A2Council Meeting Summaries

Month: February 2023

Ann Arbor City Planning Commission Ordinance Revisions Committee: February 28, 2023

This meeting was held remotely using the Zoom application. A recording of this session was not made available by the City. I uploaded my recording of the Zoom meeting to YouTube.

This was a meeting of the Ann Arbor City Planning Commission Ordinance Revisions Committee held on February 28, 2023. A potential City ordinance amendment was discussed which “seeks to add the specification of ‘Event Space’ to the list of specified uses under the UDC and designate it as a permitted use under the Mixed-Use Zoning District – Office District.” This ordinance amendment was requested by Winston Chester, Commercial Real Estate Analyst at Oxford Companies, who called into public comment at the end of the meeting (timestamp 1h 23m). No votes were held at this meeting.

This is the Legistar link for this meeting: https://a2gov.legistar.com/MeetingDetail.aspx?ID=1069448&GUID=0E8D236F-9D11-486D-95D9-98E3AC8241ED

Ann Arbor City Council: February 21, 2023

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.

Mayor Taylor was absent
CM Briggs was absent
CM Song was absent

Legistar
YouTube
Newsletter
Voting Chart

Ann Arbor City Council Meeting Summary

APPROVED: A resolution directing a new beginning of collaboration with the University of Michigan for reconstruction of the East Medical Center Drive bridge at an added cost of $2,050,000. The City’s contribution will be $500,000. Construction will be delayed to 2024. (Legistar)

  • This resolution was added to the January 23, 2023 agenda in substitution for a construction contract that would have rehabilitated and widened the East Medical Center Drive bridge in the 2023 construction session. It was postponed twice before approval at this meeting.
  • In discussion on January 23, 2023, City Council added language to the resolution requiring physical barriers as part of the sidewalk design. At the February 21, 2023 meeting, this reference to barriers was removed by friendly amendment. City staff explained that such barriers could only be installed on one side, would not provide additional safety, and would cost over a million dollars to implement.
  • https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2023/02/ann-arbor-oks-compromise-for-michigan-medicine-bridge-widening.html

APPROVED: A grant application to the U.S Department of Energy will ask for funds to support a Sustainable Energy Utility (SEU) and design, installation, and testing of microgrids at Bryant, Main Street, and a not-yet-built development to be determined. The federal Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnerships (GRIP) grant program can award a maximum of $250 million with fifty percent local matching funds. The City department of Sustainability and Innovations Sustainability & Innovations plans to request $40 – $50 million, with the City providing the majority of matching funds with proceeds from a millage approved by voters in November 2022. (Legistar)

APPROVED: An agreement with University of Michigan for $450,000 will support water treatment services. As part of preparation for a new water treatment plant, the City will run a “pilot water treatment plant”: a smaller-scale production system, to test and validate the proposed treatment changes before detailed design and construction of the new facility. The approved agreement is a partnership allows faculty and students from the University of Michigan to provide operational assistance, sampling, laboratory testing, data collection, analysis and reporting services for the pilot plant. (Legistar)

APPROVED: Amendments of the City’s Non-Discrimination ordinance. This ordinance prohibits discrimination based on a number of identities/circumstances such as actual or perceived age, arrest record, color, disability, educational association, ethnicity, etc. As amended, language is to added to include use of a “government issued ID card” to this list. A government-issued ID card is defined in the ordinance: one that may be issued by a federal, state or local government, specifically Washtenaw County. The ordinance prohibits discrimination against someone for use of such cards, except where there is “reasonable grounds” for determining it is counterfeit/improper or where federal/state law or court order requires different identification. (Legistar)

APPROVED: An agreement with Elevate Energy for $300,000 will provide administration and distribution services for a Low-Income Sustainability Grant program. The grant program will support households below 80% Area Median Income (AMI) with up to $10,000 for improvements that support home comfort, safety and efficiency. (Legistar)

APPROVED: An Ordinance amendment to repeal and replace the whole of Chapter 19 (Tax Exemptions for Housing Projects). This Chapter allows property tax exemption for certain low-income housing projects, also known as a PILOT (Payment in Lieu of Taxes). Currently, the chapter allows tax exemptions for affordable housing projects priced at 60% Area Median Income (AMI). The new Chapter allows tax exemption for housing projects priced at 80% AMI. (Legistar)

APPROVED: By resolution, Council approved a Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) for the Annex Group, which plans to acquire and develop 2050 Commerce Drive with 250 affordable homes, with an average household income at or below 60% of the Area Median Income (AMI). This project is newly eligible for PILOT due to final approval of the ordinance change in B-1 (see above). The changes in B-1 expand tax exemptions to housing projects for persons and families earning up to 80% of Area Median Income with a project average of 60% of Area Median Income. The housing project will be exempted from all ad valorem property taxes and shall pay an annual service charge in lieu of taxes equal to one dollar ($1.00) for each eligible housing unit in the housing project. (Legistar)

APPROVED: A resolution asking the City’s lobbyist to monitor, advocate for, and support common-sense gun safety legislation, including but not limited to, safe storage laws, universal background checks, extreme risk protection orders, protection for domestic violence survivors, and restoration of local control over firearms on public property. Note: the possession of weapons or firearms in public places is governed by state law. (Legistar)

POSTPONED: Street closures scheduled for April 1, 2023 would have permitted the Monroe Street Fair to take place adjacent to the Hash Bash. For over twenty years, the Fair has traditionally been held in coordination with the Hash Bash, providing restrooms and space for attendees of the Hash Bash to congregate. Last year and this year, the U of M plans to host the Spring Game on the same day. The City’s Fire Chief and Interim Police Chief asked Council to reject the permit for the Monroe Street Fair, because the combination of all three events in close proximity were a safety concern, compromising emergency response time. Council postponed making a decision until the next meeting on March 6, 2023. (Legistar)

A2Council Update Video

A2ELNEL Voting Chart

Ann Arbor City Council Voting Chart for February 21, 2023 Part 1
Ann Arbor City Council Voting Chart for February 21, 2023 Part 2
Ann Arbor City Council Voting Chart for February 21, 2023 Part 3

Briarwood Mall (Sears) Public Engagement Meeting: February 16, 2023

Owners of the former Sears at Briarwood Mall in Ann Arbor met with the public on February 16, 2023 at 6:30PM to share a proposal for rezoning and redevelopment. The Simon Property group plans to demolish the former Sears in order to build a new grocery store, a two-level retail building, an approximately four-level, multi-family residential building and an outlot building.

For additional information:
https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2023/02/demolition-of-old-sears-proposed-for-new-briarwood-mall-development.html

https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2023/02/learn-more-about-what-may-be-replacing-the-old-sears-store-at-briarwood-mall.html

This is the postcard that was sent to local residents:

Briarwood Mall (Sears) Resident Participation Meeting Feb 16 2023 Postcard Side 1
Briarwood Mall (Sears) Resident Participation Meeting Feb 16 2023 Postcard Side 2

3874 Research Park Drive (Sartorius) Public Engagement Meeting: February 15, 2023

This is my Zoom recording of a public engagement meeting on Feb 15, 2023 at 6:00PM held by Portage Capital Partners and Midwestern Consulting on behalf of Sartorius Bioanalytical Instruments. Developers are proposing a 112,000 square foot building addition at 3874 Research Park Drive, Ann Arbor, Michigan to be used for research/development and warehouse space. Additional parking spaces are also proposed. This will be Phase 2 of a previously approved and developed project.

For more information:
https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2023/02/growing-ann-arbor-flex-tech-development-planning-112000-square-foot-addition.html

This is the mailer that was sent to nearby residents:

3874 Research Park Drive (Sartorius) Public Engagement Meeting of February 15, 2023 Postcard Side 1
3874 Research Park Drive (Sartorius) Public Engagement Meeting of February 15, 2023 Postcard Side 2

Ann Arbor City Planning Commission: February 7, 2023

This meeting was held in person at City Hall.

Commissioner Hammerschmidt was absent.

APPROVED: Rezoning of 2.5 acres at 415 W. Washington from Public Land (PL) to Planned Unit Development (PUD) to permit the development of 157 residential units in a building constructed above the floodplain elevation. The PUD included a friendly amendment to allow a 10-foot minimum (setback) versus maximum (setback) along Liberty Street.

DISCUSSED (NO VOTES): An evaluation of the premiums and downtown zoning recommendations conducted by consultant Carlisle Wortman.

  • Link to the report: http://a2gov.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=11619662&GUID=CA1FF875-75BB-466D-82CC-B1DE962CE595
  • Highlights from the report:
    • Office: “The vacancy rates for the City overall are on an upward trend and the highest since the end of the recession: 11.7% for office space, 5.5% for flexible space and 10.3% for those categories combined. However, the vacancy rates are still lower than during the Great Recession (2008-2009)”
    • Housing: “Using D1 and D2 zoning districts in ESRI Business Analyst, the program estimated the growth in Downtown housing units in the table below. If these numbers are accurate, the City has met the goal Downtown Residential Task Force set goal in 2004 of 1,000 new units Downtown. However, the Downtown Market Dashboard states that increasing residential density in downtown was essential and could be achieved by allowing the adaptive re-use of office buildings as dwelling units, in addition to new residential construction.”
    • Conclusions: “Based on our research, we feel that the premiums are not effective in advancing the adopted and established goals of the City. The qualitative and quantitative data indicates that the premiums are not producing affordable housing units in an impactful manner, which has been the primary goal since the changes in 2019. Also, the goals of the premiums are not aligned with the most recent City plans. Therefore, the Planning Commission should examine options to change the Downtown zoning.”

Legistar and Video Links

Legistar: https://a2gov.legistar.com/MeetingDetail.aspx?ID=1067088&GUID=8F62206E-E21B-4DDA-809C-AC7F7CFA9F87

YouTube: https://youtu.be/HXhjgJRB4QA

CTN Video: https://ctnvideo.a2gov.org/CablecastPublicSite/show/7946

Meeting Length: 4h 2m

Ann Arbor City Council: February 6, 2023

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 Ghazi-Edwin was absent
CM Watson was absent

Legistar
YouTube
Newsletter
Voting Chart

Ann Arbor City Council Meeting Summary

Attached to this agenda was a communication from City Administrator Dohoney: a report on a survey conducted in 2022, regarding compliance with the City’s Prevailing Wage Ordinance. (Legistar)

APPROVED: Amendments to the UDC eliminate current exceptions and revise standards for alternative stormwater detention to allow more staff flexibility when site constraints make it infeasible to meet the full detention volume requirement. An exception for developments that do not increase total impervious surface has been eliminated; all site plans for developments over one acre in size must address the “First Flush” (first inch of runoff). Impervious areas related to ADA improvements, public sidewalk improvements, and existing areas on Historic structures are no longer exempted from stormwater management requirements. Requirements will not apply to sites less than one acre in size where there is no increase in impervious area. Amendments reorganize standards and requirements for stormwater management. (Legistar)

APPROVED: A property at 530 N. Division is rezoned from R4C (Multiple Family Dwelling District) to Planned Unit Development (PUD). As zoned R4C, the 0.19 acre parcel is permitted to have three units but it is currently nonconforming and contains four units. The rezoning to PUD will permit a three story addition on the rear of the quad-plex, each containing a six bedroom unit plus a below grade unit. (Legistar)

APPROVED: A site plan for 530 N. Division permits a three story addition on the rear of the quad-plex, each containing a six bedroom unit plus a below grade unit. (Legistar)

APPROVED: The Robert and Erma Hayden House at 1201 Gardner Avenue will be established as a historic district. (Legistar)

APPROVED: Street closure for the University of Michigan Presidential Inauguration Public Reception from 6:00 AM on Monday, March 6 until 8:00 PM on Wednesday, March 8, 2023. Washington Street between Fletcher and Thayer. (Legistar)

APPROVED: (first reading): Multiple parcels adding up to 67.6 acres at 1680 Dhu Varren Road, 1710 Dhu Varren Road, 2670 Pontiac Trail, 2672 Pontiac Trail, 2678 Pontiac Trail, and 2682 Pontiac Trail will be rezoned from Township (TWP) and R1C (Single-Family Dwelling District) to R4A (Multiple-Family Dwelling District) as part of the “Village of Ann Arbor” development site plan. Planned use is consistent with the adjacent zoning, land uses, and comprehensive land use plan. (Legistar)

POSTPONED: A resolution directing a new beginning of collaboration with the University of Michigan for reconstruction of the East Medical Center Drive bridge at an added cost of $2,050,000. The City’s contribution will be $500,000. Construction will be delayed to 2024. Resolution is postponed to February 21, 2023. (Legistar)

A2Council Update Video

A2ELNEL Voting Chart

Ann Arbor City Council Voting Chart for February 6, 2023 Part 1
Ann Arbor City Council Voting Chart for February 6, 2023 Part 2

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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.

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