Traffic-blocking Neogen fence annoys south Lansing

MONDAY, March 22 — Some south Lansing residents are voicing frustrations after a local corporation erected a fence around its property line this year, consequently limiting access to a busy  shopping plaza and public library at the corner of Holmes Road and Cedar Street.

Neogen, an international food safety company with multiple locations in Lansing, finished building a steel fence around its facility at 3400 S. Cedar  last month. Company officials told City Pulse that the passcode-protected gate is designed to keep employees safe given a heavy amount of traffic often whizzing through the parking lot off Holmes to reach Everett Plaza.

But some residents, including officials at Capital Area District Libraries, said the gate has only served as an inconvenience for local residents — especially for pedestrians and cyclists that must now navigate the adjacent sidewalk or those making a left turn exit on to Cedar Street.

“I was very disappointed when I started to see that fence come up,” said Melissa Cole, head librarian at CADL’s South Lansing Library next door to Neogen’s facility. “It wasn’t a very community-decision, which was disappointing to see. But unfortunately, the disappointment of a librarian doesn’t mean much. It’s their property. They do what they want.”

Neogen began efforts to close its parking lot to traffic from Holmes Road last year, erecting temporary measures that were routinely ignored by local drivers, Cole explained. This year, the plaza was blocked off with black metal gates from sidewalk to sidewalk — forcing both car and pedestrian traffic onto Cedar Street before they can pull into the plaza and library parking lots.

Diane Petryk, a resident of the Old Everett Neighborhood, said her usual walks and bike rides to the library are now a “harrowing” experience. She said blocking access from Holmes Road has also created a “risky left turn” situation for drivers as they rush to dart out onto Cedar Street.

“There is no gap whatsoever, even back there, for a person walking or on a bicycle intending to go to the library or Everett Plaza,” she said. “It is not only inconvenient, but dangerous. Children going to the library, out there? Anyone really, walking so close to Cedar Street, is in danger.”

Delivery drivers at neighboring Tacos E Mas also said the fence has caused delayed orders.

Aside from a brief explanation about “safety concerns” for staff and a referral to a number that didn’t return calls, company officials at Neogen didn’t otherwise respond to questions from City Pulse about the fence — including on whether the neighborhood input was ever considered.

Cole said conversations with Neogen officials about library patrons’ concerns were fruitless. City Councilman Jeremy Garza said he has also fielded several concerns from nearby residents but was powerless to intervene on properly constructed fences that are on private property.

“It’s unfortunate that Neogen doesn’t seem willing to work with the people,” Garza said. “Still, the permits were pulled. Right now, it really doesn’t look like there’s much the city can do about it.”