With approval from the East Lansing Planning Commission, the city is one step closer to seeing a new hotel and a fitness center.
While the commission voted unanimously in favor of the fitness center, two members and some residents were opposed to the construction of the hotel, an 88-room Marriott Residence Inn to be included in the West Village development, located at the northwest corner of Delta Street and Grand River Avenue.
Peter Dewan, the planning commission’s chairman, said he felt uncomfortable with the development of a hotel that was originally meant to include 19 high-rise condominiums.
“We would be putting in a very dense building in a very small place. We’re talking about 19 condos compared to an 88-room hotel,” Dewan said.
Because the hotel development, which now heads to the East Lansing City Council for final approval, includes an element of mixed-use space — 3,000 square feet of which will likely be used for a restaurant — it still satisfies the city’s goals, planning commission member Lynsey Clayton said.
“I don’t think it’s going to necessarily affect Valley Court Park,” she said. Valley Court Park is positioned next to the West Village development.
Sue Morris, who lives in the area of the proposed development, disagreed with Clayton, saying the developments cut off park access.
“The city shouldn’t sacrifice Valley Court Park’s historic nature to become a key amenity of the West Village development,” Morris said. “Valley Court Park is a cherished asset, and I’m concerned the planning commission and the city are developing it in the wrong way.”
The commission also approved the proposal to open a Snap Fitness center at 115 E. Grand River Ave.
When Powerhouse Gym closed last year, Snap Fitness owner Brad Lazorka said he saw a need for a gym in East Lansing.
“The idea is to keep it open 24 hours a day so it will be convenient for people to exercise at all different times,” he said.
If the City Council approves the gym, it would become the third Snap Fitness in Mid-Michigan, joining locations in Okemos and Haslett.
The fitness center would be the first business to fill the site since Tower Records closed in 2001.
Since Powerhouse closed, some students haven’t had easy access to gyms north of campus.
Kinesiology junior Jolene Betterly said she used to stop at the gym three or four times a week.
After Powerhouse closed and merged with Atlas Gym, 4790 S. Hagadorn Road, Betterly said she usually works out at home.
“It was in a more central location. Hagadorn (Road) is kind of out of the way for me,” she said. “When you combine two gyms into one, it gets really crowded. Especially right before spring break, you couldn’t do anything at all without waiting.”
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