By Bruce Rolfe
A group of Charleston Township residents have launched a petition drive to put the Township Board’s September 22, 2026 approval of Interstate Capital’s rezoning request to the voters, according to a release from the group.
The Charleston Township Board authorized its attorney to prepare a re-zoning ordinance and conditional re-zoning agreement with Interstate Capital to rezone 51.69 acres of land from Ag-2 to I-1 at its regular meeting September 22, and then the Board unanimously approved both at its regular meeting October 27.
While the board approved the re-zoning ordinance and conditional re-zoning agreement, there is an opportunity for a referendum, which would allow the voters in the township to approve or reject the re-zoning ordinance.
According to Michigan Law, a registered voter must submit a “notice of intent” within seven days of the zoning ordinance publication.
The Township plans to have the two approved items published in the November 6, 2026 Climax Crescent.
The ordinance will go into effect eight days after publication.
According to Kalamazoo County Chief Deputy Clerk/Register John Curran a referendum petition would require valid signatures equal to at least 15% of the total votes cast in Charleston Township for all candidates for governor at the last gubernatorial general election, which was November 8, 2022. He said county records show 1,045 votes were cast for governor in Charleston Township in 2022, which would make the threshold 157 valid signatures.
Organizers of the petition drive state in a release they aim to collect about 200 valid signatures.
Numerous residents from the Lakeview Meadows subdivision adjacent to the proposed development have voiced concern and have opposed the re-zoning plan for months.
The release from the group states homeowners from 26 of Lakeview Meadows’ 40 homes objected to the rezoning in person and in writing. The release adds fifty-three residents signed a petition delivered to the Board in May, and the association’s board voted unanimously against the request. The release notes LV Development LLC, owned by the Roelof and Collver families, also opposes it. LV Development owns the platted and approved next phase of Lakeview Meadows, which borders the site according to the release.
The group states in its release approving the re-zoning plan clears the way for up to 1.5 million square feet of speculative warehouse space and feels the re-zoning plan does not align with the 2023-2033 Master Plan.
“The Master Plan isn’t a suggestion box. It says industrial growth belongs on land already zoned for it. Nothing has changed since that plan was adopted, except that a developer wants this land. If Interstate Capital wants to build, it can build on the 80 acres already zoned industrial,” said Mike Morell, president of the Lakeview Meadows Association of Kalamazoo County.
Interstate Capital plans to develop two structures to a maximum of 750,000 square feet each. The buildings would be constructed in phases.
Interstate Capital would like to develop the two structures primarily on the parcel already zoned light industrial near the corner of L and 40th Street. However because there are existing gas and electrical lines cutting through the property, the company says rezoning a portion of the second parcel to light industrial, is needed to make the structures economically viable.
Curran adds Michigan Election Law provides three regular election dates each year. He said the next available dates following the November 3, 2026 election are May 4, 2027, August 3, 2027 and November 2, 2027.
He adds whether a particular referendum qualifies for one of these dates depends on applicable filing and ballot certification deadlines.
A group of Charleston Township residents have launched a petition drive to put the Township Board’s September 22, 2026 approval of Interstate Capital’s rezoning request to the voters, according to a release from the group.
The Charleston Township Board authorized its attorney to prepare a re-zoning ordinance and conditional re-zoning agreement with Interstate Capital to rezone 51.69 acres of land from Ag-2 to I-1 at its regular meeting September 22, and then the Board unanimously approved both at its regular meeting October 27.
While the board approved the re-zoning ordinance and conditional re-zoning agreement, there is an opportunity for a referendum, which would allow the voters in the township to approve or reject the re-zoning ordinance.
According to Michigan Law, a registered voter must submit a “notice of intent” within seven days of the zoning ordinance publication.
The Township plans to have the two approved items published in the November 6, 2026 Climax Crescent.
The ordinance will go into effect eight days after publication.
According to Kalamazoo County Chief Deputy Clerk/Register John Curran a referendum petition would require valid signatures equal to at least 15% of the total votes cast in Charleston Township for all candidates for governor at the last gubernatorial general election, which was November 8, 2022. He said county records show 1,045 votes were cast for governor in Charleston Township in 2022, which would make the threshold 157 valid signatures.
Organizers of the petition drive state in a release they aim to collect about 200 valid signatures.
Numerous residents from the Lakeview Meadows subdivision adjacent to the proposed development have voiced concern and have opposed the re-zoning plan for months.
The release from the group states homeowners from 26 of Lakeview Meadows’ 40 homes objected to the rezoning in person and in writing. The release adds fifty-three residents signed a petition delivered to the Board in May, and the association’s board voted unanimously against the request. The release notes LV Development LLC, owned by the Roelof and Collver families, also opposes it. LV Development owns the platted and approved next phase of Lakeview Meadows, which borders the site according to the release.
The group states in its release approving the re-zoning plan clears the way for up to 1.5 million square feet of speculative warehouse space and feels the re-zoning plan does not align with the 2023-2033 Master Plan.
“The Master Plan isn’t a suggestion box. It says industrial growth belongs on land already zoned for it. Nothing has changed since that plan was adopted, except that a developer wants this land. If Interstate Capital wants to build, it can build on the 80 acres already zoned industrial,” said Mike Morell, president of the Lakeview Meadows Association of Kalamazoo County.
Interstate Capital plans to develop two structures to a maximum of 750,000 square feet each. The buildings would be constructed in phases.
Interstate Capital would like to develop the two structures primarily on the parcel already zoned light industrial near the corner of L and 40th Street. However because there are existing gas and electrical lines cutting through the property, the company says rezoning a portion of the second parcel to light industrial, is needed to make the structures economically viable.
Curran adds Michigan Election Law provides three regular election dates each year. He said the next available dates following the November 3, 2026 election are May 4, 2027, August 3, 2027 and November 2, 2027.
He adds whether a particular referendum qualifies for one of these dates depends on applicable filing and ballot certification deadlines.
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