Zoning board approves Kwik Trip parking variance for East Cork Street site

The City of Kalamazoo Zoning Board of Appeals approved a dimensional variance allowing Kwik Trip Corporation to provide 49 off‑street parking spaces at a proposed convenience store and fuel station at 3810 East Cork Street.

Gabriel Longoria, a real‑estate project manager for Kwik Trip, told the board the 6,445‑square‑foot store footprint and full kitchen produce more customer trips than a typical gas station convenience store and said the additional nine spaces will prevent circulation that could create pedestrian hazards. "Fifty parking spaces is what is optimal in order to ensure that everybody during peak hours ... is able to find a parking spot and doesn't have to circulate the lot, which would then cause congestion and provide, or bring about very hazardous conditions for our pedestrians and employees," Longoria said.

City staff noted the site’s history as a truck stop with roughly 219 existing spaces and said the proposal would reduce impervious coverage considerably compared with the previous use. Pete, a planning staff member, said the concept layout brings the parcel closer to current zoning standards apart from the requested parking variance and that staff worked with the applicant on interior landscaping and other requirements.

No in‑person or call‑in public comments were received for the case. After adopting findings of fact, the board voted to grant the variance by voice vote; the chair announced the motion carried 6–0. The chair reminded the applicant that additional approvals remain — a special use permit and site‑plan review — before construction.

The board’s action authorizes the requested deviation from the numerical parking limit in the zoning ordinance; it does not change the site’s zoning classification.

Next steps: the applicant will pursue the special use permit and site plan review required for a gasoline station and convenience store. If those reviews proceed on schedule, the site will return to planning staff and the planning commission for technical approvals.