Rezoning of the former EDS building
- Residents have been active in opposing the rezoning of Z-1-2015, 930 W. Holmes Rd (former EDS building) for a self-storage business with possible retail of truck rental, and postal mailing Rezoning from “F” Commercial District to “G-2” Wholesale District.
- The city master plan has designated this area to be a vibrant retail corridor. Residents have indicated concerns about permanently converting portions of this property to a Wholesale District zoning which would be in contrast to existing and planned uses for this area of South Lansing.
Comparing the Zoning Codes
Here is a comparison of what the two different zoning designations allow as principal uses:
F AND F-1 COMMERCIAL DISTRICTS Principal Uses Permitted:
In an F or F-1 Commercial District, the following principal uses are permitted which also includes anything from the D-1 Professional Office District and E-2 Local Shopping District designations:
G-2 WHOLESALE DISTRICT Principal Uses Permitted:
In an F or F-1 Commercial District, the following principal uses are permitted which also includes anything from the D-1 Professional Office District and E-2 Local Shopping District designations:
- A comparison retail store
- A private club, fraternal organization or lodge hall
- A restaurant, bar or tavern
- A fully enclosed theater, assembly hall or concert hall
- A hotel or motel
- An off-street parking facility
- A public park and playground, except those regulated by special conditions pursuant to Section 125603(g), (h) and (i)
- An accessory structure which is customarily incidental to any of the uses permitted by this section
- A medical marihuana establishment, as specified in Chapter 1300
- An office of a civic, professional, religious or charitable organization
- An office of an accountant, architect, artist, attorney, doctor or dentist
- An accessory structure
- An insurance agency
- A real estate office
- A trade association or union office, except a trade association or union office described in Section 126004
- A convenience retail store, bar or tavern
- A post office
- An accessory structure
- A motor vehicle service station
- An on-premises sin
- An off-street parking facility
- Any other use which, by the decision of the Planning Board, is similar to the principally permitted uses set forth in this section
- If certain conditions are met these uses may be permitted:
- An animal hospital which provides no kennel
- A kennel
- The use of a lot for the sale or lease of new or used automobiles, trailers, boats, farm machinery or equipment, recreational vehicles, lawn furniture, playground equipment or garden
- A motor vehicle repair station
- An educational facility which is a trade or vocational
- A clinic
- A planned development
- A library or museum owned or operated by a governmental entity
- A child care facility
- A nonaccessory free-standing sign
- Additional Special Land Uses may be permitted
G-2 WHOLESALE DISTRICT Principal Uses Permitted:
- Any principal use permitted in an F Commercial District (above), except residential uses, lodging houses, and medical marihuana establishments
- A storage warehouse
- A wholesale business
- A public garage
- A public park and playground, except those regulated by special condition pursuant to Section 1256.03(g), (h) and (i)
- An accessory structure which is customarily incidental to any use permitted in this section, including, but not limited to, a caretaker or watchperson's residence
- Any other use which, by the decision of the Planning Board, is similar to the principally permitted uses set forth in this section
- Additional Special Land Uses may be permitted
Master Plan for MLK/Holmes Road
- Design Lansing recommends the restructuring of existing shopping centers at Frandor, at Holmes Road and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard (the Logan Square area), and at South Cedar Street and Jolly Road to create three new community-scale mixed-use centers, all located on high ridership transit routes. The three new community-scale centers could include larger footprint retail anchors, along with smaller shops, restaurants and/or services, as long as parking is located behind buildings that define the edges of blocks. In addition to housing at medium and higher densities, non-retail anchors can include office buildings, R&D and light industrial uses, a satellite community college campus or outpatient medical clinics. (Design Lansing Comprehensive Plan, page 56)
- Mixed-Use Centers Mixed-use centers are appealing locations for new economy businesses because of their urban place characteristics. Lansing’s downtown, Old Town and REO Town already have this urban, mixed-use appeal. As Design Lansing’s recommendations are implemented, downtown edge areas, the three proposed community-scale centers (at Frandor, Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Holmes Road, and at Jolly Road and South Cedar Street) will also become attractive new economy business locations. In addition to more traditional office space, these mixeduse areas can accommodate live-work units, artist and artisan studios, and new and expanded businesses that include R&D, testing and small-scale production components. Smaller footprint users with higher numbers of employees per square foot and minimal external impacts (noise and trucks) are most appropriate in these mixed-use zones. Design Lansing recommends locating uses toward the light industrial end of the business spectrum on major streets where truck access can be provided without traveling through residential areas. In addition, all activities should be enclosed within a building to eliminate external impacts on adjacent users. The buildings that house these—and all—job-oriented uses in mixed-use areas should create a quality pedestrian environment with buildings located to face, and frame, the street and parking to the rear, attractively landscaped front setbacks and attractive front facades with windows and entries.(Design Lansing Comprehensive Plan, page 65)