Alcohol use among MSU students has decreased, but East Lansing City Council still acted with the issue in mind Tuesday, turning down one request and narrowly passing another from businesses that cater to students.

The council narrowly voted to approve a new East Lansing apartment complex amid concerns from area residents about noise, but turned down a request to increase capacity at a downtown bar.

The votes came after a presentation by Jasmine Greenamyer, health education coordinator at Olin Health Center, who told the council 25 percent of MSU students did not drink alcohol in the past month, as compared to 20 percent in 2000.

“We’re bucking the national trend,” she said. “Trends are going in the right direction. The issue is not going to go away, but we are committed to work with it as a city and a university.”

Last week, the East Lansing Police Department made a presentation to the council showing a 32-percent increase in noise complaints.

Noise was among the issues the council considered when it voted 3-2 to approve a request to build a 222-resident complex at 1153 Michigan Ave.

Councilmember Vic Loomis justified his vote in favor of the development by saying that although the complex will bring more students to the neighborhood, it won’t create significant problems.

“All neighborhoods have noise, some more than others,” he said. “But we all have to deal with that. I think a properly placed and properly managed apartment complex will help mitigate some of the problems we’re having.”

The project’s developer, Campus Village Properties, filed an application to move into town on one other occasion. The city council denied that previous request because of concerns about the size and commercial aspect of the building.

Ernest Schaefer, president of the apartment group said he’s worked with council members and residents to make an acceptable design, but said neighbors didn’t seem pleased with adding any establishment to the area.

Schaefer said he believes the apartment will improve the level of noise in the neighborhood.

“The difference is that in a family home there is no on-site management like we have,” he said. “The complex would put students together in one group and pull students out of the neighborhoods.”

The council would not be swayed in Buffalo Wild Wings’ second attempt to increase the size of its bar.

The council voted 4-1 to deny the expansion and capacity increase of the East Lansing bar at 360 Albert St. The establishment can serve 275 people and asked to raise capacity to 340.

Kent Ward, owner of the restaurant and bar, said he believes alcohol and noise play a major role in the council’s decision.

“They have concern for putting in more seats downtown,” he said. “I just want to better suit our guests.”

The council turned down a previous request by Ward. The new request included lowering the capacity to 275 after midnight.

“I will not vote for one more bar stool to be filled in East Lansing,” Councilmember Bill Sharp said.

Communications freshman Michele Lee said the council shouldn’t have turned down the request.

“The city is meant for students to have fun,” she said. “I don’t think we’re out of hand, it’s like this at every big university.”

Staff writer Patrick Walters contributed to this report.

Kendra Snyder can be reached at snyderk6@msu.edu.