Arbor Update

Ann Arbor Area Community News

City Council: More Zoning

20. July 2009 • Juliew
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City Council: Monday, July 20 at 7:00 pm.
Ann Arbor City HallAgenda

Appetizer:
Herbert Dreiseitl will present his proposed public art designs at a reception at City Hall Monday, July 20 from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. at City Hall.

Highlights:

  • City Place Site Plan and Development Agreement Public Hearing (request for postponement has been entered by the developer).
  • A2D2 Zoning Changes
  • Resolution for a temporary stop on development within the R4C and R2A Zoning Districts
  • Public hearing and action on AATA Park and Ride Lot Site Plan (southwest of the intersection of Plymouth Road and US-23).



  1. The City Place site plan hearing will most likely be postponed although the public hearing for this Monday will be on the agenda and therefore available for comment tomorrow night. If the developer’s request goes through and this is tabled, a continuation of this by-right public hearing will be held at the August 6 meeting. The developer would also like a second PUD proposal to be considered in November.

    The AATA Park and Ride proposal is to construct a 245-space commuter parking lot to allows car/vanpooling parking and provide public transportation access via AATA bus into the City. There was some discussion about coordinating this with the University, since many people using the Park and Ride will be University employees, but this currently is solely an AATA venture.


       —Juliew    Jul. 20 '09 - 03:38AM    #
  2. It’s odd because the developer requests a postponement of the hearing till August 6 but then of the project itself until the first meeting in November. Apparently he doesn’t actually want the project to be considered on August 6, which begs the question of why there should be a public hearing then. Further, he states that he really doesn’t want that project but is hoping for a new PUD.

    If I were on council, I’d table the whole thing until November rather than sit through another public hearing in August.


       —Vivienne Armentrout    Jul. 20 '09 - 04:15AM    #
  3. I thought that was odd too Vivienne. I think he wants the PUD and the by-right project to essentially be considered at the same time just to hedge his bets. Maybe a political move to see where his votes are?


       —Juliew    Jul. 20 '09 - 04:39AM    #
  4. I received an email from the Germantown Neighborhood Association that makes the point that the composition of the council may very well have changed by the November meeting, so that new council members would not have the opportunity to listen to the views and information expressed in the public hearing.

    I think that Council should postpone the entire consideration, including the public hearing, until a time certain in November. Splitting off the public hearing really does appear to be excessive manipulation of the process.


       —Vivienne Armentrout    Jul. 20 '09 - 08:03PM    #
  5. Strongly agreed. Moreover, the council should revisit the Germantown study committee, and pass it this time.


       —Larry Kestenbaum    Jul. 20 '09 - 08:30PM    #
  6. We’re in total agreement on this one, Larry!


       —Vivienne Armentrout    Jul. 20 '09 - 09:17PM    #
  7. There is a Park & Ride lot on Green, South of Plymouth, which is served by AATA and UM buses. What is the reason to build another one at US 23 & Plymouth, about half-a-mile away?


       —Henry Brysk    Jul. 26 '09 - 04:08AM    #
  8. The Green Road lot can’t handle the demand for parking.

    http://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/index.ssf/2009/04/parkandride_lot_connected_to_a.html

    It’s also part of AATA’s strategy to convert commuter traffic coming into the city into park-and-ride users.

    “The next step for AATA is developing park and ride lots to intercept commuter traffic before it enters the City. A new, 300 space lot on Plymouth Road at US-23 is being designed. Completion is scheduled for the summer of 2009. Service is planned to operate from this lot to the UM Medical Center and Central Campus, as well as directly to Kerrytown and downtown Ann Arbor via the Broadway Bridge. AATA planning for future park and ride lots include west of Ann Arbor near Jackson & Baker or Jackson & Zeeb, south of Ann Arbor near I-94 & Ann Arbor-Saline Rd. or I-94 & State St., east of Ann Arbor near US 23 & Washtenaw Avenue, and north of Ann Arbor near US 23 & N. Territorial Rd. No specific locations for these park & ride lots have been identified.”

    http://www.theride.org/faq.asp

    Explained at the bottom of the page.


       —John Q.    Jul. 26 '09 - 06:39AM    #