KALAMAZOO COUNTY, MI — A 48-unit condo development northeast of the Stadium Drive/9th Street intersection could be on the way to the west side of Kalamazoo County.
If approved, Sunset Pointe Condominiums would consist of a total of 48 units, with two units each inside two dozen, separate 4,250-square-foot duplex condominium buildings. In addition to the residences — each of which would have its own attached two-car garage and driveway space for a third vehicle — there would be a clubhouse, community pool, associated parking lot and a pedestrian trail system.
The development, a project of Carlson Realtors and Development in Kalamazoo, is being proposed to be built on 17.5 acres that, at present, are predominantly wooded and possesses no existing structures. The applicant is also proposing to utilize 20% of the site as open space.
Located just north of Stadium Drive, the land abuts properties along Sunset Road and Meridian Avenue, as well as Ninth and Wildemere streets, according to Oshtemo Township planning documents.
Currently in a conceptual review phase, developers brought the project in front of the Oshtemo Township Planning Commission Thursday, seeking feedback from the commission and community members. No action was taken on the proposal at the meeting.
Of the eight community members who came to the podium on Sept. 22 — all of whom lived on neighboring properties — each raised concerns with an increase in traffic in the area, and most stated they did not wish to see a development of that size break ground on an area that is filled with wildlife and old growth.
Lisa Augustyniak, who lives on South 9th Street, would have her northern property line abut to three condominiums in the development, and despite being told there would be a 35-foot buffer of trees between her land and the proposed condominiums, she questioned if that was enough.
“We have livestock out there,” she said. “My horse pasture would be bordering this (development) that is proposed. How are we going to ensure that the setbacks are enough?”
Other residents — including Brian Himmelein, and Joshua and Tricia Jackson, all of whom live on Sunset Road — spoke to concerns about losing the natural habitat their properties currently back up to, as well as their road serving as an access point to the proposed development.
“That was all nice wooded property with lots of wildlife in there and now it’s going to be all cleared out and we’re going to be left looking at condos,” said Himmelein, adding that he was concerned specifically about the fact the proposed clubhouse was right behind his property.
Himmelein also took issue with the condition of the road he lives on and lack of maintenance it has received in the two decades he has lived there, stating that he felt if a new development went it should have its own road to connect to Stadium and not use existing roads that are in dire need of repair.
“One of the main reasons we bought (our house) was the wildlife and the trees that surround our property,” Tricia Jackson said, adding that she was also concerned residents would be asked to foot the bill for putting sewer lines on their road to connect the condo development to the line on Stadium.
The township has been attempting to connect residents in the area to the sewer line, but an ongoing legal battle has stalled the process. Public water and sanitary sewer are expected to be provided as part of the development, according to planning documents.
“When I first heard about this, the main thing I thought about was another 400 (vehicle) trips on Stadium and 9th, and when I drove down that road that day, I thought it can’t handle it,” said Planning Commission Vice Chair Micki Maxwell, who echoed the concerns of all of the residents who spoke, many who said they had difficulty turning out of their subdivisions onto Stadium as it is.
Township board member Kizzy Bradford, who serves as a liaison on the planning commission, said the community and board need to work together to find a happy medium and address some of the issues raised, specifically traffic issues, but stressed the need for housing in the area.
“We need to be looking for a happy medium,” Bradford said. “We have a lot of residents in our community who need housing ... We have people who need affordable, and people who just need housing period, people who are still looking for and searching for a place to live.”
Initial plans for the development called for a third phase that would add an additional nine buildings and 18 units, but zoning requirements call for a second access point if there are more than 50 units being built. That prompted developers to change their initial plan of attack, project engineer Dan Lewis said.
“Our property doesn’t touch two right-of-ways, so we can’t get a secondary access point right now,” Lewis said. “Phase three will come back to you and be a totally separate project. We can’t do phase three until someone develops around us and a second road touches our property.”
Former Oshtemo Township board member Philip Hassing, who has lived in his adjacent property for almost 40 years, questioned whether the project can even undergo the initial phases being proposed. Hassing stated that he does not recall the property in question ever being rezoned for R-2, which would allow for the duplex condominiums, and that he recalled it being zoned as deed-restricted for single-family builds only.
Township attorney James Porter said the issue was being looked into.
“When I purchased my property, I was told (that) could never be developed next to me,” said Brenda Schuur, who lives on Meridian Avenue, right next to where two duplexes would go. “But, here we go.
“And it wouldn’t be so bad, but it’s such a large project, and that’s so many people that you are adding to the area in our small little community.”
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