ACHTUNG: This is not a “fair and balanced” article. It is an editorial by the editor.
The Wayland City Planning Commisssion once again will take up the issue of a request from Gun Lake Investments to build an apartment complex and parking lot at the corner of Reno Drive and West Superior Street.
The session will get under way at the rear of City Hall at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 11.
Gun Lake Investments, the economic arm of the Gun Lake Tribe and Casino, first presented a proposal last fall, but the Planning Commission tabled the issue because of deep concerns about congested traffic at what now is the busiest intersection in the city. Commissioners also expressed concerns about having enough room for a parking lot.
It is apparent that Gun lake Investments has another proposal to present on Feb. 11. If it is granted, it will be a landmark decision, much like the one in 1987 that opened the doors to the Windsor Woods mobile home park, which ultimately jump started the business boom along West Superior to the U.S.-131 expressway.
Old timers will tell you there was a time not so long ago when West Superior was vacant grassland and the main intersection for business was at Main and Superior Streets downtown. But in 1965, a major fire wiped out the Herb Chevrolet dealership downtown, causing Bill Herb to move it to a site at 1134 West Superior, where now it has been reduced to a vacant parking lot. Wayland Chevrolet went belly up in 2009, Cars2Go moved in to fill the void, but then it closed its doors in 2017, after which it became the community’s biggest eyesore.
Since then, the vacant lot was purchased by the Gun Lake Tribe, prompting a lot of speculation about just what should go in at such a choice location, across the street from the strip mall to the west and to the north by United Bank and the new Metro Health medical facility.
There are indeed pros and cons in the proposal.
Though the concerns about traffic congestion and parking are warranted, we’ve been told often that one of the most pressing needs for Wayland is affordable housing.
However, a residential development is being planned on 1433rd Avenue not far to the southeast and Dorr and Leighton townships are being presented with proposed residential developments as well.
And there is a lot of desire to have something done to that huge vacant lot, whether it be residential or commercial.
My biggest worry is the traffic congestion. As Commissioner Anne Tatreau suggested, try going west or east on West Superior at about 3 p.m. Monday through Friday and you’ll be challenged by a bottleneck not unlike those we complain about and endure on U.S.-131.
Some kind of viable resolution for that problem is essential before any progress can be made.
Memo to local residents: If you’re concerned, you might want to make your opinions known Feb. 11 before the issue goes before the City Council, which would prompt torches and pitchforks at a crowded meeting later this year.
As stated earlier, this is the most important residential development decision made in Wayland since 1987, almost 40 years ago.
