Kalamazoo NFP board reviews midyear projects, discusses applicant guide for stormwater and landscaping

Kalamazoo City—Natural Features Protection (NFP) Review Board on July 22 heard a midyear report from staff that outlined four NFP-approved projects so far in 2025, three administrative approvals and one variance recommendation referred to the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA), and opened a discussion on a draft NFP applicant guide to better steer developers and residents through stormwater and landscaping requirements.

The board—staff liaison, Nolan, told members the board had seen four approved projects in 2025: 1609 Whites Road (Country Club parcel), 2045 East Michigan (city-owned site with pump-house upgrades and a new PFAS treatment structure), 669 Gold Road (Vareberg Park improvements) and 1900 Belford Street (a large split parcel tied to a housing project). Nolan also said staff had issued three administrative approvals this year (interior or non-ground-disturbing work at 251 Mill Street/Growler Stadium, minor landscape adjustments at 500 Golden Drive and equipment upgrades at a cell tower at 3419 South Burdick). He described one variance recommendation (433 Reed Avenue/Reed Court) that was sent to the ZBA because the NFP ordinance prohibits new stormwater BMPs within setbacks to water resources, and the proposal included new shoreline and stormwater work that conflicted with that language.

Nolan said the administrative-approval process now includes a written letter clarifying that scope changes or ground disturbance will require full board review. "If the scope goes beyond what's been approved administratively, you may need to come before the NFP board for full board approval," he said.

Why it matters: board members and staff said inconsistent applicant preparedness and unclear front-end expectations were driving repeated submittals and delaying projects. The board discussed developing a draft NFP guide that would explain the step-by-step development path for applicants, link to regional EGLE (Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy) contacts and permit charts, and offer example deliverables (sample arborist report, woodland assessment examples) so applicants know what to provide at the first submittal.

Discussion highlights and differing views

Board members and attendees stressed a balance between giving applicants usable direction and avoiding prescriptive plant lists that could encourage monocultures. One board member urged caution: providing a fixed list, they said, risks everyone planting the same 5—15 species and creating a monoculture. Another board member emphasized the value of an early, clear path for nonexpert developers: "If I know early enough in the process that I need to hire someone onto my team to make that happen ... that's where I can be successful," a participant said.

Nolan told the board he planned to add an EGLE permit chart and regional contact information to the guide and to bring printed copies of the draft to the August meeting for further discussion. He said the guide is intended to be easier to update than the ordinance.

Public access and agenda/minutes confusion

During public comment, a resident said it had been difficult to locate a meeting or agenda online and observed, "there hasn't been any agenda or meeting minutes since July 21." Nolan acknowledged the confusion likely stemmed from the city's transition to CivicClerk and said staff would update the city's NFP webpage or add a CivicClerk link so agendas and minutes are easier to find.

Board direction and next steps

- Staff will update the NFP page and/or CivicClerk links and work with communications staff on a clearer public notice about meeting date/time and where to find agendas and minutes. - Staff will continue refining the draft NFP applicant guide and bring printed copies and guest speakers (stormwater staff in September; a compliance speaker in August, if available) to future meetings. - Staff reiterated that larger projects should expect to engage professional ecologists, arborists or landscape professionals where appropriate; administrative approvals remain available for interior or non-ground-disturbing work.

Votes at a glance

- Motion to excuse absent members: moved and approved (record shows verbal "aye" vote; individual tallies not provided). - Motion to approve the agenda as presented: moved and approved (verbal "aye"; individual tallies not provided). - Motion to approve minutes of the June 24, 2025 NFP meeting: moved and approved (verbal "aye"; individual tallies not provided).

Ending: The board agreed to continue the unfinished-business work session on the draft guide at future meetings, with staff returning with printed guide drafts and potential guest speakers to clarify stormwater standards and compliance. A brief board announcement noted a community paddle event (Canoe the Kazoo) on July 26; the meeting then adjourned.