Arbor Update

Arts

Art Fair 2007

Posted by Juliew on 18. July 2007

Don’t forget that this is Art Fair week. The Fairs run today through Saturday at 6:00pm.

The Ann Arbor Convention & Visitor’s Bureau has a nice web site set up for the fairs. It even has a nifty interactive map that will help you find the nearest Port-A-John or shuttle bus stop. The web address is: http://annarbor.org/events/artfairs.asp.

Comment [6]

EMU tells Fallon to hit the road

Posted by Chuck Warpehoski on 16. July 2007

It’s official EMU President John Fallon got the boot on Sunday.

The Trustees meet today, and there’s speculation that he may not be the only one to go.

That’s what, 2 presidents gone in 2 years? Let’s hope we see some solid leadership at EMU with the next president.

Comment [11]

City Council

City Council: A2D2 Recommendations

Posted by Juliew on 16. July 2007

Monday, July 16 at 7:00 pm.
City Council Agenda

Highlights:

• Resolution to Approve Ann Arbor Discovering Downtown (A2D2) Zoning Recommendations
• Resolution to Approve the First Amendments to Broadway Village at Lower Town Development Agreement
• Amendments to the Farmer’s Market Ordinance to “replace the nine member City Market Commission with the five member Public Market Advisory Commission, clarify the role, functions and duties of the Public Market Advisory Commission, and make the requirements for vendors at the market consistent with Market Operating Rules.”
• Amendments to the Open Space Ordinance to “provide a definition of active open space, modify the definition of open space, and provide minimum active open space requirements for multiple-family zoning districts.”

Comment [45]

Local

Weekend Fun

Posted by Juliew on 13. July 2007

There are a lot of fun things to do this weekend in and around Ann Arbor.

Rolling Sculpture Car Show Friday, July 13 from 2:00pm to 10:00pm in the Main Street Area. A lot of cool cars parked in the street, which, strangely enough, is actually a lot of fun.

Saline Celtic Festival Friday from 6:00pm-midnight and Saturday from 9:00am to midnight at Saline’s Millpond Park. Bagpipes, fiddles, dancing, food, drink, swordplay, Vikings, and caber-tossing; what more could you want?

Shadow Art Fair Saturday from noon to midnight at the Corner Brewery in Ypsilanti. “A twelve-hour, all-ages, free event showcasing the work of over forty local and regional, independent artists and live performers. Artists range from local car salesman, painter, and coffee roaster, John Roos to Madison, Wisconsin recycling artist Emily Kircher to Mt. Pleasant linoleum print artist, Yu-Hsuan (Sherry) Lin to Chicago greeting card company Nourishing Notes. Items available at the event include clothing, accessories, prints, leather, photography, painting, zines, comics, records, home goods, stencils, and greeting cards.”

Huron River Day Sunday from 8:30am to 4:00pm at Gallup Park (there are a few events also scheduled for Saturday, including a guided canoe trip from Ann Arbor to Ypsi). If you can’t make it to see Liz Elling swimming under the Broadway Bridge, she will also be at Gallup Park to help celebrate Huron River Day. There is a fun run, a 5k, canoe races, canoe and kayak trips, and lots more.

Townie Party Monday from 5:00pm to 9:00pm on Washington between Thayer and Fletcher. OK, yeah, so it was started as a ruse to get people to go to the Street Art Fair in its new location. But still, it is a fun time and they get points for having the Pretzel Bell on their poster.

Comment [10]

Local

Fresh, Clean Water: Swimming the Huron River

Posted by Juliew on 9. July 2007

We think we need a lot of things in life, but the most important resource humans need is fresh, clean water. – Liz Elling

A reader writes:

Liz Elling’s summer 2007 swim down the Huron River schedule includes this stretch:

Sunday, July 15 Barton Dam to Geddes Dam at Dixboro Road.

In response to a question about when Liz might arrive at the Broadway St. Bridge, Jennifer Wolf, of the Huron River Watershed Council writes:

“The variables are if the water is clean enough (i.e. was there a heavy rain event up to 48 hours prior? If so, she must boat the stretch to avoid exposure to pollutants washed into the river during a heavy rain – fertilizer, motor oil, etc.) and deep enough (at least 4 ft. deep to swim). If it is not clean enough or deep enough she boats – thus moving faster.

That said, start time is 9 am. I’d expect her to get to Broadway Bridge around 11:00 am – look for bright yellow! It’s the color of her jersey and of the escort boat flags.”

Comment [7]

Local

More sheriff's department cuts, and some more questions

Posted by Chuck Warpehoski on 6. July 2007

According to the Ann Arbor News, “Washtenaw County will hire nine fewer Sheriff’s deputies next year due to increasing costs.”

According to the News, “the news surprised few, as the cost per deputy will rise from $109,871 this year to $136,503 in 2008 and to $141,963 in 2009, according to the contracts.”

I’m not surprised by the loss of deputies, but after going to the Ypsi parade last Wednesday, I am surprised by a few other things:

• I was surprised to see a Sheriff’s Department Cadillac SUV
• I was surprised to see deputies on horseback
• I was surprised to see a Sheriff’s Department SWAT-team urban assault vehicle (I think that’s what it was, it was like a tank without a gun turret).

Please forgive my ignorance here, but is it normal for a county the size of Washtenaw to be equipped like this?

Comment [38]

Local

Return of Return of Glen Ann Place

Posted by Murph on 3. July 2007

Yes, it’s back, again – the A2 News reports that City Council last night unanimously approved a settlement with the developer that will allow the controversial Glen Ann Place project to be built; the Historic District Commission, which had previously rejected the project, apparently voted 5-1 in support of the settlement last week. Details are few –

Glen Ann Place will be either nine or 10 stories, to be determined by the city’s Historic District Commission in a settlement pitched by developer Joseph Freed and Associates, Mayor John Hieftje said.

The project was originally approved by the Planning Commission and City Council but rejected by the HDC in September 2005. A State Historic Preservation Office administrative judge ruled in favor of the developer in September 2006, but SHPO overturned that decision.

Previous AU articles:
> Glen Ann Place stalled by Historic District Commission, September 16, 2005.
> The Return of Glen Ann Place, September 11, 2006.
> State Review Board Rejects Glen Ann Place, January 27, 2007.

Comment [24]

City Council

City Council: Greenhills School

Posted by Juliew on 2. July 2007

Monday, July 2 at 7:00 pm.
City Council Agenda

Highlights:

• Greenhills School Site Plan and Development
• Stormwater Ordinances
• Resolution to Create a Taskforce to Examine the City of Ann Arbor Joining the Urban County (“The Urban County is the decision making body for the allocation of HOME and CDBG funds for local jurisdictions who are members of the Urban County.”)
• Several interesting DDA communications including resolution to provide $630,000 to fund a “downtown streetlight retrofit program” to replace all downtown streetlights with LEDs.

Comment [46]

Environment

Washtenaw lands 100% of federal farm preservation dollars

Posted by Murph on 19. June 2007

The Ann Arbor News reports that 527 acres of farmland in four parcels in Scio and Webster Townships have landed $1.6 million from the Federal Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program – all of the money awarded within Michigan. The awards do not mean that the lands have been protected under conservation easements, but will need to be paired with other funds in order to reach final conservation deals:

The Greenbelt Advisory Commission has recommended to Ann Arbor City Council that it approve $1 million for the Wing farm preservation, Garfield said. The greenbelt program is funded by a tax approved by Ann Arbor voters in 2003.

The Wing farm received a $462,000 grant from the Federal Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program last year, and a $118,000 state land preservation grant a few months ago, said Barry Lonik, land preservation consultant for Scio and Webster townships.

The Merkel and Smyth properties are kitty-corner across Zeeb Road from each other, and the Merkel property is adjacent to another, 180-acre farm preserved last year, Lonik said.

“This is a sizable block of protected farmland there in Webster Township,’‘ he said. The greenbelt program also is involved in the effort to save the Merkel farm.

Both Scio and Webster Townships have land preservation millages and are likely to be contributors to the final deals for preserving the parcels in their boundaries. The property owners also are possible contributors.

Washtenaw County netted 61% of Michigan’s 2006 haul from this funding source, and 75% in 2005.

City Council

City Council: Dog Parks

Posted by Juliew on 18. June 2007

Monday, June 18 at 7:00 pm.
City Council Agenda

Highlights:

• Comment on Rail Service North of Ann Arbor (Mayor Hieftje and Northfield Township Supervisor Michael Cicchella)
• Resolution on Dog Parks
• Avery House/Elks Lodge Planned Project Site Plan and Development Agreement
• Resolutions on Water, Sewer, and Stormwater Rates
• Resolutions to approve Ann Arbor Discovering Downtown (A2D2) Committee recommendations on Parking, Zoning, Historic Districts, and Urban Design
• Resolution to Establish an Economic Development Fund, Amend the Ann Arbor City Budget for FY07 to Transfer Funds to the Economic Development Fund, Amend the Ann Arbor Budget for FY08 to Appropriate Funds for the Economic Development Fund, and Approve a Purchase Order in the amount of $49,837.50 Using Economic Development Fund Funds for Google Employee Parking.

Comment [22]