A2Council Meeting Summaries

Month: August 2022

Ann Arbor City Planning Commission: August 16, 2022

This meeting was held in person at City Hall.

Commissioner Abrons was absent.

TABLED: A site plan for Platt Road Townhomes will combine four lots at 3680, 3696, 3746, & 3788 Platt Road to create an 8.4 acre site.  A proposal will construct 43 townhomes in 11 buildings subject to a variance from street trees located outside the right-of-way, and a wetland use permit.

APPROVED: Recommendation that City Council approve the rezoning of 190 parcels (approximately 210 acres) at West Stadium and North Maple to Transit Corridor Zoning district (TC-1):

  • 2260 Abbott Avenue, 514 Burwood Avenue, 109-317 Collingwood Drive, 2001-2050 Commerce Drive, 2324-2550 Dexter Avenue/Road, 1917-2040 Federal Boulevard, 2155-2891 Jackson Avenue, 2150-2610 West Liberty Street, 155-512 North Maple Road, 300-775 South Maple Road, 1900-1915 Pauline Boulevard, 2307 Shelby Avenue, 1785-2550 West Stadium Boulevard, 2390-2394 Winewood Avenue
  • Commissioner Sauve recused herself, explaining that she is a landowner within the designated re-zoning area.
  • Commissioner Lee recused himself, explaining his employer (Oxford Properties) manages a property at 510 S Maple, which is in the re-zoning designation zone.
  • This was approved by City Council at the November 10, 2022 meeting: https://a2council.com/ann-arbor-city-council-november-10-2022

Legistar and Video Links

Legistar: https://a2gov.legistar.com/MeetingDetail.aspx?ID=954618&GUID=EC1EBF1B-D1FD-479D-BD46-57E62E7CF663

YouTube: https://youtu.be/evhOTgqQEDE

CTN Video: https://ctnvideo.a2gov.org/CablecastPublicSite/show/7294

Meeting Length: 2h 15m

Ann Arbor City Council: August 15, 2022

This Ann Arbor City Council meeting was held in person at City Hall. Members of the public can participate in public hearings and public comment either in person or via phone.

Ann Arbor City Council Meeting Summary

APPROVED: Three amendments to the Uniform Development Code (UDC): (Legistar)

  • A limitation on the number of State marijuana licenses per lot is removed, so that several licenses can be ‘stacked’ on the same parcel. Other restrictions – zoning district permitted use regulations, physical separation distances, and the maximum cap for provisioning center/retailers and designated consumption facilities – remain in effect. Added at the 7/18/22 Council meeting: an amendment to the requirement that all activities occur indoors will allow curbside service at marijuana provisioning centers, retailers, and microbusinesses.
  • New site plans include requirements and procedures for installing street trees in the right-of-way. Changes to linear frontage calculation will prevent overcrowding of trees. Escrow deposit and refund related to these tree plantings are eliminated.
  • For site plans, modification to landscape requirements is permitted under certain conditions. This amendment adds an eligibility requirement and re-organizes modification conditions, standards of approval, and approval procedures.
  • The Planning Commission approved these changes at the March 15, 2022 meeting: https://a2council.com/ann-arbor-city-planning-commission-march-15-2022

APPROVED: Amendments to the UDC changing parking requirements. Parking requirements are eliminated for residential dwellings, adult day care centers, child care centers, and outdoor residential recreation facilities. Eliminated: requirements for off-street parking spaces for residential units located more than 300 feet from a bus stop and in areas with limited street parking. Also eliminated: any requirements for a “Parking Plan” of proposed off-street parking and an analysis of public parking and transit facilities in the vicinity. Parking maximums are established for the Transit Corridor (TC-1) zoning district. Requirements for Electric Vehicle (EV) ready and installed parking are amended to only apply to newly constructed parking. (Legistar)

APPROVED: $4,577,354.95 contract for application of cape sealing pavement preservation treatment on 10 major streets and 38 minor/local streets. citywide crack sealing of approximately 10 miles of major streets and 25 miles of minor/local streets. (Legistar)

APPROVED: $639,726 construction contract (with $64,000 contingency) for filling sidewalk gaps on Ellsworth Road between State and Stone School. (Legistar)

APPROVED: A total of $2,045,700 in construction contracts for the resurfacing Scio Church Road between South Maple Road and South Seventh Street, filling sidewalk gaps on the north side of the road, installing three (3) new crosswalks, converting on-street parking into bike lanes, and adding stormwater infiltration. (Legistar)

APPROVED: $698,808.92 construction contract for pavement marking maintenance and A2 Vision Zero Quick Build Projects. (Legistar)

APPROVED: $121,978 contract for redesign of the City’s website. (Legistar)

APPROVED: $853,211 contract with the Ecology Center to provide Resource Recovery Education, Outreach, Engagement, and Marketing for five years. (Legistar)

APPROVED: For the purpose of running a gas line, the City will grant two easements to DTE Gas Company: 1) across the north end of Siller Terrace (south of Virginia Park) and 2) on the south side of Dexter Avenue near the intersection at N. Maple (northwest corner of Veterans Park). (Legistar)

APPROVED: The City Administrator is authorized to execute a letter to the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) in support of noise abatement and an environmental impact study of noise on M-14 from Maple Road to Main Street. (Legistar)

APPROVED: The annual meeting between the City Council and members of the Downtown Development Authority will be cancelled for 2022. Cancellation of this meeting is a deviation from the parking agreement that requires these annual meetings. (Legistar)

APPROVED: The City will pay $24,500 to Deborah Gordon-Gurfinkel and Elihau Gurfinkel. This payment will settle a claim related to injuries caused by a trip and fall on a pothole on Sunset Road. The injury occurred in August 2020 when Sunset Road was designated as a “Healthy Street.” (Legistar)

TABLED: A resolution from the Renters Commission urges City Council to adopt an ordinance creating a Right to Renew for renters in Ann Arbor. This resolution was tabled at the request of the City Attorney’s office. A draft ordinance (attached to the resolution) grants tenants a Right to Renew a lease, subject to specific exceptions (“just cause” for eviction). Landlords would adhere to a timeline for communicating terms of renewal (or explanation of non-renewal) consistent with the Early Leasing Ordinance: tenants will receive a good faith offer to renew (or notice of non-renewal with explanation) no later than 180 days before the end of the current lease period. A tenant will have thirty days (up to 150 days before the end of the current lease) to accept/reject terms of renewal. A landlord’s failure to comply will result in payment of relocation assistance to the tenant. (Legistar)

A2ELNEL Voting Chart

Ann Arbor City Council Voting Chart for August 15, 2022 Part 1
Ann Arbor City Council Voting Chart for August 15, 2022 Part 2
Ann Arbor City Council Voting Chart for August 15, 2022 Part 3
Ann Arbor City Council Voting Chart for August 15, 2022 Part 4

Ann Arbor City Council: August 4, 2022

This Ann Arbor City Council meeting was held in person at City Hall. Members of the public can participate in public hearings and public comment either in person or via phone.

CM Hayner was absent

Ann Arbor City Council Meeting Summary

APPROVED: An amendment to the Uniform Development Code (UDC) adds “religious assembly” as a primary use in the M1 (Limited Industrial) district. This amendment was requested by Oxford Properties. A second amendment to the UDC reduces minimum lot sizes, areas, and setbacks in the R2A zoning district. The minimum lot size in the R2A zoning district was previously 8,500 square feet and is now 5,000 square feet. The previous minimum lot area per dwelling was 4,250 square feet and is now 2,500 square feet. The rear setback requirement is reduced from 30 to 20 feet. These amendments to R2A were initiated by the Planning Commission. (Legistar)

APPROVED: The 1.15 acre City-owned property at 1146 South Maple sold to Avalon Housing for $260,000. In 2019, the City exercised a right of first refusal in order to buy this property for $260,000. Avalon plans to develop 14 units of affordable housing on this site. (Legistar)

APPROVED: $285,524.06 contract for engineering and design services related to the repair/replacement of the vehicle and pedestrian bridge at Gallup Park. (Legistar)

APPROVED: $59,000 in allocations from the FY23 Community Event Fund budget. The Ann Arbor Community Events Committee recommends funding to sixteen different community organizations and events in amounts ranging between $125 (Veterans Day Memorial) and $32,000 (Ann Arbor Summer Festival). (Legistar)

APPROVED: A resolution authorizes the City Attorney to investigate all legal courses of action to protect health, welfare, and safety concerns relative to the Hexavalent chromium spill. (Legistar)

A2ELNEL Voting Chart

Ann Arbor City Council Voting Chart for August 4, 2022 Part 1
Ann Arbor City Council Voting Chart for August 4, 2022 Part 2
Ann Arbor City Council Voting Chart for August 4, 2022 Part 3

Ann Arbor City Planning Commission: August 3, 2022

This meeting was held in person at City Hall.

Commissioner Clarke was absent.

APPROVED: Site plan for 2424 East Stadium Boulevard (University Inn site) to construct 185 dwelling units in a 4-story building totaling approximately 215,000 square feet. Three parcels at 2424, 2452 East Stadium Boulevard and 1950 Manchester Road would be combined to make a 3.2 acre site. An existing 3,100-sq ft office building located at 1950 Manchester will be demolished and adjacent 14,400-sq ft office building facing E. Stadium will be reduced to 7,400 square feet.

APPROVED: A proposal to convert 23,462 square feet of retail space to 42 residential units at 2502 Packard (“The George”). At the suggestion of the petitioner, a motion was made to set aside four units (and preserve retail space on the western end); the motion was withdrawn before it could be voted on.

APPROVED: Special Exception Use for a childcare center (A Child’s Place) for up to 30 children and required caregivers at 1301 Morningside Drive.

Legistar and Video Links

Legistar: https://a2gov.legistar.com/MeetingDetail.aspx?ID=954617&GUID=30D1D7C6-6467-4F73-ADDB-4F97FEA39411

YouTube: https://youtu.be/l-UJltwgDGQ

CTN Video: https://ctnvideo.a2gov.org/CablecastPublicSite/show/7235

Meeting Length: 4h 12m

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My name is Elizabeth Nelson, and I believe that your local government should be accessible and transparent. Since 2018 , I have sent out a newsletter before every Council meeting with my summary of agenda items coming before City Council, plus news and events of interest to Ann Arbor residents.

After each Council meeting, I create and post voting charts so that you can easily see how Council voted, and update this website with meeting summaries that include links to the City’s Legistar website, CTN’s YouTube video, and articles published on MLive.