[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6655988,"mediaKeyId","5350054-b4d2151141c41ca8c24ca6ec8eac2674","parentId",5350054,"title","Commission discusses possible changes to downtown diverse‑housing rule after developer presents redevelopment concept","audioSeconds",6089,"startMs",1108000,"endMs",7197000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5350054-b4d2151141c41ca8c24ca6ec8eac2674&start=1108&end=7197","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5350054-b4d2151141c41ca8c24ca6ec8eac2674/thumbnail_1108000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6655988/East-Lansing/Ingham-County/Michigan/Commission-discusses-possible-changes-to-downtown-diversehousing-rule-after-developer-presents-redevelopment-concept","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6655988-2d798816a5bf21d9b406cb6db90c49d5/orig.mp4?Expires=1771144932&Signature=OZ5-1mb-wI6zERyE49852~30vLMONOjx9G6kfnV~wMLASolN1iMNVVWTK53jp2g15aQ67e632XAz2yp9JM5VUPh70hf0n-w0ShjWFGTIvSKmCUAu1wqgC2t9HVTOk8cb6uzXss~CuCcl80Lw7PfyJPFBjKSLfCevPShMUY5oWyqoYvES5UYdx69YYaavfvgzd1IlxW6UpiYaJX1BU9cbtUPi~NVEcEuaMIj~PXu5ZeAXKDorTCsOVt-R8oAm2svl16pRFoxDGbxCRpRzfXVS8MURJHu0LjyLqrguU6CghsgHR5s6rfaP~LkYfjaiE1hdSa0do2UqfbpOf6-xmL3Lsw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","East Lansing, Michigan","date","2025-07-03T15:10:14Z","article","Commissioners opened a broad discussion July 9 about potential changes to East Lansing’s downtown diverse‑housing requirement after public commenters and the city manager circulated proposed ideas, including a fee‑in‑lieu option and expanded geographic transferability of affordable‑unit credits.

Attorney Carrie Freeman, representing a redevelopment interest for the Student Bookstore (SBS) parcel, urged the commission to consider amendments that would allow a fee‑in‑lieu payment instead of on‑site affordable units. She told commissioners the redevelopment could \"pump a lot of revenue\" into the city and estimated the project might contribute nearly $2 million to a proposed affordable‑housing fund. Freeman said the current ordinance has not produced projects that meet the 25% requirement in the downtown over the past decade and argued a fee option and expanded transfer rules would make redevelopment feasible.

Developer and downtown business owner Greg Balline, who said he manages the student bookstore, described the economic pressures facing the store and downtown foot traffic since the pandemic and urged flexible options to enable redevelopment. \"My bookstore has been failing for a number of years,\" Balline said, noting he has planned a mixed‑use redevelopment (market‑rate/student housing and retail) and that the current ordinance's financing expectations make on‑site affordable units difficult for certain mixed‑use projects.

Planning staff summarized the existing rule in the downtown and four potential directions for change that the city manager outlined: expand the sending area where affordable units or credits can be located outside the DDA; modify credit ratios for for‑sale versus rental product; include Housing Choice Vouchers/Section 8 in calculations; and create a fee‑in‑lieu fund to be used for affordable housing. Staff emphasized no ordinance has been introduced by council and that the redline language in the packet was a private party proposal rather than a council referral.

Commissioners asked for more fiscal detail and examples of comparable programs in other cities; several requested staff and the city attorney produce draft ordinance language and analysis. One commissioner suggested any new mechanism include a five‑year sunset for evaluation. Commissioner comments ranged from openness to innovative approaches that could unlock redevelopment to caution about ensuring strict parameters for how any fee‑in‑lieu funds would be managed and spent.

The commission did not take a vote on ordinance language. Instead commissioners asked staff to provide comparative examples from other jurisdictions (preferably college towns), an analysis of how similar fee‑in‑lieu programs have performed, clarification of fund governance and spending parameters, and an updated redline if council elects to refer an ordinance. Staff said they would attempt to return materials to the commission by the July 23 meeting, or otherwise on the August 13 agenda.

The discussion also included preliminary project details presented by the applicant for the SBS parcel, under the working name \"the Howard\": a mixed‑use redevelopment with retail at street level and multi‑unit housing above (the applicant provided a conceptual packet showing a roughly 25–30k sq ft footprint and an estimated 300+ units in stacked student housing formats). The applicant presented a 20‑year tax projection showing higher taxable value and estimated incremental tax revenue to schools and city versus the existing use; staff and commissioners asked for independent verification of those fiscal figures and noted that exact tax distributions to school and city depend on assessment and state formulas.

Next steps: commissioners asked staff to prepare comparative and fiscal analyses, draft ordinance language if requested by council, and options for governance of any fund should a fee‑in‑lieu be adopted. No ordinance was referred for public hearing at this meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Planning Commission - 09 Jul 2025","oneSentenceSummary","After public comment and a city manager memo, the Planning Commission July 9 discussed possible revisions to the downtown diverse‑housing ordinance — including a fee‑in‑lieu and broader transferability of affordable‑unit credits — and requested fiscal and comparative analysis from staff before any ordinance is introduced.","taxTitle","East Lansing, Ingham County, Michigan","taxId",55176,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6655991,"Planning staff presents final edits to comprehensive plan update, adds social‑equity materials",587,3730000,4317000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5350054-b4d2151141c41ca8c24ca6ec8eac2674&start=3730&end=4317","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5350054-b4d2151141c41ca8c24ca6ec8eac2674/thumbnail_3730000.jpg","/articles/6655991/East-Lansing/Ingham-County/Michigan/Planning-staff-presents-final-edits-to-comprehensive-plan-update-adds-socialequity-materials","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6655991-2dde55cbae37532e4d0cde595a667180/orig.mp4?Expires=1771144932&Signature=IlQ8VgPu69le1UgrYrH3jbBmrokK7qRpTwd0VnaRZwFJbCEmKOTJuYgiiMUX2tqry6ZwcSF4wn6lAWaWAW1D8n4V5bnGexBaKYTGlmpioLablZFRKgmgFmJcXM-VqT8K-hzX~bGEAsjCrjGHgQsKPil5n473S1ZS-PVAS4f3jaw4o~p3HrClAF79EOgNywoHsZvKvrZ7AryNXkuNM2uwqkSCA8-gjumstzCRT8lOtCYTyfNGKzCSuRimYuOUFWlKJDdS1byyEx80U8RhFz8jAPMZtUFG3GFJdeKcnx5KqfkTuZPp7B8jniHm19WehwwFdeHtIFEhbP6K15o4i9I-Vg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City planning staff presented a near‑final draft of the City of East Lansing comprehensive plan update at the July 9 Planning Commission meeting, highlighting newly added social‑equity language and historical material for commission review.

Staff said the updated content positions social equity, housing and climate resilience as primary priorities identified in early community engagement and recommends placing an equity explanation and a short history of redlining early in the plan. \"We wanted to describe what social equity means,\" planning staff said, and they noted community input ranking equity, housing and public health highly during outreach.

The social‑equity insert includes a short table of equity topics aligned with draft plan responses and a small inset using historic HOLC redlining maps to show racial distributions and past discriminatory practice context. Staff told commissioners the material includes references to civil‑rights milestones and to a 2022 Michigan bill that clarified how homeowners may remove racially restrictive covenants.

Commissioners praised the draft and thanked staff for the research. One commissioner with expertise in local history called the redlining section \"really impressive\" and urged staff to correct minor typos before final publication. Staff said a corrected, fully formatted draft should be in the City Council packet for the July 15 council meeting and that the Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on the comprehensive plan update July 23; final changes can still be made up through formal adoption.

Commissioners asked for clarifications about wording and titles in the acknowledgments section; staff said they will correct small errors and asked commissioners to provide edits promptly. Several commissioners requested comparative materials and noted the plan’s linkages to other ongoing projects and committee work.

No formal action was taken; staff will forward the draft to City Council for review next week and return to the Planning Commission for a public hearing and a potential vote on July 23.","Planning staff presented final edits to the city’s comprehensive plan update, including new social‑equity text and redlining history; the Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on the draft July 23 and staff expects to forward the draft to City Council for review July 15.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6655994,"Planning Commission backs Graduate East Lansing rooftop expansion, recommends council approval",2203,1573000,3776000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5350054-b4d2151141c41ca8c24ca6ec8eac2674&start=1573&end=3776","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5350054-b4d2151141c41ca8c24ca6ec8eac2674/thumbnail_1573000.jpg","/articles/6655994/East-Lansing/Ingham-County/Michigan/Planning-Commission-backs-Graduate-East-Lansing-rooftop-expansion-recommends-council-approval","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6655994-ab9b3e75b7381ec1486088aa20d1c388/orig.mp4?Expires=1771144932&Signature=ENqoVV-UzPYxR-1HYbi97gFWnAbH9KgGRQs8fZqrGgLIjBHFlW3SIdeAgPVFiThqPQb-FVAklocs~Lq1hYMv3H4YOa2nUux9ww1ZOBPCTtExP-FHIB2jZQ39QymdjQgnMElQj-aO5e63BNJc0MfKWtorz4nDtaOUa92yctg-MdzPZhSi5lcW7B-gwK7q4X6rM0vNQX1873J~zppxyZQbmtTwf3SJJAz68-whKcCkahicNASuQWFoYWV2geVWss5Juaz37mC5GHKUZmYz6VGm5I~aWlyqXwHxUIuah6RflSWkjRf49T3B4UKN4LP7fnzY2YhGi2rO~Z4vof1W5b16jA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The East Lansing Planning Commission voted unanimously July 9 to recommend City Council approve a special‑use permit request from the Graduate East Lansing to expand rooftop dining and alcohol service at 133 Evergreen Ave.

The application seeks a private dining room and enlargement of the rooftop terrace along with screening for rooftop mechanical equipment. Planning staff told the commission the request would increase rooftop occupancy from the currently approved 96 persons to a total occupancy of 268 (combined inside and outside, including standing room); the applicant and staff presented a reduced recommended cap of 260 patrons as part of the motion.

Planning staff summarized the request as a narrow amendment to the original rooftop special use, focused on alcohol service and increased patron capacity rather than broader building changes. \"The request is to add a private dining area and expand the rooftop deck with alcohol service,\" staff said. The hotel was approved in 2018 and constructed after May 2020; the previously authorized rooftop occupancy and hours were reaffirmed by staff during the discussion.

Applicant representatives told the commission the rooftop expansion is intended to better serve hotel guests and local patrons who are frequently turned away when the existing rooftop reaches capacity. \"We propose to take that from the current 42 inches up to 54 inches,\" the hotel's general manager said, describing a change to the rooftop glass railing requested by police for safety. The applicant's architect said structural and egress work is stamped and under review by building staff and the fire marshal, and that the rooftop expansion was anticipated in the original structural design.

Commissioners asked about fire and egress capacity, restroom facilities and kitchen operations. Staff and the architect said the fire marshal and building reviewers are working through standard code checks; the architect said lavatory fixtures were increased to meet code for the proposed occupancy and that food will continue to be prepared on the building's lower floor and delivered via a dedicated service elevator.

During deliberations the commission attached conditions listed in the staff report, and commissioners added two amendments: a condition to increase the rooftop glass/guard height to 54 inches and a technical amendment to align Sunday hours with the applicant's request (extending Sunday closing to 11 p.m.). The motion to recommend approval to City Council included the staff conditions, the two added items, and a cap on rooftop occupancy not to exceed 260 patrons. The motion passed unanimously.

The commission recorded the action as a recommendation to City Council; final approval and any permit issuance remain with council and city staff review. The item will be scheduled for a future City Council meeting; the planning commission packet notes permit-level details and outstanding building‑department items remain to be completed before construction.

Votes at the Planning Commission meeting were recorded as a unanimous recommendation in favor; the item will move to City Council for final action.

The commission also heard the applicant describe operational plans for security, crowd management and staff training for high‑occupancy events. The hotel said it will increase security and supervisory staff for large events and that it uses regular emergency-response drills and inspections under its brand standards. The applicant proposed a private dining room converted from an existing suite to reduce noise impacts on adjacent guest rooms.

City staff will continue to coordinate with building, fire and police departments on outstanding permit items before final approvals and permits are issued. The Planning Commission packet and staff report list the approval conditions the commission adopted and note that the prior 2021 conditions referenced in the staff report remain part of the approval package.","The East Lansing Planning Commission voted unanimously to recommend City Council approve a special-use permit to expand dining and alcohol service on the Graduate East Lansing's rooftop, increasing total rooftop occupancy and adding a private dining room, with conditions including a higher glass railing and an adjusted Sunday closing hour.","actionData","errors"]

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Commission discusses possible changes to downtown diverse‑housing rule after developer presents redevelopment concept

Planning staff presents final edits to comprehensive plan update, adds social‑equity materials

Planning Commission backs Graduate East Lansing rooftop expansion, recommends council approval