Black-eyed susan at Colony Farm Orchard, a protected site in Oshtemo Township threatened by expansion of the WMU business park

Here are a few items related to Western Michigan University’s efforts, via Representative Robert Jones, to strip the open space/public park/recreation restriction from the Colony Farm Orchard.  This property in Oshtemo Township across Drake Road from the Asylum Lake Preserve would then be sold off as lots in an expansion of the WMU Business Park.  Currently the Business Park is located on land south of Parkview Avenue across from the Asylum Lake Preserve. Here is the language of the restriction that would be dropped:

The conveyance shall provide that Western Michigan University may utilize the property solely for public park, recreation, or open space purposes, except that the legislature, by statute, may authorize Western Michigan University to utilize the property for some other public purpose.

• A Letter to the Editor of the Western Herald from me was posted at the Herald’s website on 7 September.  There is one comment currently, but feel free to leave others there, or here.

• Also online at the Herald is a 7 September interview with WMU President John Dunn in which he does not mention anything about the Colony Farm Orchard.

• The Summer 2009 Michigan Environmental Report (Michigan Environmental Council) arrived today with an article on the Colony Farm Orchard.  The title is Kalamazoo conservationists fight university’s latest plan to develop natural area.  It is pretty much a shortened version of Mark Hoffman’s piece that is on my website for 28 July.

• A short piece of film by local film-maker (Animals Among Us) Matt Clysdale taken early in August on the Colony Farm Orchard shows three Wild Turkey hens and a brood of chicks.  It is on YouTube.

• A letter and a viewpoint speaking out against the conversion of dedicated open space to business park were published 3 September in the Kalamazoo Gazette.  The Viewpoint, by Pat Klein, was headlined Intention of Legislature in 1977 was for orchard to be set aside for public use.

• I found no convenient link to the letter by Nina Feirer, but it was titled Write to WMU and Rep. Jones to stop land grab and here is the text: I want to add my voice to those expressing unhappiness at the idea of  Western Michigan University killing trees to make room for buildings. I am also disappointed with state Rep. Robert Jones’ part in introducing legislation to change the law so this rape of the land can take place. I have written to Rep. Jones and plan on writing to the powers-that-be at Western. Join me! We cannot let this happen.–Nina Feirer, Kalamazoo
  

• Earlier letters and Viewpoints (with links)  in the Gazette on the same topic include the following:

Ladislav R. Hanka.  Deed restrictions on Colony Orchard Farm in Kalamazoo must remain intact.  Three comments by readers reacting to the online Viewpoint are also available.

Richard Brewer.  Other land is available to WMU; leave orchard alone.

Nancy Small.  Western has space, doesn’t need orchard.

Marcia V. Stucki. Use orchard for small scale agriculture.