A resolution to place a temporary ban approving new restaurants to serve liquor past midnight was passed unanimously by the East Lansing City Council at Tuesday’s regular meeting at City Hall, 410 Abbot Road.
The resolution calls for a 180-day ban for city staff to review the number of establishments downtown that serve alcohol and other policy-related issues, “as well as some of the issues we see from an enforcement standpoint dealing with alcohol-related incidents, the impact of public safety and the number of capacity of licensed establishments,” East Lansing Planning, Building and Development Director Tim Dempsey said.
Councilmember Kevin Beard agreed with the resolution and said this was a good move on the part of the city administration.
“I think it’s good to step back and take an objective analytical look at this,” he said.
Also during the meeting, the council set a public hearing for April 2 for a new bar to be placed inside of The Residences, 211 Ann St.
The East Lansing Planning Commission unanimously voted to recommend council to approve the bar, East Lansing’s HopCat, 300 Grove St., at last Wednesday’s regular bi-weekly meeting.
Council also unanimously approved reducing the number of driving lanes from three to two on Michigan Avenue.
The number of lanes will be reduced on both sides of Michigan Avenue, although the width of the reduced lane will stay the same and a painted cross hatchings will be placed between the bike lane and car lanes.
Director of Public Works Todd Sneathen said if it is determined that the change doesn’t work, then the lanes could be restored back to three lanes.
“This is only paint,” he said. “It is something that could be changed if it’s decided that this does not work very well, that we need more capacity on the road ways than what the two lanes provide.”
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