Zoning board grants six-month extension for food trailer at Lessman's Market

The City of Kalamazoo Zoning Board of Appeals on May 8, 2025 voted 6-0 to grant a six-month extension allowing a food trailer to continue operating in the Lessman's Market parking lot at 121 East Patterson Street while the owner pursues site plan review to make the use permanent.

The extension was requested in a variance application filed under Appendix A, Chapter 4, Section 4.3(j)(7). Applicant Parwanda Singh was represented at the hearing by Inderjit Singh, who told the board the trailer already has approvals from the fire marshal and the health department and asked for six months to complete site plan review. “We got all the license… everything is approval permanently, but only this thing we are pending right now,” Inderjit Singh said.

City planning staff told the board the trailer was placed on the property in January and that city rules allow administrative approval of a food truck or trailer on a commercial parking lot for up to 30 days per calendar year. Staff explained the applicant needs site plan review to become a permanent use and that site plan review takes a minimum of three months. “They’re here tonight to request a…time extension to continue to operate this business for six months while they pursue site plan approval to make it a permanent use on the property,” a planning staff member identified as Pete said.

The applicant submitted four signed letters of support from nearby property owners and customers; the applicant said additional signed letters will be emailed to staff for the record. No in-person speakers or call-in comments opposed the request.

Board members discussed whether the extension was appropriate while site plan review proceeded. Staff and members said the trailer’s operators have been responsive, the site has produced no complaints, and required safety and health approvals were already in place. After discussion the board adopted the required finding of fact and approved the six-month temporary use extension by voice vote; Pete read the roll-call votes as Hahn: yes; McReynolds: yes; Harrington: yes; Hohler: yes; Work: yes; Sylvester: yes.

The extension allows the food trailer to remain while the applicant completes the site plan review process. If and when the site plan review results in permanent approval, the temporary permission would no longer be necessary. Staff advised that site plan review typically requires a minimum of three months and that the temporary-use allowance granted by staff (30 days) is intended for short-term activity only.

The board’s action did not change the property’s zoning classification. The applicant will proceed with site plan review and return to city staff as needed.