Pittsfield Township joins efforts to revitalize Washtenaw Avenue corridor
Mandy Grewal has a vision for turning a stretch of Washtenaw Avenue between Ypsilanti and Ann Arbor into a vibrant, aesthetically pleasing and more environmentally-friendly thoroughfare.
The Pittsfield Township supervisor and her colleagues took a step toward making that vision a reality Tuesday night. By unanimous vote, the township board approved joining a multi-jurisdictional committee aimed at re-invigorating one the most traveled stretches of roadway in the county on any given day.
Officials hope to turn this stretch of Washtenaw Avenue into a more vibrant and friendly thoroughfare.
The township is among the first local governments to formally join the Reimagining Washtenaw Avenue Joint Technical Committee, comprised of three other municipalities and the Ann Arbor Transportation Authority. The Michigan Department of Transportation and Washtenaw Area Transportation Study are also participants.
A group of representatives from each entity began meeting earlier this year to identify ways to give the five-mile stretch of roadway linking Ann Arbor to the county’s east side a better look and coordinated approach to land-use and economic development.
“We’re saying we’re committed to revitalizing the Washtenaw Avenue corridor, which will be good not just for Pittsfield Township but, hopefully, it will become a boon for the entire region,” Grewal said.
She and Senior Township Planner Paul Montagno were also appointed to represent the township on the committee.
Pittsfield has jurisdiction over just a small portion of the land bordering the road that connects the region for thousands of motorists each day. Yet the impact of having a coordinated system to increase density while promoting public transit and pedestrian activity could be huge, supporters said.
The current configuration encourages sprawled development in segregated pockets, which results in reduced property values, higher than average vacancy rates and dependency on vehicles that clog traffic and impact the environment, township documents show.
The committee’s chief initiatives include: coordinated master planning and zoning regulations between the communities; encouraging public investment for alternative mass transit plans; and reducing sprawl by promoting redevelopment of existing properties.
Revamping streetscapes, developing transit nodes and allowing mixed land uses to attract private business and young professions seeking affordable housing are also planned.
“There is enormous potential there visually and for in-fill development,” said Grewal, who began working on plans to improve the corridor while serving as a Washtenaw County commissioner from 2006-08. “The tremendous potential is matched by the tremendous challenge of coordinating the municipalities and other stakeholders, but I can’t wait to get started.”
In other township board news:
The board also heard a brief presentation on a draft proposal for the Parks and Recreation Department’s five-year master plan. Now residents can take their turn.
Starting Thursday, the township will begin a 30-day period of taking comments, suggestions and other input from the general public on the plan. It will be posted on the township's Web site, and residents can also get copies at township offices and at the Saline and Pittsfield public libraries.
The new 30-day format is due to a change in state law that gives residents more flexibility to be involved, rather than just one opportunity to be heard at a public hearing, said Dan Cooperrider, parks director. A public hearing on the document is scheduled for Jan. 12.
Township officials also passed a resolution authorizing the building department to administer zoning enforcement in Northfield Township. Pittsfield staff has provided building inspection services to Northfield for the past two years and will now be in charge of zoning enforcement on a contractual basis.
The move will generate revenue for the department, which is not expected to be overwhelmed with additional workload because staff will be used on a per-complaint basis, said Kurt Weiland, Pittsfield’s director of building safety.
Art Aisner is a freelance writer for AnnArbor.com. Reach the news desk at news@annarbor.com or 734-623-2530.
Comments
larry
Thu, Dec 10, 2009 : 6:22 a.m.
As far as trash, i think we pay the city taxes? Admittedly there is a lot of traffic, but trees can be very helpful in beautifying the city scape. they already have some trees on that stretch of Washtenaw.
voiceofreason
Thu, Dec 10, 2009 : 12:49 a.m.
If they were to put a "green island" on that stretch of Washtenaw, within two years it would be a "brown island" and covered with all types of trash.
larry
Wed, Dec 9, 2009 : 10:59 p.m.
Trees are still worth it. Don't see any roots on Eisenhower.
treetowncartel
Wed, Dec 9, 2009 : 5:43 p.m.
Trees really are not ideal near roadways, their roots can cause problems with the pavement. They do stop cars from crossing the median though. With respect to traffic flow, a real improvement would be changing the 23 interchange to something similar on US 23 at M-59, or 94 at Telegraph. It is almost as if the Carpenter road Washtenaw intersection sits too close to the highway for the amount of traffic that goes through there.
larry
Wed, Dec 9, 2009 : 5:35 p.m.
It would be great if they added stretches of green Islands all along the avenue to make it into a sort of boulevard, with trees on the islands. This would have a big effect in mellowing out the street scape, as well as make it easier for pedestrians to cross.
81wolverine
Wed, Dec 9, 2009 : 4:54 p.m.
I'm not clear from reading this article which 5 mile stretch they're talking about. Probably including "between ______ Street and ________ Street would have helped. Irrespective of that, the entire stretch from Platt Rd. to the EMU campus has big challenges. The western stretch from Platt to U.S.-23 has HORRIBLE traffic during rush hour and weekend peak times. Too much retail has been crammed into too small an area over time. On the other side of 23 there's too much vacant retail space and land that could be consolidated and better used. I like the Parkway concept with a median in the middle, but I don't know how feasible that is given the # of buildings that are really close to the road and huge cost. Washtenaw also has some very old, shabby looking retail buildings that are candidates for the wrecking ball. If new, affordable locations could be found for these tenants, that would be an improvement.
Kristin Judge
Wed, Dec 9, 2009 : 1:48 p.m.
Thank you to the Washtenaw County staff who have been instrumental in researching and planning this project.
treetowncartel
Wed, Dec 9, 2009 : 1:14 p.m.
TDW, i was not suggesting a replica of the people mover, but from what i see the number 4 is probably the most heavily used bus AATA has. Get it off the road with something similar to a people mover type train, or maybe even cable cars above the road, now that would be artsy.
tdw
Wed, Dec 9, 2009 : 1:06 p.m.
treetowcartel People mover bad example if there was one like it it would be empty. SE corner of golfside there must be something wrong with the building as its always been a good loication
treetowncartel
Wed, Dec 9, 2009 : 12:48 p.m.
They need to use some eminent domain and trun this stretch into a Parkway with Michigan lefts from the Stadium/Washtena Slit in Ann Arbor to the watertower at Cross street in Ypsilanti. A street car/trolley/ mono rail should replace the Number 4 bus, with a majority of AATA's other routes able to pick up and drop off passengers along thios route. If the train were similar to the people mover in detroit, you could add and subtract cars for the respective busier and slower parts of the day, and possibly let it run 24hours. although, you would probably need some type of security for the bewitching hours of the day. Something needs to happen to the old Stop and rob on the SE Corner of Golfside and Washtenaw. It makes the Michigan Inn look like the Taj Mahal.
mm1001
Wed, Dec 9, 2009 : 11:45 a.m.
I have been saying for years that the road in front of Arborland needed some updating. It hasn't changed in over 40 years.
Angry Sasquatch
Wed, Dec 9, 2009 : 11:44 a.m.
I sure hope a sidewalk that covers this entire stretch of Washtenaw is planned.
tdw
Wed, Dec 9, 2009 : 10:27 a.m.
I bet a ALIDI would do good where the Kroger or (although Ypsi twp )Farmer Jack was.There is'nt anything good in that area.The closet is Kroger or Meijer on Carptender
Alan Benard
Wed, Dec 9, 2009 : 10:06 a.m.
Good news on the effort to make this stretch of road less ugly. It is truly the land that zoning forgot, a hodge-podge of uses, signages and random curb-cuts. One could start with forcing owners of abandoned properties to pave lots, limit access, tear down eyesore buildings or sell. Ordinance enforcement and liens are excellent tools in this regard.