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Join Our Consensus Study Committees

League of Women Voters of Kalamazoo Area PoliciesAt its Annual Meeting held on June 12, 2022, the LWVN membership approved the formation of a Consensus Study Committee to update it’s zoning positions. This will be an intensive study of local zoning, and will be conducted in four stages:  research and study; consensus meetings; preparation of a study report; and determination if an existing position should be revised or deleted, or if a new position is warranted and development of that position.

We are inviting all members to join us in the conduct of this study.  There are lots of opportunities to participate, on whatever level and devoting as much time as you are comfortable with.

City of Gastonia - Applications and PermitsThe study will be focusing on five key areas:

  • review of Newton’s Comprehensive Plan
  • examination of current zoning techniques
  • examination of zoning ordinances that affect housing
  • reevaluation of our support for historic districts
  • examination of transportation goals

Anyone interested in participating should fill out this Form, letting us know what you are interested in and how much time you have to participate.  A LWVN Board member will get back to you with further details.

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LWVN Supports West Newton Armory Project

On January 9, 2023, LWVN sent a letter to the Zoning Board expressing its support for Metro West Collaborative Development Inc.’s request for a Comprehensive Permit, pursuant to M.G.L. Chapter 40B, to redevelop the West Newton Armory into a 100% affordable development with 43 affordable residential rental units, community space, office space, and 33 parking stalls.

Support of this request is in alignment with Newton’s Comprehensive Plan and LWV values and positions.  Given the City’s need for these units, we think that approval of this project should not be delayed and we urge timely approval of this Comprehensive Permit.

You can read the entirety of LWVN’s letter below.

West Newton Armory Project

LWVN Supports Updates to Accessory Apartment Ordinance

On October 13, 2022, LWVN sent a letter to the City Council expressing its support for proposed updates to the Accessory Apartment Ordinance.  These changes will amend the Accessory Apartment Ordinance originally adopted in December 2017, which allows homeowners to create an accessory apartment, as of right, within the main residence.

The proposed updates are primarily intended to address the two things that were not adopted five years ago by allowing:
1. The building of detached accessory apartments, by-right, up to 900 sf in size (these will continue to conform with other rules for accessory buildings).
2. The creation of an accessory apartment in a newly built home, thus eliminating the requirement that the main residence be at least four years old before an accessory apartment can be built.

You can read the entirety of LWVN’s letter below.

LWVN Letter in Support of Changes to Accessory Apartments

LWVN Joins U-CHAN on Follow-Up Petition to the Mayor Regarding the Use of ARPA Funds for Housing Needs

On April 22, 2022, LWVN wrote to the Mayor to join U-CHAN (Uniting Citizens for Housing Affordability in Newton) in recommending that the Mayor (i) set aside of $10 million in ARPA funds as a grant to non-profit developers to purchase site(s) and/or buildings that have the potential to provide no less than 12 units of housing, most of which should be for families with annual incomes below 30% of AMI, and (ii) allocate a multi-year grant of $1 million to a Newton community-based organization with a goal to create a program to deliver comprehensive services to individual households facing instability.

In September, as a follow-up to LWVN’s April letter, LWVN joined a number of non-profits, including a number of Newton non-profits and over 50 individuals who signed U-CHAN’s follow-up petition to the Mayor.

These recommendations are aligned with LWV national, state and local positions supporting programs and policies that meet basic human needs and address affordable housing needs.

Read the entirety of the letter below:

Follow-Up Petition on Use of ARPA Funds

Women’s Inequality Day – August 26

August 26, the anniversary of the certification of the 19th amendment, is often known as Women’s Equality Day.  Yet with our voting and reproductive rights under attack, women are still not equal in our democracy.

This year, LWV is observing Women’s Inequality Day and demanding that our representatives:

1. Pass voting rights legislation;

2. Add the Equal Rights Amendment to the Constitution; and

3. Restore reproductive freedom to women and those who can become pregnant.

Join us in taking a stand and sharing #WomensInequalityDay across your social networks.

We may not yet be equal, but together we can’t be ignored.

LWVN Affiliates with Our Homes, Our Votes

The Board of the LWVN voted to join as an affiliate with Our Homes, Our Votes, a campaign under the umbrella of the National Low Income Housing Coalition.  The Our Homes, Our Votes campaign provides various tools to assist organizations working to engage low-income renters in the upcoming elections.

Joining the coalition of organizations affiliated with Our Homes, Our Votes helps promote the goals of the LWV and is in accordance with the LWVN’s Coalition Policy.

Read the letter dated August 3, 2022, from President Marcia Johnson, informing the Board of the action taken to formally affiliate with Our Homes, Our Votes and why that action aligns with the positions of the LWVN on housing and voting rights.

LWVN Joins with Our Homes Our Votes Action