The construction would consist of two separate projects, a Brownfield location located at 200 Albert Ave. slated to become a four-story mixed-use building, and a redevelopment of the Ann Street Plaza and the locations from 213-217 Ann Street, East Lansing Planning and Community Development Director Tim Dempsey said.

Dempsey said the projects likely would be done at the same time to minimize costs on the parts of both the developers. He said the location at 200 Albert Ave. likely would receive some grant money from the state and also receives Brownfield funding because the location formerly was occupied by a dry cleaner and requires cleanup of chemicals.

“The (Department of Environmental Quality) feels we’re showing significant local commitment (with the Brownfield project),” Dempsey said.

Dempsey said the developers working on the Ann Street properties would include the reconstruction of Ann Street Plaza at a cost of about $450,000. He said the plan currently is financed throughout a 30-year plan but is subject to change.

East Lansing Mayor Vic Loomis said he is slightly worried about the proposed 30-year tax capture on the part of the developer for the Ann Street Plaza project because the Ann Street Plaza was reconstructed less than 20 years ago.

“From my perspective, I get nervous when you go beyond 15, 20 years maximum,” Loomis said.

Dempsey said the developer was seeking to maximize its returns on the development and is aware of the potential risks involved at this point in time.

Council also continued its discussion on medical marijuana at the session, clarifying issues such as the definition of dispensary and caregiver and discussing topics such as the potential enforcement of violations to the proposed ordinance.

Assistant City Attorney Tom Yeadon said one major change was setting the number of caregivers who could work out of one dispensary location to five. He said this likely would allow for better enforcement and regulation of medical marijuana dispensaries in the area.

“At least we can have some hopes to make sure (medical marijana dispensaries are) in conformance with the Medical Marihuana Act,” Yeadon said. “If the number is too big, it’s impossible to make sure the dispensary is in conformance with the act.”

Some residents were opposed to the use of the primarily office-oriented districts currently slated to house dispensaries in the proposed ordinance because it could cause higher crime in those areas and would be harder to enforce, East Lansing resident Don Power said.

“There is serious crime attached to commercialization … of (medical) marijuana. That is a fact of life,” Power said.

Power suggested other options, such as manufacturing districts, also should be considered by council as alternative locations for dispensaries in the city.