Come see the proposal for the new Comprehensive Land Use Plan tonight at Planning Commission

Proposed future zoning from tonight's Planning Commission Presentation. 

Gentle readers, tonight is a very important meeting of the Planning Commission. Here's the agenda. 

Call to action: please call or write Planning Commission. Tell them that you support the new Comprehensive Land Use Plan but that they should skip the Retail Hub and Innovation Hub districts. While you are at it, encourage smaller minimum lot sizes and a larger and taller downtown. 

The consultants who have been working on the updated Comprehensive Land Use Plan will be presenting their proposal for the new plan. I've been a member of the Comprehensive Land Use Steering Committee, which has advised the consultants during the duration of this process. 

Overall I think the proposed plan does a great job of addressing the goals Council set forth: improving affordability, equity, and sustainability. 

Now I am going to nitpick. 

• I want to make sure that in the low rise residential district, the maximum height is at least 45' and that minimum lot size is no more than 1200 sq ft. This will help to maximize affordability by reducing land costs for projects. It will allow more people to live near transit and their workplaces improving sustainability. You can read more about my lot size thoughts here: Legalize Cottage Courts.
• The Core/Downtown Hub district should be expanded. It should reach at least south to Hoover, east to Washtenaw, and north to the river. I also think the North Main Corridor should be Core/Downtown Hub. This area is well served by transit and close to amenities like the Border to Border Trail. I'd love to see some high rises here to great people when the enter the city from the North. Expanding downtown will have the added benefit of making it more costly for U of M to expand into city land. There should also be no height limit for this district. It's wild that Ann Arbor made one tall building in 1969 and has not built anything even close to that height since then. Bring on true skyscrapers. They skyline is looking too uniform and boxy. As for the case for expanding downtown, check out Abdul Ateya's article here: Improving Housing Affordability by Expanding Downtown.
  
• Finally, I don't think there is any need for the Innovation and Retail districts. My understanding is that these districts would limit the amount of housing that can be built in these zones. To put it plainly, we are in a housing crisis, not a strip mall crisis--well not the sort of crisis where we need to preserve our existing strip malls. These districts go beyond the mandates that council set forth and they add needless complication to the zoning code. If you would like to take a deep dive into this, please check out the Leaf-Levin Memo: Restrictive Districts. 

Again, the call to action for you, gentle reader, is to call-in tonight or email Planning Commission and encourage them to go farther. This is a generational opportunity to begin to address our community's affordability and sustainability crises. The Planning Commission meeting starts tonight at 7. Make sure you follow the #a2Council hashtag on Bluesky for blow by blow coverage. 

Ann Arbor City Council Preview: January 21, 2025

 

Gentle readers, tonight is a special Tuesday edition of #a2Council. Here's the agenda. The meeting is pretty short and a lot of the drama will likely be in the public comments at the start of the meeting. People will be calling in to share their thoughts DC-2, the resolution to authorize the city administrator to engage the AADL in discussion regarding the potential development on the Library Lot. If you want to know what we think about the Library Lot, please read this guest opinion: Desolate and Uninviting—The Failure of 2018’s Proposal A and the Future of the Library Lot.

The meeting kicks off with a scant, 5-item consent agenda. Of note, CA-1, street closures for the Shamrocks and Shenanigans run, March 9th. 

There are no public hearings on the agenda tonight, but there is a ordinance first reading. C-1 is an ordinance to amend the rules around best value procurement. 

On to the resolutions. DC-1 is a resolution authorizing a settlement City of Ann Arbor v 201 N Fourth. My reading of this is that the owner of 201 N Fourth accidentally built onto a city owned alley. My understanding is that this settlement has the 201 N Fourth buying the encroached upon property for an undisclosed price. 

DC-2 is tonight's spicy chili and what many of the public comments will be about. This resolution may be the beginning of the end of the Library Lot Debacle. The Ann Arbor District Library has expressed interest in working with the city to build something on the Library Lot. This resolution directs the administrator to begin working with the AADL on this. It is very exciting to see something happening here. 

Wrapping up the evening we have, DS-1 is a resolution to issue up to $12m in bonds for capital improvements to Fire Station No. 4. 

If you want to follow the blow by blow tonight, make sure you check out the #a2Council hashtag on Bluesky. 

Ann Arbor City Council Preview: January 6, 2025

 

Gentle readers, tonight is the first #a2Council meeting of the new year. Here's the agenda. 

The evening kicks off with a modest, 10-item consent agenda. Of note, CA-1, a resolution to approve $16,000 for mussel relocation relating to the Gallup Bridge construction project. CA-2 is a resolution approving a contract with the shelter association of Washtenaw County for 2024-2025 winter emergency shelter and warming center. 

There are four public hearings on the docket this evening. PH-1/B-1 is for the second reading of an ordinance to amend the Universal Development Coder rules for fences, reimbursements, & public and private utilities. PH-2/B-2 is for the second reading of an ordinance updating the snow emergency parking rules. PH-3/B-3 is for the second reading of the ordinance preventing landlords from charging exorbitant pre-tenancy fees to potential renters. Really glad to see council addressing this. PH-4/DS-1 is a public hearing on setting the cost for selling new city flags. The proposal is $10.00 for a "parade flag" and $65.00 for a "large city flag." 

There are just two resolutions on the agenda this evening. DC-1 is a resolution to approve a contract for legal services with Dykema to take point on the lawsuit stemming from city employees refusing to get vaccinated against COVID. The other is the aforementioned DS-1 pertaining to flag sales. 

If you want to follow the blow by blow tonight, make sure you check out the #a2Council hashtag on Bluesky. 
 

Ann Arbor City Council Preview: December 16, 2024

 

Gentle reader, tonight is the last #a2Council meeting of the year. Here's the agenda. 

The real spicy chili tonight will be during public comment reserved time. Several people will be calling in to protest the elimination of sidewalk gaps. Look, I'm all for saving trees when possible, but the city must prioritize closing sidewalk gaps. A good compromise would be eliminating on-street parking to allow for both trees and sidewalks. 

The meeting kicks off with a modes, 10-item consent agenda. Of note, CA-1 and CA-2 are for park improvements. You love to see it. CA-7 is to accept an election headquarters grant. Nice. 

There is one public hearing on the agenda this evening. PH-1/B-1 is on the second reading of an amendment to the UDC that expands the zones where Child Care Centers and Private Schools can be located. 

There are two ordinance first readings on the docket this evening. C-1 is an ordinance to amend on-street parking rules around snow. C-2 is an ordinance to add a new section to the building code to regulate pre-tenancy fees for renters. Glad to see this coming. 

On to the resolutions: DC-1 is a resolution to amend the rules agreement with Recycle Ann Arbor for running the Drop-Off Station. DC-2 is a resolution to appoint Aaron Cooper and Patricia Manley to the Independent Community Police Oversight Commission. DS-1 is a resolution to authorize publication of the updates to the zoning code from PH-1/B-1. 

If you want to follow the blow by blow tonight, make sure you check out the #a2Council hashtag on Bluesky. 

Ann Arbor City Council Preview: December 2, 2024

 

Gentle readers, it's #a2Council Night in Ann Arbor. Here's the agenda. 

The evening kicks off with a scant, 6-item consent agenda. Of note, CA-2: the city is buying a tandem axel dump truck. 

There is one public hearing on the docket this evening. PH-1/B-1 is for the second reading of the ordinance to ban putting trash cans in bike lane. 

There is one ordinance first reading on the agenda this evening. C-1 amends the UDC rules on fences, reimbursements, public and private utilities. 

On to the resolutions. DC-1 is a resolution to accept grant from the American Lung Association and appropriate Climate Action Millage funds to purchase two electric garbage trucks. DC-2 is a resolution to approve the 2025 council calendar.  

DS-1 and DS-2 are this evening's spiciest chilis. DS-1 is a resolution to approve a grant contract with MDoT for engineering services for a runway extension at the Ann Arbor Municipal Airport. DS-2 is a resolution to approve a professional services agreement with C&S Engineers, Inc.  for the runway safety extension project. 

If you want to follow the blow by blow tonight, make sure you check out the #a2Council hashtag on Bluesky. 

Ann Arbor City Council Preview: November 18, 2024

 

Gentle reader, it's #a2Council night. Here's the agenda. 

The evening kicks off with a modes, 11-item consent agenda. Of note, CA-1, street closures for Midnight Madness. I'm particularly interested in CA-4, Miller Ave improvements. This will give the city a two-way cycle track lane extending from downtown to Maple Ave. Nice. 

There are no public hearings or ordinance second reading on the docket this evening. There are however two ordinance first readings. C-1 is the first reading of an ordinance that will allow private schools and daycare centers in more zones. Specifically private schools will be allowed in RE (Research) and ORL (Office/Research/Limited Light Industrial) zoning districts. Daycares will be allowed in R1 (Single-Family Dwelling), R2A (Two-Family Dwelling), R2B (Two-Family Dwelling and Student Housing), RE (Research), and ORL (Office/Research/Limited Light Industrial) zoning districts. C-2 is an first reading aimed at keeping trash and recycling cans out of bike lanes. You love to see it. 

Further down the agenda, there are two resolutions. DC-1 is the establishment of a new order of succession for the new council. DC-2 is a resolution supporting the state repealing the ban on municipalities banning single use plastics. 

We are going to try something new tonight. Please join us on Bluesky where we will be live skeeting tonight's #a2Council meeting like the old days. 

Ann Arbor City Council Preview: October 21, 2024

 

Gentle readers, it's #a2Council Night in Ann Arbor. Here's the agenda. 

The evening kicks off with a scant, 6-item consent agenda. Of note, CA-4, a Downtown Development District Liquor License for a new Thai restaurant coming to 332 S. Main St.

There are 5 public hearings on the docket tonight. The first two are routine township island annexations. My only question here is why we are we making these new parcels R1B. The absolute lowest density anything in the city should be is R1D (aside: but really things should be much denser).

PH-3/B-3 is the second reading of the new flag and seal ordinance. PH-4/B-4 is the second reading of the new right to sit ordinance. PH-5/B-5 is the second reading of the energy benchmarking ordinance. And then we have an orphaned B-6 a second reading of changes to the Unified Development Code relating to Height Exceptions, Stormwater Reviews, Development Approvals, Finished Grade. 

There is one ordinance first reading on tonight's agenda. C-1 is changes to fire prevention code. 

Finally we get to the resolutions. DC-1 is a resolution to publish the changes brought on by B-1. DC-2 is a resolution to revise the council calendar. DC-3 is a rare non-consent agenda street closure--William Street between East William Street and East Madison Streets and East Jefferson and Maynard Streets on October 25th for a Umich fundraiser. 

That's it, gentle reader. What items are you most excited for? Hopefully we will see you there. The CTN stream starts at 7 pm. Make sure you follow the action on the #a2Council hashtag or on a2mi.social. 

Ann Arbor City Council Preview: September 16, 2024

Gentle reader, it's #a2Council night in Ann Arbor. Here's the agenda. 

The evening kicks off with a scant, 11-item consent agenda. Of note, CA-1 street closures for the Out of the Darkness Suicide Prevention Walk on October, 6th. 

There are two public hearings on the agenda this evening. PH-1/B-1 is a second reading of an ordinance to amend the Unified Development Code to add rules for Vehicular Use Area Buffers. PH-2/B-2 is on minor amendments to the Leaf Blower Ordinance. 

There are 4 ordinance first readings on the docket tonight. C-1 and C-2 are for routine township island annexations. I'd love to see these be something denser that R1B, which is far too suburban of a zoning for the city. C-3 is for changes to the Home Energy Rating Disclosure, or HERD, ordinance. C-4 is an ordinance to add a new section, right to sit, to the discrimination ordinance. 

On to the resolutions. DC-1 is a resolution in support of C-4. DC-2 is a resolution to recognize Creative Washtenaw as a Civic Nonprofit Organization. DC-3 is a resolution on how to use the County Mental Health and Public Safety Millage Rebate. That's right, the dreaded 40/40/20 resolution is back. 

That's it, gentle reader. What items are you most excited for? Hopefully we will see you there. The CTN stream starts at 7 pm. Make sure you follow the action on the #a2Council hashtag or on a2mi.social. 

Ann Arbor City Council Preview: September 3, 2024

 Gentle readers, tonight is a special Tuesday edition of #a2Council. Here's the agenda. 

The evening kicks off with a respectable, 20-item consent agenda. CA-1 is a street closure for the UM Show Your Love A2 Party on Sunday, September 15. CA-2 is a street closure for the Ann Arbor Marathon on Sunday, October 13. 

There are 2 public hearings on the docket this evening. PH-1/B-1 is on changes to the planning commission ordinance to replace gendered language and also to change "Master Plan" to "Comprehensive Plan. PH-2/B-2 is the second reading of the Washtenaw/E Stadium TC-1 District. Very exciting to see this moving forward. 

There are 3 ordinance first readings tonight. C-1 is some pretty minor changes clarifying the text of the Leaf Blower Ordinance. C-2 is on some modifications to the TC-1 zoning rules. They seem pretty minor, but I'm not sure that I love them. Curious to hear what others think. C-3 is some minor changes to the zoning ordinance to include things like allowing elevators and stairwells to exceed hight limits by 12 feet in mixed use zones.  

On to the resolutions. DC-1 is a resolution to allow more in-home occupations in residential zones. Nice. DC-2 is a resolution to appoint Kimberly Buselmeier as the City of Ann Arbor Interim Controller and Chief Financial Officer. DB-1 is a resolution to accept the new city flag design. DB-2 a resolution to relocate Precinct 2-14 from Palmer Commons, 100 Washtenaw Avenue, to Angell Elementary School, 1608 S. University Avenue, starting with the November 5, 2024 General Election. 




That's it, gentle reader. What items are you most excited for? Hopefully we will see you there. The CTN stream starts at 7 pm. Make sure you follow the action on the #a2Council hashtag or on a2mi.social. 

Ann Arbor City Council Preview: August 8, 2024

 

Gentle reader, tonight is a special Thursday edition of #a2Council. Here's the agenda. 

The evening kicks off with a healthy, 22-item consent agenda. CA-1 is a street closure for Game Watch 2024 on September 21 and October 4. 

There are no public hearings of ordinance second readings on the agenda this evening. There is one ordinance first reading. C-1 is the first reading of the E Stadium/Washtenaw TC1 Rezoning. This will rezone portions of Washtenaw and Stadium TC1, Ann Arbor's new-ish transit oriented zoning district. 

The Stadium portion of the TC1 zone.

The Washtenaw portion of the TC1 zone

This is great to see. Hopefully we can see even more areas zoned TC1 in the coming months. 

There are 3 resolutions on the agenda this evening. DC-1 is a resolution to work with DTE to convert streetlights to LED streetlights. DC-2 is a resolution asking the administrator to work with MDOT to negotiate on transferring state-owned trunklines to Ann Arbor. This is good because it MDOT has stymied important street safety improvements. DC-3 is a resolution to accept grant a $1m grant from the EPA to develop a "Model Regional Resilience Network with Resilient Infrastructure in Ann Arbor and Washtenaw County." Neat.