Stadium TC1 at Planning Commission tonight

 

A map showing the proposed TC1 rezoning along the Maple/Stadium corridor.

TC1 is the hot new zone that allows greater density and less parking along transit corridors. TC1 is awesome because it helps make the city more equitable, more sustainable, and safer. Rezoning more of Ann Arbor TC1 is critical to making sure the city meets its ambitious housing, climate, and vision zero goals. 

Tonight the Ann Arbor Planning Commission will have a public hearing on the proposed TC1 rezoning for the Maple/Stadium Corridor. It's really important for the commission to hear from folks who support this important project. If you support TC1 for this area and are able to, please call into the meeting tonight and let them know how you feel. You can read more about th project here.  

Tell Ypsi Twp you are opposed to constant surveillance today at 5 pm

 

Tonight at 5pm, The Charter Township of Ypsilanti, will be having a meeting to discuss adding license plate surveillance cameras to every entrance to the city. This is bad, and and if you have the time, you should tell the Township you are opposed to the cameras. If you are unable to make this meeting, you can also share your thoughts at the regular Board of Trustees Meeting tonight at 7pm. 

You can read more about Flock, the company Ypsilanti Township wants to use, here. And you can read more about the opposition to this surveillance proposal on What's Left Ypsi.

Ann Arbor City Council Preview: August 15, 2022

 

It's #a2Council Night in Ann Arbor. Here's the agenda. 

The meeting kicks off with a moderate, 19-item consent agenda. I'm pretty stoked about CA-14 which is pavement marking and maintenance for several vision zero quick build contracts. You love to see it. 

There are two public hearings on the agenda tonight. PH-1/B-1 is on the second reading of some amendments to the Unified Development Code specifically around Cannabis licenses, trees in the right-of-way, and landscaping. PH-2/B-2 is probably the most exciting part of the night. This is the second reading of the ordinance to repeal parking minimums. This is very exciting as there is a ton of research that shows that parking minimums 1) increase housing costs, and 2) produce more parking than is needed. 

There is one ordinance first reading on the agenda today. C-1 is for a PUD at 340 Depot, which is located across from the Amtrak Station. This will be a 2 story building with commercial on the first floor and 4 residential units on the second floor. My only criticisms are 1) this is too short, build it taller! and 2) it's silly that something as simple as this needs a PUD. We really need to simplify our zoning code. 

Rendering of the proposed PUD at 340 Depot. 

On to the resolutions. DC-1 is to appoint Eric Farrell, a non-registered elector in Ann Arbor, to the Public Market Advisory Commission.  DC-2 is a resolution to authorize the city administrator to write a letter to MDOT in support of a noise abatement program along the M-14 corridor. DC-3 is a resolution to grant easements to DTE at Vets and Virginia Parks. DC-4 is a resolution to recommend a discussion of Right to Renew for renters. DS-1 and DS-2 are resolutions to have summary publications for the zoning changes in B-1 and B-2, respectively. 

 And that's all there is. Looks like it'll be a pretty short meeting. What items are you most looking forward to seeing? Hopefully we will see you there. The CTN stream starts at 7 pm. Make sure you follow the action on the #a2Council hashtag.

Ann Arbor City Council Preview: August 4, 2022

 

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

The evening kicks off with at modest, 11 item consent agenda. CA-1 and CA-2 are street closures for the Campus Fire Safety Awareness and UM Football games, respectively. 

There is one public hearing on the agenda tonight. PH-1/B-1 is the public hearing on the second reading of an ordinance reading that reduces the minimum lot size, rear setbacks, and minimum lot area per dwelling. This is good as it will allow more duplexes to be built. 

Further down the agenda we get to DC-1, a resolution to sell a city owned lot at 1146 S Maple to Avalon Housing to develop affordable housing. Nice. DC-2 is a resolution to disburse money from the Community Events Budget. DS-1 is a resolution publishing the ordinance changes from PH-1/B-1. 

And that's all there is. Looks like it'll be a pretty short meeting. What items are you most looking forward to seeing? Hopefully we will see you there. The CTN stream starts at 7 pm. Make sure you follow the action on the #a2Council hashtag.