, right, de diagrammatically what it would mean, right, to have a full height, full screen fence. Um really kind of blocking visibility um through this space. Here's another view kind of from the middle of the space. Um again, right, you can kind of get a sense of what we are proposing here, right? And how this kind of addresses the um need to kind of improve safety here. Last view. This is um with your back kind of to the parking garage looking into that space. If you want to get into the nitty-gritty of the details, we had that included in the packet as well. We have the construction detail. Um I won't go into right any anything here, but you can see right the the proposed height of this picket fence um and the general kind of construction of it and materials. And that's everything.

Great. Excuse me. Thank you. Any comments? Brandon, I have a a question. Mr. Wood, um the company, the landscaping um architectural company that you're with? Smith Group. Yes. Smith Group. Yes. All right. Thank you. So, this involves removing some of the shrubs that are there, some of the trees as well that are there.

Yes. Um so, all of the landscape material, we're saving one of the trees because it's in good health. Um it's a it's a great tree, so we're keeping that one. Um the other trees are going away. Some of them are um species we don't really recommend in the field anymore. They're they've some of them have adapted and become kind of invasive species. So we want to make sure those get out of there. Um and then we'll be putting back um a whole number of a lot more native planting, right, that in alignment with your ordinance um and right to exceed the percentage requirement actually that that you're that you have in um in your ordinance. And then ground covers are being added too. And yes, and what's there is being removed. [snorts] And

yes, so there the in this view um you can see some of those shrubs. Um I think even since then um some of these plants have kind of been damaged maybe in an ice storm or something like that. I'm not sure. But um yes, all all the landscape materials except for one of the trees like all the ground cover, all of that's going to get removed and will get planted with with new ground cover plants. It will, as in in some of these views, the proposed views show like it'll cover all of the the landscape beds and fill in. Um, but the views themselves, right, don't show the mixes of plants. It's not going to be one species.

Oh, I'm sorry. That's all. Okay. Thank you. All right. Um, Mr. Wood, how many of the trees are you removing? Uh, two trees. Oh, two. Okay, thank you. So, two shade trees, if I'm going to get specific. There are some arborite that when I was out there, actually today, like one of them is totally flopped over, but still there. And so, that's like an evergreen tree. They're all in really pretty poor condition and health. Um, so, um, those are being removed as well. Probably would Yeah. should be classified as trees as well.

Trees. All right. And then I understand the the woodland, you know, the the greenery that um I guess you'd call the the ground cover. Um how many retiduous hardwood trees are you going to re the space going to have? Yeah. Um so we are proposing to add uh three shade trees. Um so there's the one that's preserved. There'll be three that we're proposing um that will right. Yeah. Um be part of this project. Okay.

One thing I did not mention as well um the city is working on um working with kind of an artist to wrap or paint the electric boxes. That would be part of a separate project that would follow this. Um but that was one thing that they're working on. Um and another thing that's in the works is a mural on the parking garage facade as well behind them. Great. What What is the mural going to be of? I think that is to be determined. Um Rebecca has had kind of initial conversations um and is working on funding for it with a local artist, I'm sure. I believe so.

Yeah. So, um the two trees that you're actually removing, they're already damaged or diseased. Is that correct? So, they're coming out anyway. Um, so we did not do an evaluation of the tree health to that level where I would can be judge or jury on whether or not they are damaged or diseased. Um, one is a calorie pair. Um, and it's um it's a tree that we we really do not recommend planting and um they have issues with kind of breaking in heavy snowfall and ice storms. Yeah. Um they've become invasive and and spread into natural areas. Um, and so that's, you know, one that we certainly don't want to keep. Um, the other one, on the top of my head, I cannot remember the species. Um, but it was not right the quality of the one that we're protecting. Um,

okay. Okay. Anything else? [clears throat] Thank you. Thank you. I'll now open the public hearing and invite those to speak in favor. Mr. Chair, yes. May I do staff comments first? I'm sorry. I think I'm sorry. Yes, I think [snorts] I need to adjust our uh our layout there. It's probably not okay

identified in there, but um just in in brief, um Mr. Wle covered most of the items. Um, obviously when looking at the review criteria, uh, the special circumstances identified by by staff, uh, where the the uniqueness of this location, it really is boxed in on three sides by buildings. Um, and part of this uh screening requirement for for ground mounted mechanical equipment is really just to to limit the view from the public street. Well, it's only visible from Farmers Alley, which has limited traffic flow. You you can't see it from Michigan Avenue. You can't see it from Portage Street. So you know so the uh you know it the the location itself is unique. Um and then the uh safety concerns uh was identified in here as far as other other uh circumstances. And if you, you know, looking at the diagrams that uh that were shown that are in the packet, you can see how it it it's almost like a a peninsula of mechanical equipment that projects out from the corner of the parking ramp. So to wrap that with a 5-ft solid fence would, you know, would really create Yes, thank you. would really create uh significant blind spots. um and would definitely not allow for public safety to look through the site from Farmer's Alley uh when when driving by. So, um you know th those were mentioned in the uh information here. Um you know, and and as as it was laid out, it's really

just trying to make this a more inviting and comfortable space. Um you know, the city works hard to make its public spaces as safe as possible. and also comply with the ordinances. But this is a circumstance where there's, you know, where we can clearly see there's a a conflict between the so I don't have any other comments at at this time. Thank you. Thank you. Now we'll open the public hearing and invite those to speak in favor. There are none. Any opposed? says zero.

Are there any call-in comments? Um, you can make reference to that as Yeah. Put it in. Yeah, got it. I mean, yeah,

it's really not public feedback. [snorts] And I'm checking right now to see if we have any call-in comments for this request. The line is open and I don't see any callins for this request. Okay.

Okay. Is there any further discussion from the board? None. Beth, can I get a motion for the finding effect? I move that the finding of facts for 130 Portage Street shall include all information included in the notice of public hearing dated November 26, 2025 and the agenda packet staff provided for this request. 73 notices of public hearing were sent and zero responses were received. Mr. Brandon Wood of Smith Group Landscape Architect Services um [clears throat] spoke um on behalf of the project noting um that um this space is kind of a triangular type piece between the Exchange Place, Farmers Alley, and Portage Street. um his request for the um two and a half foot picket fence around the mechanicals versus um a tall fence um covering the mechanicals as required by the ordinance. Um he suggested also that the shorter fence is in alignment with our 2025 master plan. um creating aesthetically pleasing public spaces.

Some concerns with the the solid fence um is that [snorts] it creates a blind spot so that there could be accidents or people could get hurt. um the landscaping that they are proposing. They are removing two trees that are not known to be high quality or even recommended for a deciduous shade tree such as oak or maple. Um one of them some people consider an ornamental trait type tree which is a pear tree. Um they are adding three um shade trees. They're also looking to ramp and wrap and paint the mechanicals and adding a mural to be determined um on the side of the parking garage. Um staff comments were um regard to the uniqueness of the location and that triangular piece is kind of boxed in. Um the zoning ordinance with the fence is geared more towards spaces and mechanicals that are completely open and eyes and um also mentioned with the safety concerns of blocking the line of v vision um there were no um call-in um comments um for support.

Thank you. Can I get a second? I second that. All those in favor say I. I. I. I. None opposed. Can I get a motion regarding the pending request? I motion to approve the pending request. Can I get a second? I second that motion. Okay. So, can I get a roll call? And we'll start with Sylvester.

Yes. Randon Hamburgg, yes. War, yes. Mc Reynolds, yes. Han, yes. You are approved. Okay. Thank you. So, will the board secretary read the next application into record? I don't think I have that notice here. Okay. Yeah. I just heard from she is not going to make it. Okay. Don't worry. Acting secretary will keep acting. [laughter] Push her to work.

Doing great. I didn't see it in the 62 pages. Just say it's not there. That is a nice job.

All right. Have a good afternoon. Well, now this

an application for a variance for provisions of the zoning ordinance has been re has been filed with the zoning board of appeals by Valley Vision Construction and and Development LLC for 124 Martin Street located in the residential single dwelling District RS5. The applicant is requesting a dimensional variance from appendix A, chapter 5, section 5.1 of 5 ft from the required 25 foot front yard setback building setback from Martin Street to authorize the new single family home to be set back 20 ft from the front property line. Please note that this request will not change the zoning classification of the property. This is a request for a variance only regarding the item described above.

Thank you. Yes. Will the applicant please explain your request? You're already at the podium. So, thank you. Good evening board. My name is Darnell Clay and I'm representing Valley Vision Construction and Development. Okay.

Um, so the Martin Street development has uh gone extremely well. of phase one, we completed 113 and 116 Martin. To say the least, the homes turned out awesome, beautiful. I mean, from the inception, the original vision of that culde-sac, um the everything just just turned out great. And um it it makes me proud to to be a part of it and to have the vision and to see it come about is I'm just without words. And so um the phase 2, which is the 102 and 124 proposed, um after you you build a couple houses and you walk the property, you see the landscape, you see the flow, the layout, the aesthetics, there's just some tweaks that you could change if you would. And so um even though um so after doing that we just our original uh requests expired and um so we are here to um get that reinstated but as well as the other variants kind of just shimmy the house over a little bit uh to be uh complimenting to the neighbors uh according to what we're trying to do over there. So, we just noticed it was just a little narrow. So, a little push five feet uh will make a world of difference for mowing the grass, getting in there, hauling back and forth, in and out, um just yard space, um and even maintenance on the uh that that side of the home. So, um that would have been a disservice if we didn't request that additional 5 ft, I feel. So, um that is why we are here today. And um that's about it. But most importantly, I just I'm very proud to

present and thank you initially for the first round and and any of those to come over there. I just want you to know as uh residents and leadership of Kalamazoo that that that project is really awesome and I've heard nothing but good things and the stories and the testimonies and if you saw the pictures and the impact that it was making, it's just oh man, it's it's it's it's really cool to be a part of. So, um what we're requesting um we we feel um are extremely reasonable accommodations. Um we are making the absolute best use of that space. Um we are definitely right in line with the 2026 2025 city's master plan um as far as what we're trying to do with infill um lots and and so we're right in the pocket and um we just respectfully request um this reasonable accommodation.

Okay. Thank you.

Mr. Eldridge, would staff like to make any comments related to this request? Uh M Mr. Clay covered a lot of it. Um but but yes, this is a infill project that the city is uh is very happy to see happening. The two homes that have been built, yes, they're they are impressive. When I drove out there to to look at the sites one more time, um they look they do look really nice. Really nice. Love the porches, you know, the varying siding. I mean, they're really they really do they do fit well with the neighborhood. Um, and and of course, the site we're talking about is at the end of the culde-sac, between the end of the culde-sac and Crom Avenue. Um, this exact same request was before the board, March 9th of 2023. Um the board did grant it unanimously and uh but but since then as far as the waiting for utilities to get extended through the culde-sac and other um you know other items that took time all of a sudden we were up against or should I say past that one-year expiration of the board variance. So that's what is bringing this particular one back tonight. Um looking at the particulars related to this lot. So this is a double frontage lot. The depth of the lot is only 66 ft. So that um limits the positioning of the building envelope. And then on top of that there's a a utility easement that's 20 ft wide on the south side of the of the property. So, um, you know, I I could see where it was a challenge figuring out the location. And then we of course had to

look at what about the frontage on Crom Avenue. Um, the average setback for the homes on Crom Avenue is is 10 ft. So, the this new build is allowed to sit 10 feet back from the property line on Crom. Um, and so it will meet that requirement. It will meet the five- foot sideyard setbacks. It just will be will not meet the 25- foot setback from the property line on the culde-sac of Martin. So that's where that the 5- foot [clears throat] variances from the Martin Street frontage. Um, I I also wanted to mention because we, you know, part of that uh when this was before the board in 2023 was questions were raised about what is the back of the house going to look like from Crom. And I included in the packet the kind of elevation view showing some windows on the back side of the house. So, it won't be a blank wall of siding facing Crom. There will be some windows. Um, so it will, you know, it will not look out of character with the other homes um on Crom Street other than it's a new build. Um, but it will there will be windows on the backside and landscaping and so forth. So, I wanted to make reference to that. But uh but yeah, given given the double frontage lot, the utility easement and uh the shallow depth of the lot, you know, those those were the uh the hardships that uh that were noted and um staff does not have any other comments tonight.

Great. Thank you. I'll now open the public hearing, invite those to speak in favor. None. And any opposed? None. Are there any call-ins? And we're checking for call-in requests for this case. Right now, the line is open and there are no call-ins for this request. Thank you. Is there any further discussion? Any questions?

Pete, if I understand you correctly, you're saying this is but for these windows that have been added to the rear of the structure. This is the identical request that was previously submitted and was approved. Yes. Yes. the the the elevation view was submitted um after the hearing because at the hearing questions have been raised about what what would it um the back of the structure look like from CROM. So staff indicated they would work with the developer to make sure that you know there was you know windows appropriate windows or number of windows in the back of the building to you know help it blend from the crown avenue frontage.

Oh that's interesting. Thank you for adding that that information. And so the reason we're back here tonight is because the uh the the the variance approval was expired and the expiration occurred because of a because of delays caused by utility connections. It it's um when the variance was granted, I believe both water and sewer hadn't been run through the culde-sac yet or was it just

I don't believe don't quote me exactly but it was during the same time frame. I don't believe it definitely all was not um it was very close. Um but between that and uh state stipulations on um when you [clears throat] can break ground and when you can't in regards to funding and zoning and approvals um caused it to come to a halt and have to be revisited to the board. So it was a collaborate uh you know just domino effect uh state funding and things like that. It kind of caused delays and so

understood. Thank you very much. Any other questions? Can I get a finding of fact? [clears throat]

I move that the finding of facts for 124 Martin Street shall include all information included in the notice of public hearing dated November 26, 2025 and the agenda packet staff provided for this request. 47 notices of public hearing were sent and zero responses were received. A public hearing was held before the board. Public comments were accepted but no one there were no public comment. Uh Darnell Clay uh val of Valley Vision Construction and Development had was here to present and talk about the project. Um he's very proud of the project and it has turned out great. Um he was here in 2023 with the same request essentially the same request and it was approved then but the timing of um the timing of many variables impacted um the request and it came to expire. So he's back now. Um it's an infill project with impressive homes and properties and it fits well within the neighborhood. Um the additional five feet um of setback will make a world of difference for the residents to enjoy and care for and live in the space. Um the depth of the lot is only 66 feet which makes it challenging furthering the case for um the additional 5 ft of setback and they're in compliance with all the other setback requirements. Um and that concludes my finding effect.

Excellent. Can I get a second? I second that. Finding that. Okay, we'll take a voice vote. All those in favor? I I I I. [clears throat] None opposed. Can I get a motion regarding uh the pending request? I make a motion to accept the pending request. I second that motion. Thank you. Any further discussion? Okay, Mr. Eldridge, can I get a roll call?

We'll start with Han. Yes. Mc Reynolds, yes. War, yes. Brandon Hamburgg, yes. Sylvester, yes. Congratulations. You bet. So, does the board have any any other action items? Yeah, he does. Oh, yeah. You got We we've got to we got to walk through the second request before you Oh my gosh. 102. I was like, got to repeat. Okay. I was like, you

have two. You don't even have to talk about the next one. We're just [laughter] same thing. Shall I Yeah. Shall I read this into the record? Yes, Mr. Secretary, please.

Here we go. An application for a variance for provisions of the zoning ordinance has been filed with the zoning board of appeals by Valley Vision Construction and Development LLC for 102 Martin Street located in the residential single dwelling district RS5. The applicant is requesting a dimensional variance from appendix A, chapter 5, section 5.1 of 5 ft from the required 25 ft front yard building setback from Martin Street to authorize the new single family home to be set back 20 ft from the front property line. Please note that this request will not change the zoning classification of the property. This is a request for variance only regarding the item described above.

Thank you. Yes. Will the applicant please explain the request

again? Um this request here was after um we had Hurley and Stuart come out and do a building marking. Um, it's a difference between looking at something on the paper and in a PDF compared to being in the field live. And so when we were able to see those, you know, markers standing 4 foot tall with the bright pink, um, markings on them, um, we had noticed right away that if we could do anything more to use some of that yard space of that corner lot, then we would. And so just giving it a quick look and walk, we noticed the world of difference it would make if we um had the ability to uh slide the home roughly 5 ft over into the corner lot because there is so much more space. Um that would allow us to avoid a large existing deciduous I think it's maple that's been there for quite a while that is mostly part of the neighbor's yard. But um it just just makes a world of difference from getting back there if they ever want to pull a car back there um and prevent us from even having to cut the tree down because the where the marker is on that tree. There's no way that you could get the foundation in successfully um without doing that. And um again, we just noticed that right off the bat. Um, and so there was a fraction. I mean, theoretically, if you dug and moved it off, I mean, no one would probably notice, but to be by the book and be right on point as far as those markings that we paid quite a bit of money extra for, um, as we proceeded, we figure, you know what, while we're going to the board, um, let's kind of propose this as well. So that way we just, uh, we feel good about all of the space all

together. So, um that is how 102 Martin request came up. Um so between the tree and being able to use so much more space of that corner lot um that is on our property, it just makes the most sense. Again, just another reasonable accommodation. Thank you, Mr. Aldridge. Would staff like to make any comments related to the request?

Sure. I'll I'll make a few brief comments. So, yeah. So, this site is uniquely different than the other site because it is a corner lot. So, there's two front setbacks. Uh, one from North Berdick Street, one from Martin Street. And then the rear is to the east and to the south where there's an adjacent home that that is considered a side property line. So, um, this variance request will allow the building to be shifted from the original positioning which was closer to the side property line to the south. It it'll shift it further to the north towards Martin Street and the large deciduous tree um that uh was noted by Mr. Clay uh you know staff uh went out there and and took some pictures some additional pictures and put those in um the staff report. You can also see all the staking that was done identifying the uh the footprint of where the the proposed home will go. Um, so you know, so not only is the the mature tree a a special circumstance, but also while looking at this and looking at the uh the uh site layout, um it was noted that the adjacent house to the south is 1 to two feet off the property line. So if this new home is constructed exactly five feet north of that line, it will would would leave somewhere between six and 7 ft between the two structures, which you know, so that was a secondary reason for u staff supporting this request to to shift the

house uh 5t to the north. And then um in addition to that as far as character of the area, the opposite corner of Martin and North Berdick Street um on the north side is um that home is roughly 10 to 12 feet off the Martin Street property line. So, so shifting this proposed home uh 20 ft from the property line on Martin, you know, is not going to be out of character with what's directly across the street on the opposite corner. Um, I think that was Yes, that was all that I wanted to make sure I touched on as far as the staff comments. Thank you.

Thank you. I'll now open the public hearing and invite those to speak in favor. None opposed. None. So, we'll check for calling comments. And we're opening up the line for call-in comments for 102 Martin Street. The line is open. There are no call-inss for this request. Board, is there any further discussion? Any questions? None. Great. Can I get a motion regarding the pending request? Oh, I'm sorry. I just want to get out of here, don't I? [laughter]

Can I get a Can I get a motion for finding effect?

I move that the finding of facts for 102 Martin Street shall include all information included in the notice of public hearing dated November 26, 2025 and the agenda packed staff provided for this request. 59. Notice of public hearing was sent. Zero response were received. No additional documents were were presented. Uh there also was uh [clears throat] no voice messages at the time being. Some of the uh some of the facts that uh we have here is the shadow death at 66 ft are related to special circumstances with footage uh frontage on two public streets and 20 ft utility easement for water and sewer across South Street of the site to extend onto Martin Street. Uh some other things were uh the applicant did not call special circumstance utilities would have to cross the end of the Kovasac to get to the lines on Chrome Street. Also the Orient Orient is going to already reduce the shadow by the developer by additional 5T. This is not normal to have double footage uh frontage lots within the shadow deaf. The back of the house will also align with all other setbacks on the street and there is no adverse effects to any properties in the area. This variance will be con consent with other orients

that we had in the p in the past. And that is it for the finding of the facts. And m Mr. Chair, if I could just add a correction. So, uh, Mr. Mc Reynolds, the the depth, the 66 foot depth that was for the first Martin Street property, 124. So, if we can just, you know, make note to strike the 66- ft depth, the utility easement, um, you know, the the double frontage lot, those three items, the other items as far as the it being set back and being in character with the, you know, the surrounding homes. Um, yeah, that that was all that's all fine. I just wanted to make sure we we had the

right aligned the the right facts since we have two properties on Martins's. Yes. Yes. Okay. Thank you. Can I get a second? I second the act. Thank you. We'll take a voice vote. All in favor? I I I So, can I get a motion regarding the pending request? I make a motion to approve the pending request.

I second. you know th this application, the first one, but especially the second one reminds me of the the challenges of developing in a mature city, right? With mature locations like this with a corner lot with, you know, mature landscaping that you're you're you're trying to at least one particular tree and a non-conforming neighbor who's close to the lot. I mean, it really is challenging to do infill development. So, it's commendable what you're doing. Keep it up. Yeah. The surveying work wasn't uh quite what it is today, you know. Yeah.

100 years ago. Yes. [laughter] So, it's really challenging to make use of these these sites. It's great that you're figuring it out. Yep. And we appreciate that. Yeah. Mr. Eldridge, can I get a roll call? We'll start with Sylvester. Yes. Vanden Hamburgg, yes. Work, yes. Mc Reynolds, yes. Han, yes. The request is approved. I think you're done tonight now, [laughter] right? All right. Congratulations. That's exciting. We appreciate you.

All right. Any other action items? the the only action item we have is I included the meeting schedule for um in the packet and if there's no questions about that schedule um I would like just a voice vote affirming the 2026 meeting schedule. Has everyone reviewed reviewed it? I have. So, I was okay with it. Fine. Yeah. Okay. Can I get a voice vote? All in favor? Yes. I I

Yes. There we go. And we we have affirmed the schedule. And yeah, and it is simply like, you know, it's it's it's always the second Thursday of each month. And then we check the the holiday, you know, where the holidays fall to make sure there's no conflict and then we put it all together as the schedule. So, all right. So, if there's nothing else, we can adjourn this meeting. Okay. All right. Happy holidays. Yes. Yeah.

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Welcome to Calamazoo and you. This is a program where we have conversations with city of Calazoo staff on important issues and topics in the city of Kalamazoo. I'm Mike Smith. I'm the communication manager for the city of Kalamazoo and your host. On this segment, we are talking about the Kalamazoo Foundation for Excellence and its impact on the city of Kalamazoo. And with us to talk about the Foundation for Excellence is Steve Brown. You are the executive director of the Foundation for Excellence. So, welcome to the program. Thanks, Mike. It's a pleasure to be here to talk about the Foundation for Excellence.

Great. A lot of people may have heard about the Foundation for Excellence, but they really don't know what the Foundation for Excellence is. So, talk about what the FFE is and its impact on Kalamazoo. Absolutely. The Foundation for Excellence is a unique nonprofit endowment that was created in 2017 with the mission of lowering the taxes, supporting the city's budget, and funding aspirational projects in the city. It came after years of economic challenges to both the community of Kalamazoo and the municipal government of the city of Kalamazoo. There.