City staff: Ann Arbor Planning Commission should postpone vote on The Moravian

Posted on Mon, Oct 5, 2009 : 8:15 a.m.

Ann Arbor's Planning Commission will get a look at The Moravian at its meeting Tuesday night, along with a recommendation that they postpone a vote on the proposed 164-bed apartment project on East Madison Street.

According to the report from city planner Alexis DiLeo, "Staff recommends that The Moravian PUD Site Plan be postponed following a public hearing and Commission discussion to allow the petitioner time to incorporate comments received."

Comments include concerns that the building is proposed in the Allen Creek floodway. That floodway status is expected to change when new federal mapping is finalized, but that has yet to take place.

The number and placement of curb cuts on South Fifth and South Fourth avenues also are concerns staff wants the developer - the Moravian Co. - to work out further before planning commissioners vote on the 64-unit building.

Staff also wants to see modeling of the sanitary sewer flows to determine downstream impact, according to the report.

Staff, which earlier rejected a taller building proposed by the same developer for the site, did note improvements made to the plan are enough for them to justify it as a Planned Unit Development.

"The current petition, The Moravian, has significantly reduced the proposed height and density compared to The Madison. It is still a relatively large development compared to its immediate neighbors to the north but staff believes The Moravian has been designed to be compatible with its surroundings," according to the report.

For the full staff report or information on the Planning Commission meeting - which starts at 7 p.m. Tuesday at City Hall - click here.