A2D2 zoning changes get approval from Ann Arbor City Council
Four hours into Monday night's Ann Arbor City Council meeting, a sense of frustration was apparent among council members over the lack of consensus on the new A2D2 zoning changes.
Council members proposed a series of amendments, trying to tweak the language of the ordinance one last time. Some thought its approval should be postponed another month, while others argued the A2D2 initiative has already taken several years to complete.
City Council members take a look at a map of downtown Ann Arbor during a break in Monday night's meeting where the new A2D2 zoning changes were approved 10-1.
Ryan J. Stanton | AnnArbor.com
In the end, the council voted 10-1 to approve the zoning changes with Council Member Stephen Kunselman, D-3rd Ward, objecting.
At one point in the night, one council member's push to limit building height in the South University district to 60 feet was countered by another proposal for a 120-foot cap. Ultimately, both amendments failed, and the 150-foot allowance stayed.
Council members agreed the level of nitpicking was excruciating. Council Member Marcia Higgins, the city's foremost leader of the Ann Arbor Discovering Downtown initiative, raised her voice during the debate to say the last-minute amendments being proposed were "ludicrous."
Higgins, D-4th Ward, said it was time to act on the A2D2 zoning changes as they stand and trying to change them at this point only undermined the long process of community involvement and steering committee decisions that led to them. She said any revisions that need to be made later could go through the normal channels of planning and come back to the City Council for approval.
"I've been working on this for a good number of years," Higgins said. "We are starting to tweak things we have already debated to death at this council floor."
The approved changes to the city's zoning and off-street parking ordinances were developed as part of the A2D2 initiative, but are separate from the new A2D2 design guidelines that await council approval.
For the last several years, the city has been working toward creating special overlay zoning for the downtown that identifies areas of similar character. The goal has been to streamline the development proposal process and incorporate a set of design standards, while pursuing a comprehensive parking strategy for downtown.
Working with the Historic District Commission to clarify criteria for development also has been a goal.
The city's Planning Commission recommended in March that the City Council approve the A2D2 code changes and rezoning.
"This process has gone on too long," said Kunselman, a former council member sworn into office Monday night at his first meeting after a one-year absence from the council.
Kunselman was the one who proposed a 60-foot height limit in the South University district, which was rejected by the council in an earlier vote.
Council Member Christopher Taylor, D-3rd Ward, proposed the 120-foot cap, which was rejected 6-5 in a roll call vote. The only council members to join Taylor in seeking a more aggressive height limit than 150 feet were Kunselman, Sabra Briere, Mike Anglin and Mayor John Hieftje.
Hieftje, however, pushed for a postponement of the A2D2 zoning changes Monday night.
"As long and dragged on as this process has been, we could drag it out for another month," he said. "There are some changes that we could perhaps make that might improve the downtown."
Council members expressed hesitation Monday night about approving the A2D2 zoning changes before the new A2D2 design guidelines are approved.
Wendy Rampson, the city's planning manager, said at least two development projects have been waiting for the A2D2 zoning changes to take effect before plans are submitted to the city for review. She said there is the risk those could come in now and not have to go through a design review process.
"I would be remiss if I didn't say that we would probably take the guidelines that have been drafted," she said. "When we meet with a developer, what we try to do is give them a sense of what the public interest is in making sure that development fits with all of the objectives of the community."
City Council members have asked city staff to revise the A2D2 design guidelines and include a mandatory review process before bringing them back to council for approval. Rampson said Monday night it could take 8 to 12 months for that.
In the meantime, with the new downtown zoning and parking amendments in place, Rampson said city staff will develop a plan for informing local design and engineering firms about the changes and will update site plan submittal requirements.
In addition, city staff will develop an evaluation tool that can be used to determine if the A2D2 zoning changes produce the desired results, Rampson said.
Ryan J. Stanton covers government for AnnArbor.com. Reach him at ryanstanton@annarbor.com or 734-623-2529.
Comments
Alice Ralph
Thu, Nov 19, 2009 : 3:41 p.m.
@Isabelle Noah, @Ryan J. Stanton -- One out of two isn't so bad. I stand corrected on Steve's 'absence' from Council. He reminded me in person at Jeff Irwin's campaign kickoff event before I saw the comments here. (Maybe it just seemed like 2 years. At least, it seems like a long time ago when Steve and I ran a very close race in 2006. But a 29 vote difference then is not quite as close as 6 in 2009!)
Ryan J. Stanton
Tue, Nov 17, 2009 : 10:31 p.m.
@Alice Ralph Good eye. Yes, that is Roger Hewitt standing in the back there. The other four gathered around the map are Council Members Margie Teall, D-4th Ward, Sandi Smith, D-1st Ward, Carsten Hohnke, D-5th Ward, and Christopher Taylor, D-3rd Ward, in case anybody is keeping score. As for Kunselman's length of absence from council, we reported correctly that is has been one year. Thanks to @Isabelle Noah for providing the facts.
Isabelle Noah
Tue, Nov 17, 2009 : 6:22 p.m.
"Stephen Kunselman has been "absent" from Council for 2 years (not one year) since being defeated for re-election by Christopher Taylor, now in his first term." @Alice Ralph-You are wrong in your statement. Steve Kunselman was defeated last year in 2008 by Christopher Taylor. He served on council from 2006-2008. Therefore he was only "absent" from council for one year.
Alice Ralph
Tue, Nov 17, 2009 : 2:58 p.m.
Two points of fact: The caption for the photo should note that Council members AND Roger Hewitt of the DDA were taking a look at the map... Stephen Kunselman has been "absent" from Council for 2 years (not one year) since being defeated for re-election by Christopher Taylor, now in his first term. Having defeated the incumbent Leigh Greden, Mr. Kunselman was sworn in for a second, though non-consecutvie term this month.
Eric64
Tue, Nov 17, 2009 : 10:41 a.m.
Yes this sure seems really important. With all the unemployment. And face it people the city council does what ever it wants they do not care what the people think.
B. Corman
Tue, Nov 17, 2009 : 10:02 a.m.
Kunselman voted against this! Currently there is NO height limit for the S. University area, which I remind everyone is how we got 601 S. Forest. If the A2D2 zoning changes fail, the city continues with the current code (no height limit), and the result is NO cap on the area height limit. Kunselman was actually voting AGAINST capping height limits when he cast this vote. He is not voting in the best interest of the North Burns Park area or his other constituents. Unbelievable.
David Breigel
Tue, Nov 17, 2009 : 9:40 a.m.
Hieftje might as well become a Republican with decisions such as these! Then after he is done stealing everyone's money, he can hang out at local country clubs with George W. Bush and all his friends! We are still trying to undo all of the failed policies of George W. Bush on the zoning in this town for the past 8 years!
earthchick
Tue, Nov 17, 2009 : 9:01 a.m.
@Ryan Yes, he did say that - he showed up intending to seek a postponement to allow for the folding in of the design guidelines with the zoning proposal. He realized during the course of the meeting, however, that such a process would take longer than what he had anticipated, so he was not seeking a postponement for that. When Briere sought a postponement for the purpose of reviewing and consolidating amendments, he supported that. I still think it is a mischaracterization to say that he *pushed* for a postponement. I noted the vote tally because I thought it was worth highlighting that there was significant support for taking just 3 more weeks to review possible amendments before taking a final vote.
Ryan J. Stanton
Tue, Nov 17, 2009 : 8:51 a.m.
@earthchick Mayor Hieftje told council members he showed up at Monday's meeting intending to seek postponement. Yes, Briere made the motion.
earthchick
Tue, Nov 17, 2009 : 8:41 a.m.
For the record, I think it is a mischaracterization to say that Hieftje "pushed" for the postponement. Briere was the one who moved to postpone, and then Council members debated that proposal. Hieftje supported her proposal, with good reason (as did Kunselman, whose remark about this process going on too long was a part of a statement about how in that time the whole process has gotten politicized and corrupted). The proposal to postpone was voted down 6-5.
earthchick
Tue, Nov 17, 2009 : 8:33 a.m.
I can't help but wonder why there was even a public hearing last night if Higgins and others believed there was no room left for changing the proposal. Now that this thing has passed, over the objections of many property owners on South U and on the 500 block of East Huron, I will be very interested to see how open Council will be to any changes that citizens seek to make through the normal channels of planning, as Higgins suggests will be possible.
Bob W
Tue, Nov 17, 2009 : 7:50 a.m.
Good lord! Do you ever make decisions? ""Hieftje, however, pushed for a postponement of the A2D2 zoning changes Monday night. "As long and dragged on as this process has been, we could drag it out for another month," he said. "There are some changes that we could perhaps make that might improve the downtown.""