[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6124214,"mediaKeyId","2685903-b4051cd8f3b8022b4f5fc107fc1cd9b4","parentId",2685903,"title","ZBA denies 918 Riverview Drive request to sell beer and wine at planned Speedway/7‑Eleven","audioSeconds",1932,"startMs",2946000,"endMs",4878000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2685903-b4051cd8f3b8022b4f5fc107fc1cd9b4&start=2946&end=4878","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2685903-b4051cd8f3b8022b4f5fc107fc1cd9b4/thumbnail_2946000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6124214/Kalamazoo-City/Kalamazoo-County/Michigan/ZBA-denies-918-Riverview-Drive-request-to-sell-beer-and-wine-at-planned-Speedway7Eleven","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6124214-bc114ff6ec682cbb01048d14309c8a29/orig.mp4?Expires=1771168883&Signature=Pi8BOpZ4pLxGmHS2iUA6u~inFQDB02Qs-BEYsrBY2-k8sq-zo2-tD8s4vEIabhpdt5LbHV-zTNSH2WCE22JG2J6mQlpFLMXtZ5-8QO5-Snwpe-lDPj1-cuWC3f9fGfDBN1mWQHb0E64ucNWn4Z1gZrF0sI8YnCDI41Cak-SlNkTOwCt2orpV4Aj4xMztO9W3wpA40aebn1F0J-0vkOx3KUiZNzF34W70xCNMvoRxDhc1qrLTQobHFWdX79nu4LhcO2SDm7Xo01qIawOqj3K4LxEi7nQqQcTVvz4cVB1kXhFeHkq5RyWMAEiz7aMT0gE27XD7AZAXyP2BMHk5PiP8nw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Kalamazoo","date","2025-03-13T00:00:00Z","article","The City of Kalamazoo Zoning Board of Appeals on March 13 denied a variance request that would have allowed beer and wine sales at a planned Speedway-branded 7‑Eleven at 918 Riverview Drive, the former Walgreens site.

The board considered an application from Sesco Incorporated (applicant listed in the public notice) represented at the hearing by Mandy Goss of CESO (applicant representative). The application sought relief from chapter 50-4.41(a) of the zoning ordinance, which requires a 2,640-foot separation between package liquor uses; the applicant asked for a 2,265-foot variance, yielding approximately 375 feet of separation from an existing nearby liquor retailer identified in the record as “13 and a half” liquor store.

Staff and board members noted the separation requirement was adopted by ordinance amendment in 2014 after the city experienced problem concentrations of late-night alcohol sales and related public-safety and nuisance activity. City planning staff said the separation rule applies specifically to certain retail categories (convenience stores, gas stations and liquor stores selling alcoholic beverages for off-site consumption) and does not apply to grocery stores, which are exempt under the code. Staff also noted changes in the code’s grocery-store definition since the Walgreens opened, so a former Walgreens would not meet the current definition.

The applicant, represented by Mandy Goss, said the site previously housed a Walgreens that sold beer, wine and liquor and argued a new convenience store that sells only beer and wine (not hard liquor) would be a lower-impact use that improves options and traffic flow at the corner. Goss described a modern Speedway/7‑Eleven prototype with an interior “beer cave” cooler and a small wine shelf and said state licensing (an SDM license for beer/wine) and hours restrictions (no sales between 2 a.m. and 7 a.m.) would apply.

During discussion, several board members echoed staff concerns that the separation requirement is intended to prevent adjacent alcohol sales that could lead to congregation and nuisance behavior. One member also noted the property will be redeveloped, which makes it difficult to identify a property-based hardship that qualifies for a variance. Another member said the staff report’s findings on criteria 3, 5 and 6 (literal enforcement deprives use; potential adverse effects; consistency with ordinance intent) supported denial.

The motion to approve the variance (for beer and wine sales only, as the applicant requested) failed on a roll-call vote: Hahn — No; McReynolds — Yes; Harrington — No; Holler — No; Wark — No; Vanden Humber — No. The tally was 5 against, 1 in favor; the variance was denied.

The board’s denial prevents the proposed Speedway/7‑Eleven at 918 Riverview Drive from selling beer and wine under the zoning relief requested at this meeting. The applicant may pursue other options consistent with the ordinance and state licensing rules.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","March 13, 2025 Zoning Board of Appeals","oneSentenceSummary","The Zoning Board of Appeals denied a variance request to allow beer-and-wine sales at a planned Speedway-branded 7‑Eleven at the former Walgreens site at 918 Riverview Drive, citing the city's separation rules meant to reduce nuisance concentrations of off-site alcohol sales.","taxTitle","Kalamazoo City, Kalamazoo County, Michigan","taxId",3977,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6124219,"Kalamazoo ZBA vote fails to reopen West Michigan Avenue variance; original approval stands",2584,327000,2911000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2685903-b4051cd8f3b8022b4f5fc107fc1cd9b4&start=327&end=2911","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2685903-b4051cd8f3b8022b4f5fc107fc1cd9b4/thumbnail_327000.jpg","/articles/6124219/Kalamazoo-City/Kalamazoo-County/Michigan/Kalamazoo-ZBA-vote-fails-to-reopen-West-Michigan-Avenue-variance-original-approval-stands","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6124219-8065a40542ab87af9f4f4161ac256540/orig.mp4?Expires=1771168883&Signature=kNMUVxqzYYVf0qdEf1egfnKLSA8KovR-mLVgZwaVB99~g3eDUNkHprKjHEvp2WIqf3Fzgy9cYiKZMMxMXQ1RhnnbfigMlm~izl7h-jzO~STVYKLtNasSjY4ERtiBC5OCrVdmeDtYyui7j9feEFVqfpRetBcgpSdfuLacV1ovxGxRNvHczCQjvNKlmjQfIClrI2JmC93BQwMLF3rZV9K4LW~HEE2Gc18sPHxSItzDJIKlshlwIrbIXMbV9P6Rzj1qgDKUNXeKZlBDuGXc3T7A5wYOAsSfJaXI2czTKWU4by5YLWsciIIRKYhs9BiFd2qnLX60VxzNspRNvaotI1fsUg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The City of Kalamazoo Zoning Board of Appeals on March 13 voted 3-3 against reopening its recent approval of a dimensional variance for a West Michigan Avenue housing project, leaving the earlier 4-2 approval in force.

The motion to reconsider was made by board member Miss Harrington and seconded by Chair Holler. Attorney comments and extended board debate followed. After roll-call, the motion failed with yes votes from McReynolds, Harrington and Holler and no votes from Wark, Vanden Humber and Hahn.

Board members spent more than 20 minutes debating whether the circumstances that led to the original vote constituted a procedural defect, a hastily made decision or a new factual basis for reconsideration. Attorney Baer (city attorney) and city staff member Pete explained the procedural standard: a motion to reconsider reopens the prior question for full rehearing only if the board determines the original action was hasty, ill-advised or procedurally defective. Baer summarized that the motion “proposes no specific change in the decision. It only proposes that the main motion be reopened.”

Miss Harrington said she initially supported the variance to help advance affordable housing but later concluded the request represented a “self-imposed restriction” and that granting the variance would set a precedent inconsistent with standards the board must apply. She told the board she would vote to keep the reconsideration motion alive so she could continue to oppose the underlying variance on final consideration.

Board member McReynolds, who voted to reopen, cited concerns about whether the findings met the variance criteria. Other members, including Chair Holler and long-serving members, stressed they must apply the board’s review criteria and noted differing views can reflect honest judgments rather than procedural error.

Attorney Baer and staff clarified that the motion to reconsider had been properly submitted in writing, seconded, and noticed in advance per the board’s rules of procedure and that Robert’s Rules of Order governs the mechanics of reopening a question. The board’s roll-call vote produced a 3-3 split; under the board’s rules a tie does not carry, so the motion failed and the earlier approval remains effective.

The board then moved on to the next agenda item. The transcript shows no further action on the West Michigan Avenue item at this meeting.

The decision leaves the prior finding and approval intact; the record in the minutes will reflect the failed motion to reconsider and the standing approval.","A 3-3 tie defeated a motion to reconsider a previously approved dimensional variance for a West Michigan Avenue development, leaving the board's earlier 4-2 approval intact.","actionData","errors"]

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ZBA denies 918 Riverview Drive request to sell beer and wine at planned Speedway/7‑Eleven

Kalamazoo ZBA vote fails to reopen West Michigan Avenue variance; original approval stands