KALAMZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — After a delay caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, neighborhood planning in Kalamazoo’s Stuart Neighborhood is nearing the finish line. And city officials say that a draft neighborhood plan is now available for public review and comment.
They went onto say that neighborhood planning in Stuart started before the pandemic but was significantly delayed because of it. The process resumed in the spring of 2022 with a series of events, a survey, and a walking audit of the neighborhood.
Officials say feedback captured from those events helped shape the plan’s six goals, along with strategies and projects to achieve them. The top priorities include repairing sidewalks and streets, slowing traffic, improving lighting, promoting historic preservation, and supporting the Woodward School.
Stuart Neighborhood Association President Gary Wark said, “The plan was a long time in the making! We engaged in many community outreach events to collect feedback from our residents.”
The plan is available for review online here.
Copies of the draft plan are also available at the Stuart Neighborhood office at 530 Douglas Avenue and at the City’s Community Planning & Economic Development Offices at 245 N Rose Street, Suite 100.
Comments and feedback can be shared directly with the City’s Neighborhood Activator, Jae Slaby, by email at slabyj@kalamazoocity.org.
Community members can also share feedback by calling 311. Comments provided to 311 will be recorded and shared with the planning team.
Neighborhood residents are invited to review the plan and share feedback before Tuesday, April 4.
The Stuart Neighborhood Plan is scheduled to be presented to the Planning Commission for review at its May 4 meeting. If recommended for approval, it would be presented to City Commission for final adoption.
