This meeting was held in person at City Hall.
Commissioner Abrons was absent
DENIED: 711 Church Street PUD Zoning and Site Plan from developer. Proposal to rezone 1.1 acres from R4C (Multiple-Family Dwelling) to PUD to allow development of a 450,000 square foot 17 story apartment building. The building would have 273 apartments with over 1000 bedrooms, and commercial space on the ground floor. Planning voted to deny in a 2-5 vote. (Legistar)
- The developer (LV Collective) held a public engagement meeting about this project on May 17, 2023: https://a2council.com/711-church-street-citizen-participation-meeting-may-17-2023/
- In a report dated February 6, 2024 (link), Planning staff recommended denial of both the PUD Zoning and Site Plan proposals. Staff recommended PUD zoning should be denied because “The proposal fails to meet the standards of approval for beneficial effects and does not provide unique benefits which could not be achieved through other zoning classifications. Additionally, inadequate justification is given for inconsistency with the Comprehensive Plan.” Staff recommended the site plan be denied “because the plan does not meet the dimensional standards of its zoning designation.”
- At the meeting, Planning Commissioners amended proposed PUD zoning to remove a requirement for 6 workforce housing units, and increase the affordable housing contribution fee from 15% to 17%. Planning Commissioners also added requirements for public art and increased bicycle parking.
- https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2023/12/17-story-high-rise-is-too-big-ann-arbor-planning-staff-tells-developer.html
- https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2024/02/17-story-ann-arbor-high-rise-fails-to-get-commissions-support-now-on-to-council.html
- Council amended the PUD rezoning at first reading on April 1, 2024. https://a2council.com/ann-arbor-city-council-april-1-2024/
- Lowering the standard for LEED certification
- Eliminating specification of materials
- Clarifying allowable height to permit a double story
- Adding geothermal technology for a “modest proportion of the buildings energy use” (8%)
- Reducing the developer’s obligation to fund public art. The contribution will be $50,000 rather than a percentage of project cost (as is required by ordinance)
- City Council adopted the amended PUD rezoning at second reading, and approved the site plan and development agreement, on May 6, 2024. https://a2council.com/ann-arbor-city-council-may-6-2024/
Legistar and Video Links
Legistar: https://a2gov.legistar.com/MeetingDetail.aspx?ID=1147066&GUID=5D46DB86-53B5-4319-A947-9FA89A90E2F1
YouTube: https://youtu.be/aePeE_MkoIY (video is missing first 19 minutes)
CTN Video: https://ctnvideo.a2gov.org/CablecastPublicSite/show/9280
Meeting Length: 4h 1m