Petition urges city to buy controversial property near Asylum Lake
A Kalamazoo resident is asking the Kalamazoo City Commission to end the potential for a car wash to be built next to the Asylum Lake nature preserve by purchasing the property. Using a commission procedural rule, it’s on the agenda for tonight’s city commission meeting at 7 p.m. at city hall.
On Nov. 6, the Planning Commission opposed a rezoning of the property at the corner of Stadium Drive and Drake Road to allow for a car wash or other commercial construction. Opponents said both the construction on the property and the operation of a car wash would pose a risk of erosion and contamination that would harm the preserve. There have been multiple attempts by the property owner, Haji Tehrani, the president and CEO of Drive & Shine Car Wash, to get the property rezoned. It still could be approved by the full commission, though it is not on the agenda.
Last week, Kalamazoo resident Zachary Lassiter initiated a public petition and has gotten a resolution on the commission’s agenda. It cites previous city government resolutions and other actions in support of “environmental stewardship, climate action, and natural resource protection” as justification to protect the land from development that could be counter to those stated prerogatives. The resolution asks the commission to purchase the property from the current owner and, if a deal isn’t reached, to begin eminent domain proceedings. It’s unclear whether the commission will vote on this resolution on Nov. 17.
KPS truancy efforts showing results
Attendance has been a big problem for Kalamazoo Public Schools, but its aggressive approach to addressing the problem over the past two years is paying off. A big part of that is the district’s “knock and talk” strategy, which sends district officials out to talk face-to-face with the families of students who are chronically absent. “About 40% of families answer the door,” said Director of Student Services Dr. Lisa Dewey. “Some were a bit hesitant and we left materials if they weren’t available to have conversation in that moment.”…