City of Kalamazoo - Zoning Board of Appeals - April 9, 2026 Zoning Board of Appeals

Updated about 9 hours ago

The City of Kalamazoo Zoning Board of Appeals convenes to discuss a variance request by the Larry J. Bell Library Foundation. The project involves renovating the former Food Dance building into a library and gallery space. The board deliberates on the necessity of reducing the number of required street-facing entrances from five to three on the North Pitcher Street facade. Despite the complexity of the request, the board unanimously approves the variance. A significant portion of the meeting is dedicated to a debate regarding board member attendance, specifically between members Remy and another member, which leads to a decision to review attendance records in the next meeting. The meeting concludes with an announcement of an upcoming joint training session with the City of Portage Zoning Board of Appeals.

Chapters

Call to Order and Welcome (00:00:09)
The meeting of the City of Kalamazoo Zoning Board of Appeals was called to order, and attendees were welcomed.

The meeting of the City of Kalamazoo Zoning Board of Appeals, a volunteer advisory board appointed by the city commission, was called to order. Attendees were welcomed to the session.
Roll Call (00:00:24)
Roll call was conducted to record attendance of the board members.

Roll call was conducted by the staff. Members present included Mc Reynolds, Brandon Hoberg, Work, Harrington, and Han. Shareholder was noted as absent for the night.
Public Comments Introduction (00:00:49)
Instructions were given for public comments during the meeting.

For each public hearing, public comments would be accepted during the designated times, and community members wishing to provide comments over the phone were instructed on how to do so. A queuing system was explained for phone comments.
Announcements and Changes to Agenda (00:01:27)
Announcements about board reappointments and changes to the meeting agenda were made.

Pete announced that three reappointments were approved for the zoning board, including Gary Work, Alison Hanh, and Jack Urban. A change to the agenda was noted — a case by Plaza Corp was withdrawn and will not be discussed.
Approval of Minutes (00:02:27)
Discussion and approval of the minutes from the last meeting took place, with some clarifications sought.

A discussion ensued about the minutes from the previous meeting. A clarification was requested regarding a nomination and related attendance records. After a lengthy discussion, a motion was made to approve the minutes, which was seconded, and then a voice vote was conducted.
Public Hearing Procedure Explanation (00:09:49)
The procedure for the night's public hearing was explained to the attendees.

The procedure for the public hearing was explained, including the order of speaking, time limits for comments, and the process for closing the public hearing and moving to a finding of fact by the board.
Variance Application Reading (00:10:53)
The application for a variance by the Larry J. Bell Library Foundation was read into the record.

Beth read the application for a variance for provisions of the zoning ordinance by the Larry J. Bell Library Foundation. The request was for a dimensional variance to allow three entrance doors on the street-facing facade where five are required.
Applicant's Presentation (00:12:43)
Larry Bell and architect Michael Flynn presented their case for the variance request.

Larry Bell, president of the Larry J. Bell Library Foundation, and architect Michael Flynn presented their project involving the renovation of the 'Food Dance' building and the addition of a new library and performance center. They explained the need for the variance due to the building's design requirements.
Staff Comments on Variance Request (00:18:37)
Staff provided comments on the variance request, highlighting the unique circumstances.

Staff commented on the variance request, noting the three street frontages and compliance with the form-based standards. The North Pitcher Street side required three street-facing entrances, but due to design and security needs, not all entrances could meet this requirement.
Public Hearing on Variance Request (00:21:41)
The public hearing for the variance request was opened and closed without comments.

The public hearing for the variance request was opened. Attendees were invited to speak in favor or against the request. No public comments or call-ins were received, and the hearing was subsequently closed.
Board Discussion on Variance (00:22:28)
Board members discussed the variance request, seeking clarification on the number of entrances.

Board members discussed the rationale behind the variance request, focusing on the requirement for entrance doors. Clarifications were made regarding the building's design and how it aligns with the form-based standards.
Finding of Fact (00:26:10)
The board conducted a finding of fact to determine the validity of the variance request.

A motion was made for the finding of fact, including all information from the public hearing notice and agenda packet. The board reviewed the unique circumstances of the property and the need for the variance in light of the form-based standards.
Vote on Variance Request (00:31:43)
The board voted to approve the variance request for the Larry J. Bell Library Foundation.

A motion to approve the variance request was made and seconded. Board members expressed their support for the project, noting its alignment with the community's development goals. The roll call vote passed unanimously.
Announcement of Joint Training (00:33:31)
An announcement was made about a joint training session with the City of Portage Zoning Board of Appeals.

Pete announced an upcoming joint training session with the City of Portage Zoning Board of Appeals members. The training is scheduled to take place at the City of Portage City Hall, and members would be sent an email to confirm availability.
Discussion on Zoning Board of Appeals Training (00:34:55)
Announcement of upcoming Zoning Board of Appeals training by Michigan Association of Planning. Emphasized importance of regular training.

The meeting included a discussion about an upcoming training session for the Zoning Board of Appeals, organized by the Michigan Association of Planning. The training will cover the basics of zoning board appeals and provide situational understanding for handling various requests and hardships. It was noted that similar training was beneficial in the past, and there is a realization of the need for more regular training sessions.
Attendance and Representation Discussion (00:35:39)
A discussion about board member attendance and representation, including concerns about public perception and fairness.

The meeting continued with a discussion that became focused on board member attendance and representation concerns. One board member expressed feeling targeted regarding their attendance and contributions, emphasizing the importance of presenting full information to the public. The discussion included assertions of commitment to community service, respect for volunteers, and the challenges of balancing personal emergencies with board duties. The discussion highlighted issues of perception and fairness in public representation.
Adjournment and Next Steps (00:40:12)
The meeting was adjourned with a plan to address attendance concerns with data at the next meeting.

The meeting concluded with the chair suggesting that the discussion on attendance be tabled until the next meeting. It was proposed that city staff prepare an attendance sheet to present data that will help clarify the situation. The idea is to let the data provide an objective view on attendance concerns, and this was agreed upon as the way forward. The meeting was then adjourned.