Public Comment on Conservation and Green Space Zoning at Environmental Concerns Committee Meeting

On 9/16/26, ALPA board member Tom Howes delivered a public comment to the Environmental Concerns Committee (ECC) on ALPA’s proposal for conservation and green-space zoning districts. In ALPA’s comment, Howes responded to concerns the Planning Commission had raised just a few weeks earlier. Among the concerns was a claim that one of ALPA’s environmental ordinance examples (yet to be identified by city staff) from another city had actually been repealed. An ECC member responded after public comments, identifying the repealed ordinance for ALPA. Howes returned later in the meeting to clarify that the repealed ordinance, though similar in name, was actually different than the still-active example in ALPA’s proposal letter.

The conversation on the proposal for new green zoning districts later continued with a dynamic exchange (see second video) between the ECC board and City Planner Christina Anderson. This meeting was also covered in an article by the Public Media Network.

Public Comment on Conservation and Green Space Zoning at City Commission Meeting

On 9/8/26, ALPA board member Tom Howes delivers a public comment on ALPA’s proposed conservation and green space zoning districts to the City Commission. Howes introduced the proposal, ALPA’s goals, and then requested that the City Commission instruct Kalamazoo City Planning to act now.

Denied: Commercial Rezone Request for 4301 Stadium Dr.

Dozen’s of public comments in opposition to rezoning resulted in the City Commission voting unanimously to deny the proposed commercial rezoning request for the intersection of Stadium and Drake, adjacent to the Preserve. In the video below, ALPA delivers a five-part public comment in opposition to rezoning. Just before ALPA begins their comment, several other current and past ALPA members speak on the issue as well.

(MLive coverage) (WMUK coverage) (City Commission meeting on youtube). 

We're so grateful to all who submitted well-researched statements and stood up to give personal and organizational testimonies against the proposed change. 

ALPA Board Member, Wendy Denning giving public comment. Other board members in background, wearing green ALPA t-shirts (from left to right: Tom Howes, Dok Stevens, Judy Huxmann). ALPA volunteers and community members in line and crowd.