Committee members were updated on two site plans under review, including a proposal at the Kalamazoo Country Club near Whites Lake that would remove existing hard surfaces and some buildings, expand or reconfigure an 18th hole and add a comfort station; the natural‑features review board and city staff have asked for more detail on tree removals and slope remediation.

Why it matters: the site falls under the committee’s natural‑features review guidelines, and members said tree removals and slope stabilization techniques could affect erosion, native‑species habitat and long‑term slope stability.

A committee member who reviewed the online materials said staff does not support the site plan "until there is additional justification for some proposed tree removals that fall underneath the NFP guidelines." The member asked for clearer engineering plans showing how utilities would avoid steep slopes and requested details about slope remediation measures, such as the type of erosion blanket and the species planned for replanting. The member also said the proposal appears to convert some existing hard surfaces and buildings on the southeast side of Whites Lake into native vegetation while altering the golf course’s 18th hole layout.

The site plan remains under review on the city website and is scheduled to return to the review board at its next meeting in June. Committee members were encouraged to review the publicly posted plans and submit comments through the city’s site‑plan review portal.

No votes or formal actions were taken by the committee on this update.