LANSING — Voters will decide Nov. 6 whether to have the city of Lansing annex part of Delta Township.

The issue got to the ballot via a petition filed by a Washtenaw County businessman who owns land in the area of Delta Township that would be annexed.

The landowner, Craig DeVoogd, says he's struggled to rent out his Delta Township property and hopes regulations in Lansing will be more favorable. Specifically, DeVoogd says he has a medical marijuana facility lined up as a prospective tenant. Lansing allows medical marijuana businesses within its limits, but Delta Township prohibits them.

Here's what you need to know.

What land would be annexed?

About 11 acres in Delta Township would become part of the city of Lansing. The land, which is north of West Jolly Road and west of South Waverly Road, includes eight Delta Township tax parcels that border southwest Lansing.

The territory includes several residences, a Quicky Convenience store, a Family Dollar store and multiple empty commercial buildings.

Who gets to vote on this issue?

All voters in the city of Lansing will have the opportunity to weigh in as will voters who live in the portion of Delta Township that would be annexed.

What would it take for this to pass?

The measure must be approved by a majority of voters in the city of Lansing. It also must be approved separately by a majority of the voters living within the section of the township that would be annexed.

Only two registered voters live in that area of Delta, which means both of those township voters will need to vote "yes" to approve annexation. If neither of those two Delta Township voters show up to the polls, the attempt at annexation will fail, Lansing City Attorney Jim Smiertka said.

How did this get to the ballot?

Annexation of a township by a city can get to the ballot if a petitioner obtains signatures form at least 20% of the registered voters who live within the territory to be annexed, according to Michigan law.

DeVoogd, who owns land at 4880 South Waverly Road within the territory that would be annexed, obtained signatures from 100% of the two registered voters who live in the affected Delta Township area and filed a petition with the Eaton County Clerk's office in July.

Delta resident Daniel Murray says he and his wife, Sarah, signed the petition because they want to access Lansing's sewer services.

What happens if this is approved?

Lansing would be responsible for providing government services to the territory that was annexed. Currently, Delta Township contracts with the Eaton County Sheriff's office to police the area. If annexation goes through, the Lansing Police Department will take on those duties.

What is the rationale for doing this?

DeVoogd describes annexation as his "last ditch effort" to make his investment in South Waverly Road financially viable.

The Dexter, Mich. resident bought the property — about 2.5 acres of land that includes a vacant building that was formerly a pawn shop — for $75,000 in 2014, property records show.

"There's more flexibility for zoning in Lansing," DeVoogd said, referencing the city's plans to adopt a form-based zoning code that is based more on the physical form of a building rather than land use.

DeVoogd told city and township officials he wanted to rent out the property to a medical marijuana facility. He asked Delta Township trustees to lift their prohibition on marijuana businesses within the township, but the township board declined to do so.

This week, DeVoogd told the Lansing State Journal he is open to leasing the land to a business, such as a storage facility, that is not related to cannabis. He added, however, that he has struggled to drum up interest outside the medical marijuana industry.

"This is a long-term vacant corridor and I don't see anyone jumping up to take these vacant properties," DeVoogd said. "I've talked with other owners of parcels in the area and, partly due to the changing landscape of retail, they're having a difficult time making a go of it."

What would it take to bring a medical marijuana business to the area?

Even if annexation is successful, it is far from guaranteed that a medical marijuana establishment will be allowed to move into DeVoogd's property. DeVoogd said a medical marijuana business is ready to sign a lease if annexation is approved, though he declined to give the name of that business.

The tenant is interested in operating a vertically-integrated facility that might include a safety compliance laboratory to test medical marijuana, a transport business to ship it and a dispensary to sell it, DeVoogd said.

Any medical marijuana business would still need to apply for and receive licenses from the state of Michigan and the city of Lansing, and both of those processes are competitive.

Moreover, Lansing City Council would need to approve a zone change for the property to allow for a medical marijuana operation, and council members seem unlikely to do that.

What are public officials saying?

Members of Lansing City Council have been vocal in their opposition to DeVoogd's push for annexation.

DeVoogd met with officials from the Lansing Economic Area Partnership, the city's economic development agency, and with 3rd Ward Lansing City Council Member Adam Hussain.

Hussain said he made it clear he wasn't interested in annexation or in bringing another medical marijuana operation to his ward in southwest Lansing. Hussain said he was willing to work with DeVoogd to bring another type of business to the area.

"I thought we were being inundated and, really, overrun by these types of establishments, particularly in communities that are impoverished," said Hussain, who voted against Lansing's 2017 medical marijuana ordinance "Upon walking into the building, I said, 'This looks like a bank to me.' We talked about the fact that southwest Lansing is banking desert. It's a healthcare desert."

There is no upside to annexation, Delta Township Supervisor Ken Fletcher said.

"I think he didn't fully think this through," Fletcher said of DeVoogd. "His taxes are going to go up and the ... other parcel owners that he suckered into this are going to see their taxes go up as well."

Lansing's property tax rate is higher than Delta Township's. Additionally, unlike the township, Lansing imposes an income tax.

DeVoogd owes $8,298 in unpaid 2017 taxes for his South Waverly Road property, Eaton County tax records show. He told the Lansing State Journal this week that, if annexation is approved, he would pay those taxes the day after the election. The city reviews tax history before granting medical marijuana licenses.

If annexation fails, DeVoogd said he plans to cut his losses and sell the property.

"Let someone else fight that fight," he said.

How do I vote?

Visit the Michigan Secretary of State website to find your polling place. The deadline to register to vote in the general election was Oct. 9.

Polls will be open Nov. 6 from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. There is no early in-person voting in Michigan, but you have until Nov. 3 to request an absentee ballot from your city or township clerk.

More:

Nov. 2018 election: A guide to Ingham County's proposed phone fee hike to fund 911

2018 midterm elections: Q&As with candidates for local, statewide races

Contact Sarah Lehr at (517) 377-1056 or slehr@lsj.com. Follow her on Twitter @SarahGLehr.