Planning Commission Postpones B&B Plans, Recommends Energy Ordinance Changes
A plan to rezone 730 Grove Street so it may become a bed and breakfast has hit another snag, after a new proposal to rezone the property was tabled at the March 27 Planning Commission meeting.
An earlier rezoning proposal was recommended by the Planning Commission in November, but referred back to the commissioners by Council at its Feb. 6 meeting. Now, the property owner has taken feedback and prepared a new rezoning proposal with the condition that the property be used for a Class B multi-family dwelling, the classification the City of East Lansing uses for other bed and breakfasts. The new proposal stipulates if owner Michael Zawacki ever sells the property, the Class B designation remains.
The city still doesn’t have a clear zoning classification for bed and breakfasts.
“Unfortunately,” East Lansing Principal Planner Landon Bartley said, “our code doesn’t quite have a clear definition of bed and breakfast right now. It has been applied in the past, for example at the Wild Goose in downtown East Lansing, it has been governed as a Class B multi-family dwelling, so that’s why we’re bringing this forward as a Class B multi-family dwelling. Unfortunately for the applicant, Class B-multi family dwelling is not permitted in the R-2 Zone, it is a special use [and] RM-32 zoned district.
“If the property ceases to be used for that land use as conditioned, then the rezoning would be reverted back to R-2 zoning.”
Bartley also reported that the owner has submitted a request to the Historic District Commission to expand the College Grove Historic District to include the property.
But this new condition did not stop commissioners from wondering about other aspects of Zawacki’s plan.
Commissioner Chelsea Denault questioned Zawacki on his proposal, asking if he had spoken with the owner of East Lansing’s Wild Goose Inn, a bed and breakfast at 512 Albert Street, to “talk a little bit about how they operate and gain some insight into how” he might operate his business.
Zawacki responded that he has not, but he has spoken with individuals who have stayed at the Wild Goose Inn.
One by one, commissioners shared their hesitation to recommend anything that night. Commissioner Dave Chapin cited opposition from neighbors of the building for one of the reasons the proposal would not have his support.
Residents Tim Mrozowski and Debra Stuart, frequent speakers at commission meetings when their Grove Street neighborhood is impacted, spoke against the proposed ordinance at the March 27 meeting. Zawacki’s mother spoke in her son’s favor, saying parents of MSU students would benefit from another place to stay in the area.
Eventually, the commission voted unanimously to postpone a decision until their next meeting on April 24 so the applicant could address the issues the body raised during the meeting, including adding a condition that the house can never become a fraternity or sorority (recommended by Chair Joseph Sullivan) and a stronger business plan that would leverage the history of the building and its architectural significance. Commissioner Cynthia Williams also wants the owner to say if he will employ a live-in host or caretaker.
Commission recommends a pair of proposals be approved by City Council.
Commissioners revisited Ordinance 1530, which was discussed at the Feb. 28 Planning Commission Meeting. The proposal would update a city zoning ordinance to facilitate solar energy systems installation and eliminate a 15 kW cap that was placed upon personal-use solar energy systems. The commission recommended approval to City Council at the March 27 meeting.
The need to update the ordinance recently came to light when University Lutheran Church looked to expand its solar array, but needed a variance from the city because it would exceed the 15 kW cap.
The proposal would also introduce rules monitoring electric signs, electric vehicle charging stations, and interior lighting that can be seen outdoors. The ordinance is largely seen as an update to outdated policies in the city.
Also unanimously recommended by the commission was an application to rezone a 2.29-acre parcel from agricultural land to a general office business district. The rezoned property will allow Brightwell Behavioral Health at 3512 Coolidge Road to expand from 23 beds to 71. The project will be passed on to City Council for approval.
Michael Knight, CEO of Brightwell Behavioral Health, thanked the commission for its support.
“I’m a 20-year Army retiree [and] psychiatric nurse,” he said. “I want to thank the commission for considering this expansion [as] it really does give us a chance to help more patients and bring more jobs to East Lansing.
“I think we’re uniquely situated at three major interstates in Michigan to not just help people locally, but to also bring in people from around the state for a much-needed resource of in-patient psychiatric treatment.”
The facility specializes in geriatric treatment.