Kalamazoo Development Process Overview

The City of Kalamazoo held a webinar on March 19, 2025, to provide an overview of updates to its development process aimed at streamlining project approvals. The discussion focused on reorganizing the development workflow into three stages: pre-development, site plan review, and permits and occupancy. A new role, the Development Administrator, was introduced to serve as a single point of contact during the pre-development phase, helping applicants navigate zoning, incentives, and internal coordination. Changes to the site plan review process include replacing the pre-site plan meeting with a checklist meeting that does not require plans, intended to reduce review times and improve efficiency. The city also highlighted staffing improvements, such as adding inspectors and administrators to support the permitting stage. The webinar emphasized improved customer service, clearer project pathways, and ongoing engagement with the development community to refine the process. No specific contract awards or procurement decisions were discussed during the meeting.