Local motorists and pedestrians this week may be a little confused by a multitude of cars, trucks and SUVs parked at the abandoned lot at the corner of Reno Drive and West Superior Street.
Wayland City Manager Erik Wilson explained, “..this is a temporary use from the (Gun Lake) tribe. The tribe asked if they could use their lot for a temporary sale of cars. I would not say it is a business in the formal sense.”
The Gun Lake Tribe earlier this year proposed to occupy the vacant lot with a residential development, particularly apartments. However, the Wayland City Planning Commission twice has denied permission for the change, insisting the corner is the busiest in Wayland and more traffic would create a bottleneck.
The irony here is that just before the site became vacant it was the location of Cars2Go, a used vehicle business.
I want to be clear that my questions are directed at the City of Wayland, not the reporter or the Tribe. The article raises an important issue that deserves transparency from our city officials.
First, is the Tribe being allowed to use this lot under a formal agreement with the city, or are they renting it? Residents deserve to know the terms of that arrangement.
Second, while it may not look like a traditional business, selling vehicles from a vacant lot within city limits qualifies as a business under Michigan law. That means proper dealer licensing and compliance standards should apply.
Finally, is the city profiting or benefiting from this activity in any way? If this is occurring within Wayland’s jurisdiction, the public should be assured that it’s being done legally, transparently, and in a way that supports our community — not just quietly permitted without oversight.