Jurisdictions • Zoning • Master Plan
Kalamazoo County is divided into 24 local jurisdictions. These include 4
cities, 3 villages, and 17 townships. All land developments within each jurisdiction
are controlled by that jurisdiction. Click
here for contact information for each of the local jurisdictions.
Understanding the kind of jurisdiction in which the property of interest is located matters because each jurisdictional type has lightly different rules and resources. While all have citizen boards and commissions whose functions are to make land use decisions within the jurisdiction, a few of the jurisdictions (Kalamazoo City, Portage, and Oshtemo Township) and the county also have full-time professional planners on staff.
Zoning
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Zoning creates classifications of land uses. All land within the county is zoned for some use. Typical zoning classifications are commercial, office, industrial, residential, agricultural, and mixed use. Each of these classifications will have sub-categories. For example, residential can be low density, medium density or high density. Each jurisdiction will have special conditions attached to each of these zoning classifications and associated sub-categories. For example, a jurisdiction might have setbacks (how far a building is from the edge of the property line), height restrictions, or landscaping requirements that differ for each classification and sub-category. Never assume that one jurisdiction's zoning specifications is the same as another, even if the classification name is the same. Zoning ordinances are available for purchase or perusal at each of the city, village or township hall. Some are available on the particular jurisdictions websites. For a description of types of ordinances, and specifics about ordinances in some jurisdictions, click here.
Zoning ordinances are laws that must be obeyed. A property owner in a residentially zoned area, for example, cannot build a commercial use on his or her land unless that use is specifically allowed in that residential area.
Some jurisdictions (e.g. the City of Kalamazoo) have special uses within each zoning category. Special uses are allowed by right as long additional restrictions are met. For example, a church can locate in a single-family residential neighborhood if it meets certain restrictions according to local governmental officials.
Other reasons that an existing use may be counter to the zoning classification for that property:
Master Plans & Future Land Use Maps
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Master Plans. All jurisdictions in the county do master plans. A master or comprehensive plan describes how the jurisdiction's residents want the jurisdiction to change and grow over a 10-30 year time horizon. The main emphasis is usually on land use, although a master plan may also contain plans for infrastructure, employment and quality of life, or other issues that the jurisdictions considers important to address.
Future Land Use Map. The jurisdictions' land use plans are summarized in future land use maps, developed as part of the master plan. Future land use maps use the same general categories of land uses as are contained in zoning codes. These maps show how the jurisdiction's zoning should change over time if the master plan is to be realized. For instance, land currently zoned industrial might be slated for a new park in the master plan. A future land use map would designate this land as a park or recreational space. Because they have the force of law, decisions about zoning changes have to be consistent with future land use maps. It is important to keep in mind, however, that current zoning ordinances may allow uses that conflict with future plans. Yet, these uses are legally consistent with the plans because plans deal with broad categories of uses, not sub-categories. Jurisdictions that continually update their future land use maps when zoning changes are made and that update their zoning ordinances as future plans are made are most likely to have consistency between their current zoning and future land use plans.
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