Lansing - Residents near a busy shopping district on the city’s south side voiced their opposition Monday to Chris Baryames Jr.’s plans to lease his property to a commercial business at 4720 S. Cedar St.
City council will consider the rezoning proposal and the residents’ statements at a Thursday committee meeting.
The residents, many of whom live just south of the property on Syringa Drive, said the area between Cavanaugh and Jolly roads already has too much traffic, and adding another retail business would worsen the problem.
Residents and council members said southbound drivers on Cedar Street often use Syringa Drive as a shortcut to avoid the busy intersection at Jolly Road.
Mary Fuhrman, who lives on Syringa Drive, said 11 children live on the street.
Fuhrman and her husband purposely park their cars on opposite sides of the road to slow traffic, Furhman said.
“We don’t let our kids play in the front yard,” she said.
Baryames filed a petition to change the zoning of the area from a professional office district to a commercial district after unsuccessful attempts to lease the property.
But Ed Benson, who lives in the area, said Baryames hasn’t marketed the property as a professional office.
“There seems to be a mediocre effort at best to market the property under its current zoning,” he said.
Calls to Baryames Jr. were not returned Tuesday.
Chris Baryames Sr., who was the first to speak at the public hearing, said he was there to represent his family.
“I’m not here to argue with anyone,” he said. “I’m just here to present the facts.”
Baryames Sr. said the rear part of the property, which borders the residential area, would be donated to Habitat for Humanity of Lansing, and the only property in question is next to the McDonald’s at 4700 S. Cedar St.
Changing the zoning would not disturb the neighborhood, he said.
“My family has been in Lansing since 1922,” he said. “Our reputation speaks for itself.”
But a letter from one resident, read by Councilmember Sandy Allen, said a previous zoning change for the property was denied by the Lansing’s Planning & Neighborhood Development Department in September, and no significant changes have occurred since then.
Council members said they would ask police for a breakdown of accident statistics in the area before Thursday’s meeting.
Jim Smith said a new AutoZone store, 4725 S. Cedar St., has already increased traffic in the area, and another commercial business is not needed.
“I’ve always had traffic concerns,” he said.
The council will discuss the issue further at its committee of the whole meeting which is open to the public and begins at 1:30 p.m. Thursday in the 10th floor conference room of City Hall, 124 W. Michigan Ave.
