The City of Kalamazoo Zoning Board of Appeals on Sept. 11, 2025 approved two variances allowing Flowers Automotive Recyclers to operate an automotive recycling and disassembly operation on roughly 1.2 acres along East Crosstown Parkway and adjacent parcels, subject to staff-recommended conditions.

The board first adopted a finding of fact and then voted to grant a use variance (6-0) and a dimensional variance (6-0) from zoning requirements that would otherwise restrict scrap-and-salvage operations to the M-2 manufacturing district and require a minimum lot size of 2 acres for that use. The approvals permit the use in the site's M-1 (light manufacturing) zoning district and allow the operation on the combined 1.2-acre parcel.

Owner Ronald Flowers described his business as an automotive recycling operation that disassembles end-of-life vehicles on a short cycle and stores valuable parts inside a building rather than functioning as a traditional outdoor salvage yard. Flowers said vehicles are on site for about seven days and components are stored indoors; he told the board he has worked with state regulators and local partners including EGLE (the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy), the Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center, Northern Initiatives, and the Kalamazoo County Brownfield Authority to develop containment and compliance measures.

Planning staff said they initially viewed the business as falling under the city's broad scrap-and-salvage definition because it accepts inoperable vehicles and disassembles them, but staff supported the variance request after a site visit and review of the applicant's proposed operations. Staff recommended two conditions the board adopted: all disassembly and removal of automotive components must occur inside the building, and outdoor storage of inoperable vehicles is limited to the two vehicle-storage locations shown on the concept plan. Staff noted the approved site plan will record those limitations and will be used in any subsequent enforcement actions.

The board's finding of fact noted that 46 public-notice mailings were sent and that the city received one written comment (an email from Rushmore Auto Body) regarding the application. Board members asked clarifying questions about how Flowers' operation would differ from typical salvage yards and auto-parts yards; Flowers emphasized that the business is focused on recycling for remanufacturing and projected the business could create 15 to 20 jobs.

The board took three separate formal votes: adoption of the finding of fact, approval of the use variance with the two staff conditions, and approval of the dimensional variance to allow the operation on 1.2 acres rather than the 2-acre minimum for scrap-and-salvage operations. Each motion carried 6-0. Members voting yes in the roll-call were Harrington, Hahn, Urban, Sylvester, Wark and Hohler.

Next steps: the applicant must complete site-plan review and demonstrate compliance with the conditions (including required screening/fencing for vehicle storage areas) and any EGLE or Brownfield remediation requirements before full operation.