KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – There is expected to be an overflow crowd at the next Kalamazoo city commission meeting. It will be at Kalamazoo City Hall, but some special arrangements will have to be made.
On the agenda will be a proposal to rezone land near Asylum Lake Preserve for a carwash. It’s an item that has been proposed before by the owner of the property, Haji Tehrani, without success.
Public hearings on the matter have drawn hundreds to City Hall to object to the rezoning.
City staff was asked to find a bigger venue, but they say they can handle the crowd at City Hall if they allow the public to also call in their comments, provide extra seating, extra TV’s and organize the line of speakers.
City Planner Christina Anderson says setting up the technology for live streaming and call ins might be unreliable in a temporary venue.
“So we know we can do the calling comments because we know its our system, that the stream will be solid and good, two issues that could be rocky in other locations, because they are not in our control.”
She says it is doable, and it won’t cost extra.
“Everyone will have their opportunity to come up, making sure we have accessible spaces, we have the solid stream and we have the calling comments that we can handle the concerns that we have before and have a public hearing where everyone gets heard,” says Anderson.
Resident Tom House thinks they are making a mistake by holding the hearing at City Hall.
“Now this isn’t just about some people standing in line, this is about seeing all of your community members in the same space at the same time. This is about empowerment of the community and good governance.”
Commissioners will be moving the annual presentation of The Social Justice Youth Awards to 6pm and making other agenda changes to accommodate the hearing.
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