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ZBA approves most variances for proposed Kalamazoo County youth sports facility; woodland reduction fails
Summary
Discover Kalamazoo sought five variances for a proposed 150,000 sq ft youth sports complex at 1619 N. Drake Rd.; the board approved four variances (slope encroachment with NFP conditions, building height, impervious coverage, reduced bike parking) and denied the request to reduce woodland preservation from 25% to 13.5% after extended public comment and debate.
The City of Kalamazoo Zoning Board of Appeals heard a multi‑hour public hearing and decided on a package of variances for a proposed Kalamazoo County youth sports facility at 1619 North Drake Road.
Discover Kalamazoo presented the project as a 150,000‑square‑foot regional sports complex intended to host tournaments and generate hotel stays. Jane Ghosh, president and CEO of Discover Kalamazoo, said the project would be financed through the Event Center Financing Act — an incremental 4% assessment on accommodations approved by hotel owners — and cited an estimate of up to 36,000 incremental hotel room nights per year. "Once that passed, well, what that means then is that local youth are gonna benefit from the visitor economy," Ghosh said.
The applicant requested five variances: (1) to encroach into protected slopes under the Natural Features Protection (NFP) ordinance, (2) to reduce woodland preservation to 13.5% (from 25%), (3) to allow a 56‑foot building…
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