PROJECT OVERVIEW

The purpose of this Brownfield Plan is to facilitate the redevelopment of a 0.89-acre parcel of land, formerly used as a gas station, convenience store, and garage/service area. The new development involved removing the existing underground storage tanks, demolishing the building, and constructing a new approximately 2,800-square-foot KALSEE Credit Union (KALSEE) building.

In 2023, KALSEE Credit Union was looking to expand by building a new 2,800 square foot building in Comstock Township. With the support of the Kalamazoo County Brownfield Redevelopment Authority (KCBRA), and the Michigan Department of Great Lakes, Environment, and Energy (EGLE), KALSEE constructed a 2,800-square-foot building on this site. The site was identified as a “facility” (due to soil and groundwater contamination) because of its historic use as a former gas station with a leaking underground storage tank. The KCBRA, Kalamazoo County, and the Charter Township of Comstock approved a Brownfield Plan that allowed for the reimbursement of $308,055 in “eligible activities” back to KALSEE Credit Union through tax increment financing over 25 years. Some of the eligible activities included site assessment activities, management of contaminated soil, and the removal of an underground storage tank. This project is a win for all those involved: A brownfield has been redeveloped, the property is back on the tax rolls, jobs have been created, and the known environmental issues related to the site are understood and safely controlled.