Planning Commission recommends approval of 2027 Capital Improvement Plan, 7–0

Recommendation of the 2027 Capital Improvement Plan

7 yes, 0 no

Zack Wilson (yes), Michelle Audette-Bauman (yes), Drew Duncan (yes), Mitchell Curtiss (yes), Wendell Tolber (yes), Diego Sandoval (yes), Sakhi Vyas (yes)

Special Use Permit #2026.07 — rooming/boarding house at 613 Pearl Street

8 yes, 0 no

Sakhi Vyas (yes), Drew Duncan (yes), Mitchell Curtiss (yes), Wendell Tolber (yes), Zack Wilson (yes), Michelle Audette-Bauman (yes), Roland Bissonnette (yes), Diego Sandoval (yes)

Adoption of the formal agenda

9 yes, 0 no

Approval of the October 1, 2026 meeting minutes

9 yes, 0 no

#20206.07 — Rooming/Boarding House, 613 Pearl Street

613 Pearl Street, Kalamazoo, MI

Joshua Staple asked to convert an existing 1906 five-bedroom house into a rooming house renting rooms to one adult each — aimed at traveling nurses staying three to twelve months.

approved (9-0) · still approved

Rooming/boarding house at 613 Pearl Street

The unanimous approval of a rooming house at 613 Pearl Street reignited questions about how many special-use rooming and boarding houses Vine can absorb before they stop being special. Commissioners asked staff to review the last decade of special use permits and consider whether the use should be evaluated in the new master plan.

What it means: The property owner gains a new rental market, and traveling workers get more home-like housing options.

2027 Capital Improvement Plan review

About $134 million in 2027 projects include two-way conversions on West Main and Douglas, 32+ paving projects over five years, and stormwater relief in the Northside. City Engineer James Baker explained 65% of local streets are in poor condition due to years of deferred maintenance and flat gas-tax funding while construction costs climbed to about $5 million per mile.

What it means: All residents benefit from better streets, safer water, and flood-relief drainage in the Northside.

Imagine Kalamazoo 2035 board input questioned

The city is two years into community engagement for its next 10-year master plan. A draft implementation table and future land use plan come out before late winter, with Planning Commission review starting in January — and commissioners flagged transit expansion and green building standards as topics they want included.

What it means: Residents who participated in the two-year engagement will see their priorities shape land use, housing, and transportation policy for a decade.