Planning Commission deadlocks on Meijer gas station at West Lake Lansing; public raises wetland, stormwater and tree concerns

The East Lansing Planning Commission on April 9 failed to approve a recommendation for a special use permit for a proposed Meijer gas station at 100 West Lake Lansing Road, deadlocking 3-3 and forwarding the matter to City Council with a recommendation of non-approval.

The applicant sought permission to build a 5,751-square-foot convenience store with six pump islands and 12 pumps on a B5 community retail business district parcel. The commission’s vote followed public comments, staff background and technical discussion about wetlands, stormwater mitigation, tree preservation and traffic access.

The proposal drew repeated public comment from nearby property owners. Jessica Maxon of Maxon Dental urged careful review of a ‘‘small wetland’’ on the site and said she found a wetland determination prepared on March 8, 2023, by a private consultant; she cautioned that ‘‘Wetland evaluations performed outside the growing season … may not be consistent’’ and asked commissioners to ‘‘make a commitment tonight to never destroy a wetland that was not fairly assessed.’’ Greg Maxon, who owns the dental office adjacent to the site, described standing and ankle-deep water along the property line this spring and…