Ann Arbor Agenda Center: December 18, 2023

 

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

The evening kicks off with a respectable, 18-item consent agenda. Of note, CA-4, the contract for the Barton portion of the Border to Border trail. 

There are three public hearings on the docket tonight. PH-1/B-1is the second reading of the leaf blower ordinance. PH-2/B-2 is the second reading of an ordinance to annex 5.9 acres from Ann Arbor Township at 2520 and 2540 Pontiac Trail to R4A. PH-3/DB-1 is a resolution approving the awkwardly named Village of Ann Arbor site plan. This project at 1710 Dhu Varren Road will have 604 units across 78.5 acres. Great to have a chance to welcome so many new neighbors, but it is unfortunate this development is not denser. 

There are 3 ordinance first readings on the agenda tonight. C-1 is the first reading of the Plymouth Road TC1 ordinance. This would rezone 53 parcels to transit corridor zoning. C-2 is the first reading of an ordinance that would allow new uses in Office zoned parcels: banquet hall, personal services, veterinary uses. C-3 is the first reading of an ordinance that would reduce the restrictions on personal scale solar energy systems. 

There is one new resolution on the docket this evening. DC-1 is a resolution to recommend approval of a of a Downtown Development District Liquor License for the Michigan Theater. There was a resolution this evening on the conflict in Gaza, but it looks like it has been pulled at the time of writing. 

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: December 4, 2023

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

The evening kicks off with a modest, 7-item consent agenda. Of note, CA-5 is accepting a $182,360 to make the Bryant Community Center carbon neutral. 

There are 5 public hearings on the docket this evening. PH-1/B-1 is the second reading of a change to the Lockwood PUD. Again, this is an illustration of why PUDs are such a brittle tool. It would be much better to drastically overhaul the zoning code to allow more good projects to go forward without having to be PUDs. 

PH-2/B-2 is the second reading of a fix to the downtown premiums for the D1 and D2 zones. A few years ago council reworked the downtown zone premiums. The end result is that no new affordable units being built. This ordinance change will fix this issue so that new D1 projects with affordable units will work. 

PH-3/B-3 is the second reading of changes to the setback rules for TC-1. This is coming to council with a denial recommended by the Planning Commission. 

PH-4/B-4 and PH-5/DB-5 are the rezoning and site plan for the Briarwood Parking lot. The parking lot is being rezoned from Parking to C2B (Business Service District). The current plan is to raze the current Sears store ad build a grocery store and sporting goods store. The parking lot will be redeveloped as three residential buildings with 352 total units. You love to see it. 

There is one ordinance first reading tonight. C-1 is the first reading of the ordinance to ban most gas leaf blowers. Again, you love to see it. 

On to the resolutions. DC-1 is to approve the 2024 Council Committee Appointments. DC-2 is a resolution to launch engagement initiatives to support all electric leaf maintenance. DS-1and DS-2 are resolutions to publish the changes to the downtown and transit corridor zones. 

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.