[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-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",[32,75,87,99],{"_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",6501410,"mediaKeyId","5576830-a5c4ea90dda56a23367747b337ce8833","parentId",5576830,"title","Planning Commission asks staff to draft ordinance options for downtown diverse-housing requirement including fee-in-lieu, transfers and bonuses","audioSeconds",2527,"startMs",2845000,"endMs",5372000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5576830-a5c4ea90dda56a23367747b337ce8833&start=2845&end=5372","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5576830-a5c4ea90dda56a23367747b337ce8833/thumbnail_2845000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6501410/East-Lansing/Ingham-County/Michigan/Planning-Commission-asks-staff-to-draft-ordinance-options-for-downtown-diverse-housing-requirement-including-fee-in-lieu-transfers-and-bonuses","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6501410-b1e783c1123d08d9ef02612ed2e518dc/orig.mp4?Expires=1773573755&Signature=OvrDPsAIcCKqbjg3epjJUEc5aNj~nPf65OdkL4bnFrq-ROQ7sQt0zChdtPCAgqcNXJbqpMRHJB4PZR-OgN~sR6wYcK9wx4-781yCvg3vU3K~yq1FVVRr0Y-s70eqS3fIatJd~VCElHKMYE3eewmBAJ4hXzIvCk6K-6cRTnfE9r3GKUVCHfo0eHQdQpUefMcwJpjIZrRIaTZhkXfthW19O~0uUkF360QcyDE-NhIClzprz1pLb2UtQABbRuhiUveQy6sVgHbq9esnDkdgU-bMqH~u0XYO1TqWDs-EU7O9u5sz~jeYR3~bo2x8gDF-HnH9WTURaIMWEXPkw~zlmH6oaQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","East Lansing, Michigan","date","2025-08-14T12:13:50Z","article","The East Lansing Planning Commission voted to ask city staff to prepare draft ordinance language to explore several changes to the city’s downtown diverse housing requirement, including area-for transfers, a fee‑in‑lieu option, whether Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) units should count as affordable units, and whether developers could receive height or bonus-unit incentives in exchange for meeting diverse‑housing targets.

Planning staff framed the item as a continuation of prior meetings. Landon Bartley said the discussion builds on the city’s existing requirement that 25% of certain new multifamily downtown units be “diverse” (owner‑occupied, affordable, 55+ or other types determined case‑by‑case) and on a council action that recently restricted some credit transfers when projects receive public financing (Ordinance 15‑46).

Public commenter Carrie Freeman, who represents private parties proposing downtown projects, urged the commission to refer at least the fee‑in‑lieu and related options to council so proponents could present information there. Freeman noted the Howard project as an example: “doing the Howard project, you'd have $2,000,000 going into a fund which then maybe you could create some kind of voucher program,” she said.

Staff said their survey of other cities shows wide variation in fee amounts; commission discussion noted that $5,000 per unit — a figure suggested by some advocates and repeated in packet materials — is much lower than comparable programs in other municipalities. Planning intern Sonia Koenig told commissioners, “if it’s a lower fee, then it’s going to incentivize developers to just pay that fee and get out of it. But if you raise up that fee, it incentivizes a little bit more of the mixed income housing.”

DDA Executive Director Marcia Gaborowski spoke to downtown conditions and business concerns, saying summer business had suffered and that increased downtown residential density could support year‑round commerce.

After discussion the commission moved, and by majority vote directed staff to draft potential ordinances covering the four concepts (area transfers, fee‑in‑lieu, Housing Choice Vouchers, and prioritizing diverse housing types) and to explore height/bonus‑unit incentives and the interplay with tax abatement/taxable value freezes. Commissioners added a caveat asking staff to consider fee amounts higher than $5,000 per unit and to report comparative examples from other Michigan cities when the drafts return to commission.

The commission did not set a specific dollar figure or adopt ordinance language; the action directs staff to prepare options for City Council consideration and for later planning commission review.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Planning Commission - 13 Aug 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The East Lansing Planning Commission voted to direct staff to draft ordinance language exploring area‑for transfers, a fee‑in‑lieu program, inclusion of Housing Choice Voucher units, and development incentives such as height or bonus units to meet downtown diverse‑housing requirements.","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},6501415,"Planning Commission recommends rezoning four Evergreen Avenue parcels to B-3 city-center commercial",691,2153000,2844000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5576830-a5c4ea90dda56a23367747b337ce8833&start=2153&end=2844","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5576830-a5c4ea90dda56a23367747b337ce8833/thumbnail_2153000.jpg","/articles/6501415/East-Lansing/Ingham-County/Michigan/Planning-Commission-recommends-rezoning-four-Evergreen-Avenue-parcels-to-B-3-city-center-commercial","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6501415-23bf2ceb34ef5a04ada13ada2ae2ac87/orig.mp4?Expires=1773573755&Signature=CHjq30NqavpsgSqlVhDqQO~~1DZplLHnSa1W9P-WxENPab77Z-xeeO0MCjS0TPbAvn1e9JByDiTxgV5d06rzQjJep7fEzvElCEYcpBIqy7caAzGmtxlO6PvF4IXr-dSfxUIpSrd7RTK9tC5CdAPb68IoxGZsTKBwJrsJlZ~Zcoh2D-8hT08NDfVvxzOXiWObcC4eW~HoeSm9X7-LEpElIn6zXA5NDElT7irtJlI2y28laB~D1j1gAidyzGn9s9VmLoQGXi943s6FSfw0Ywx2GYUwTXGNuWtcdn5gNIBHkuVpR968SuJOeYTCqI-bd~SgKb~R29sDJLhX7gmmIPObng__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The East Lansing Planning Commission on Aug. 2025 voted to recommend that City Council approve ordinance 15-54 to rezone four parcels on Evergreen Avenue from RM-32 (city-center multiple-family residential) to B-3 (city-center commercial).

Planning staff said the rezoning is essentially a technical correction to match how the properties have been marketed and understood by the Downtown Development Authority (DDA) and prospective developers. Landon Bartley, planning staff, told the commission the parcels have switched between RM-32 and B-3 several times since 2017 while various proposed projects were under consideration and that the DDA purchased and has marketed the properties as B-3.

The DDA held a special meeting July 9 and voted unanimously to support the zone change, Bartley said. Commissioners asked whether rezoning to B-3 would allow new on‑site parking; staff clarified that new on-site parking is generally prohibited in the B-3 district unless the planning commission (and by extension council) waives that restriction because of demonstrated need.

Commissioner Chapin moved that the planning commission recommend council approval of ordinance 15-54 to rezone 314, 328, 334 and 340 (also listed as 344) Evergreen Avenue from RM-32 to B-3; the motion was seconded and the motion carried.

If City Council approves the ordinance, future development proposals for those parcels will return to the planning commission for site-specific review, including any waiver requests for on-site parking.

The DDA and city staff said they see the change as a step to enable redevelopment on those city‑owned properties that have been on and off the market while project proposals evolved.","The East Lansing Planning Commission voted to recommend that City Council approve ordinance 15-54 to rezone 314, 328, 334 and 340 (aka 344) Evergreen Avenue from RM-32 city-center multiple-family residential to B-3 city-center commercial, a change staff described as a technical fix to reflect prior marketing and DDA expectations.",{"_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},6501400,"OHM Advisors presents wellhead protection tools and outreach to Planning Commission",789,1327000,2116000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5576830-a5c4ea90dda56a23367747b337ce8833&start=1327&end=2116","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5576830-a5c4ea90dda56a23367747b337ce8833/thumbnail_1327000.jpg","/articles/6501400/East-Lansing/Ingham-County/Michigan/OHM-Advisors-presents-wellhead-protection-tools-and-outreach-to-Planning-Commission","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6501400-fe2926bb5c896af797078e61698f9d6f/orig.mp4?Expires=1773573755&Signature=Cfy6FOZINuKhp~0BLHmWIX1BO4FWXycgI9tqn3NfQ70RwoaRVZxuafQ-FKKE48WRynWP6z-j~aWj9OcuJvxj6gfKklLpvETUhE7GXQMXzGWadFaE4eGaHiMukUs-kDFcuRT9gGHN7OW-NDB-aejGbgS~zQDwkU1ckNoFn785JXn2bupVitZqI0CIeAlwbWEDkbhkAdugkdEZmSHhj8nTTQwrvmfRejKkCOBUKjCAAem4tRwAoSbCEGtiQ9kxNOPvjhqrp8YWR8K-UULfY2zrv7UFJeRk0vEx4C32Xj0PyIE2N5w7wcrgDDZMSc6GXgDWnQ0gDxd1JGj~OkMm56Nf7A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Christine Spitzley of OHM Advisors gave the East Lansing Planning Commission a presentation on wellhead protection, the Saginaw aquifer that supplies local wells, and tools and outreach resources the region uses to protect groundwater.

Spitzley said wellhead protection is intended to protect public water supplies and reduce treatment costs and noted Michigan’s program follows federal EPA guidance but is implemented with state incentives. “Wellhead protection is designed to protect public water supplies. It's a mandate from EPA that is sent down to the states,” she said, adding that Michigan made the program voluntary with incentives.

The presentation covered common program elements: a multi‑stakeholder wellhead protection team (East Lansing and Meridian Township coordinate with Tri‑County partners), delineation of 10‑year time-of‑travel protection areas for wells, land‑use review to identify contamination risks and management approaches (zoning, site review, building codes) and contingency plans for new wells and emergencies. Spitzley described mapping resources — including the Tri‑County Wellhead Protection Viewer and an interactive “story map” the City of Lansing developed — that allow staff to query wells, leaking underground storage tanks, landfills and other environmental datasets for site reviews.

Spitzley also described outreach resources: an adult story map and a children’s lesson set (designed for grades 2–4) that can be used by teachers or in public events, and QR‑code handouts the presenter provided to commissioners. She encouraged the city to use existing regional tools and the Tri‑County mapping viewer in site plan review and emergency planning.

Commissioners thanked the presenter; no formal action was taken. Bartley said the city will continue to coordinate wellhead protection work with the East Lansing Meridian Water and Sewer Authority and Tri‑County partners.","OHM Advisors presented an overview of wellhead protection, shared mapping and educational tools used in the Tri‑County region, and highlighted local partnership and outreach resources including an interactive story map and school‑age lesson plans.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6501405,"Planning Commission adopts 2024–25 comprehensive plan update \"The Bigger Picture in Focus\"",2276,3601000,5877000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5576830-a5c4ea90dda56a23367747b337ce8833&start=3601&end=5877","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5576830-a5c4ea90dda56a23367747b337ce8833/thumbnail_3601000.jpg","/articles/6501405/East-Lansing/Ingham-County/Michigan/Planning-Commission-adopts-202425-comprehensive-plan-update-The-Bigger-Picture-in-Focus","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6501405-556ea0a2eda24b782f94a29049d3213b/orig.mp4?Expires=1773573755&Signature=RklXw~7h-rQalkonXMKusBQPKMTXbao2fUtd8CMnsuzKbkq7~vNvUS-X7~t0Mt6Q7-4OuzxuxPbBfI1fjHe7tX4aI3FmsKGqrtbQy5WkvM6STcKSidv~2urxysEpau5QkMNrYBb-o5uSFsfEn~-ztUelOF1utTVPDML-RN8i5XStkxaoHJ7gZOon5N7jf2WuwqnecVrCOmWOBbknjLzC992mgKYalBgnGhJN8vjEZPvboAtIgUf8l8uqWEiwSz9sY4iKVVYyal88NP5s-UUNvz1E0h7XtHamUt03QWleSE7J66MN9s3BxefVgzJU1nYay5S68SyhZklCEVFmdKlNUw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The East Lansing Planning Commission voted to adopt the city’s 2024–25 comprehensive plan update, titled “The Bigger Picture in Focus,” and directed staff to distribute the plan in accordance with the Michigan Planning Enabling Act (Public Act 33 of 2008).

Planning staff described the adoption as the endpoint of roughly a year‑and‑a‑half process that included extensive community engagement, a coordinating committee of community stakeholders and boards, student outreach at Michigan State University, public open houses and prior public hearings in July. Landon Bartley, planning staff, noted the plan centers social equity and addresses housing, public health and climate resilience.

Commissioner (transcript: \"Donald\") moved to adopt the resolution formalizing the plan, including text, maps and subplans, and to direct staff to make copies available at City Hall, the East Lansing Public Library and on the city website as required by law. The motion was seconded and carried.

Bartley also noted a public rollout and celebration is scheduled for Oct. 2, in downtown Nyan Street Plaza, with music and public outreach planned. Commissioners and staff thanked the coordinating committee, consultants (Aligned Planning, lead consultant Linnea Wells) and community participants for their work on the plan.

The adopted plan will guide future planning and zoning decisions; specific implementing actions will be considered through subsequent ordinances, zoning changes and capital projects.","After more than a year of public engagement and committee work, the East Lansing Planning Commission adopted the 2024–25 comprehensive plan update and directed staff to distribute the document under Michigan’s Planning Enabling Act (Public Act 33 of 2008).","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Planning Commission asks staff to draft ordinance options for downtown diverse-housing requirement including fee-in-lieu, transfers and bonuses

Planning Commission recommends rezoning four Evergreen Avenue parcels to B-3 city-center commercial

OHM Advisors presents wellhead protection tools and outreach to Planning Commission

Planning Commission adopts 2024–25 comprehensive plan update "The Bigger Picture in Focus"