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 Watson was absent
A2Council Update Video
Ann Arbor City Council Meeting Summary
APPROVED: An amended development agreement for the Southtown development at State and Stimson. Council first approved the rezoning of this block in September 2023 and this is the second amendment to the development agreement. (Legistar)
- This updated development agreement was approved at the Planning Commission on April 7, 2026. https://a2council.com/ann-arbor-city-planning-commission-april-7-2026/
- In December 2025, the original architect of Southtown filed a lien on the property because she was not paid for her work on the site plan. The architect told Mlive: “We have a lien on the property for $850,000 based on what they owe us”
- https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2025/12/challenges-surround-southtown-development-in-ann-arbor-as-demolition-begins.html
- The developer of Southtown, Heidi Poscher, submitted a new site plan for Southtown, drawn up by a new architect. The new plan adds 70+ housing units and eliminates first floor commercial space.
- The future site of Southtown is currently a vacant block just north of the Salvation Army. The homes on-site were razed last year and the developer is currently in bankruptcy.
- https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2026/04/despite-bankruptcy-filing-southtown-development-in-ann-arbor-still-on-with-new-plans.html
APPROVED: An allocation of $1.2 million will support the housing commission’s purchase of 800 Victors Way, near Briarwood Mall just east of State Street. The housing commission estimates a total cost of $20 million, which they will finance with low interest loans. A total of 114 apartments will be affordable to households earning 80% of Area Median Income. (Legistar)
APPROVED: A consultant contract for $200,000 will provide the city with a “Harms Report” and information to help guide a potential reparations program for the City of Ann Arbor. This contract originated with a resolution two years ago. In June 2024, the City Administrator was directed to study the feasibility, process, and structure of a potential Municipal Reparations program and report back to Council by December 2024. In February 2026, the City Administrator issued a Request for Proposals in order to find a consultant who could be hired to do the work. (Legistar)
- The city of Evanston, Illinois, implemented the very first municipal reparations program, which was recommended and implemented by a local, citizen-led committee. Evanston is a peer city which, like Ann Arbor, can tap into university resources and a population of engaged residents. The Evanston reparations program was discussed and debated by the local residents who might benefit from it: “From December 2019 through 2020, several town halls and more than a dozen reparations subcommittee meetings were hosted to solicit feedback from Black Evanstonians on what local repair would look like.”
- https://evanstonroundtable.com/2022/08/23/evanstons-historic-reparations-program-a-101-guide/
- The City of Evanston website links to documents that clarify the locally-sourced data that motivated and inspired the design of their reparations program.
- https://www.cityofevanston.org/government/initiatives/evanston_local_reparations.php#collapse11links-150-1
- In Evanston, locally generated reports informed what municipal reparations would fund. A citizen led committee currently guides how benefits are distributed. They did not outsource the task to consultants, but relied on the expertise and lived experience of residents.
- https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2026/06/ann-arbor-oks-up-to-200k-for-reparations-study-exploring-harms-to-black-residents.html
- https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2026/06/as-trump-administration-challenges-reparations-in-evanston-ann-arbor-not-deterred.html
APPROVED: By resolution, the City Administrator is directed to create a comprehensive “anti displacement plan” in response to the updated Comprehensive Land Use Plan. (Legistar)
- The Comprehensive Land Use Plan was approved by Council in March 2026: https://a2council.com/ann-arbor-city-council-march-16-2026/
- Within 90 days, the City Administrator must issue a report, which will include a definition of displacement relative to housing and businesses, best practices from peer cities that have adopted anti-displacement plans, a timeline for development of an Anti Displacement Plan, and potential recommendation for a consultant and cost.
- https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2026/06/ann-arbor-officials-call-for-comprehensive-anti-displacement-plan-as-city-grows.html
APPROVED: An ordinance regulating Solid Waste is updated with more precise terms. (Legistar)
- A staff memo explains that these changes “correct small oversights” related to changes adopted in December 2025. Those changes were approved at second reading in January 2026. https://a2council.com/ann-arbor-city-council-january-5-2026/
APPROVED: The City will spent $914,865.84 to purchase 6,804 solar photovoltaic modules for the Sustainable Energy Utility (SEU). The modules should cover more than 500 residential-scale solar installations. The modules will support the installation of solar in 2028 but are being purchased now to meet deadlines and preserve the city’s eligibility for a 30% federal Investment Tax Credit (ITC). The purchase price includes $44,906.40 for shipping and up to $34,700.40 ($5,783.40 per month) for storage until they can be used. (Legistar)
APPROVED: A City Charter amendment will be placed on the November ballot, in order to change how the city clerk handles signatures that appear on multiple nomination petitions. Currently, when someone signs more than one nomination petition (e.g. signing petitions for two candidates running for the same office), that signature is discarded and cannot count on either petition. A charter amendment will allow the signature to count once, on whichever petition where it is dated earlier. If a signature appears on two petitions with the same date, it will be discarded from both. (Legistar)
APPROVED: A City Charter amendment will be placed on the November ballot, modifying the start-date for city leaders elected after December 31, 2026. A charter amendment will delay the start date to the first Monday of the month following the regular City election. Currently, new City leaders take office slightly earlier: at noon on the first Monday following the regular City election. As a practical matter, this delays the beginning of a term by less than three weeks. (Legistar)
APPROVED (First Reading): A parcel at 3785 Varsity will be rezoned from M1 (Limited Industrial) to C2B (Business Service) to allow the construction of 50 apartment residential units across two buildings with parking beneath the buildings. The C2B zoning district permits unlimited non-owner occupied short term rentals (AirBnB). (Legistar)
- This was approved by the Planning Commission on May 5, 2026. https://a2council.com/ann-arbor-city-planning-commission-may-5-2026/
APPROVED (First Reading): Two abutting parcels (0.28 acres, total) at 225 and 235 Wagner Road will be rezoned from R1D to R2A to allow the construction of two principal dwelling units per parcel. Both parcels are currently vacant and will be developed by the Ann Arbor Community Land Trust. (Legistar)
- This was approved by the Planning Commission on May 5, 2026. https://a2council.com/ann-arbor-city-planning-commission-may-5-2026/
APPROVED (First Reading): A parcel of 1.2 acres at 700 N Main will be rezoned from R4C (Multiple Family Dwelling District) to R4E (Multiple Family Dwelling District), with a condition limiting maximum height to 75 feet. Then rezoning will allow a 6-story building with approximately 64 apartments. (Legistar)
- In discussion, Council Member Disch explained that the condition limiting height to 75 feet was meant to “blend this building in with the surrounding context.” Disch further explained that this condition could be eliminated with rezonings in accordance with the Comprehensive Land Use Plan: “we can choose to keep the R4E with conditions or not keep them. If we think it’s better not to keep them.”
- The developer presented plans at a public engagement meeting in February 2025: https://a2council.com/700-n-main-st-resident-participation-meeting-february-27-2025/
- This was approved by the Planning Commission on May 5, 2026. https://a2council.com/ann-arbor-city-planning-commission-may-5-2026/
APPROVED (First Reading): Amendments to the Unified Development Code will change criteria for a “sustainable development” to qualify for exceptions to normal zoning height limits. A “sustainable development” is eligible to exceed zoning height limits by 30%. (Legistar)
- Currently, a development qualifies as “sustainable” if it has the capacity and infrastructure for all-electric power, including future conversion. Moving forward, a “sustainable development” must use electricity as the only source of energy for heating/cooling, water heating, and all appliances. Proposed amendments allow for a new “fee in lieu” instead of meeting current requirements solar collector surface area. Currently, a “sustainable development” must provide solar collector surface area equal to 60% of building footprint; moving forward, a “sustainable development” can provide 20% of building footprint and pay a fee-in-lieu.
- This was approved by the Planning Commission on April 21, 2026. https://a2council.com/ann-arbor-city-planning-commission-april-21-2026/
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