Council Night

Friday, March 16 – Four pieces of the Kewadin Lansing casino proposal are scheduled for City Council approval at Monday’s meeting.

The Council is scheduled to vote on pieces dealing with a brownfield redevelopment plan for a mixed-use parking ramp and commercial space north of Cooley Law School Stadium, and also the city’s selling of parcels around the Lansing Center to the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians. See here for details on what the Council will be voting on Monday.

MLive.com reported Wednesday that Council President Brian Jeffries voted against the brownfield plan and an ordinance to rezone property for the parking ramp during a Development and Planning Committee meeting this week, even though a majority of the committee approved all four pieces. Jeffries reportedly took issue with the amount of the brownfield incentive – nearly $21 million – which will reimburse Lansing Future, LLC for the costs of environmental cleanup and public improvements.

Three public hearings took place over the last two-and-a-half weeks. Opponents to the plan reportedly outnumbered supporters on Feb. 29 and March 7 at community meetings on the south and east sides of town. Last week’s public hearing at City Hall drew nearly 40 people, a majority of whom supported the administration’s plan. Community members will have one more chance to weigh in on the proposals Monday night before the Council votes.