State St. Annexation OK’d, Zoning Delayed

At its Aug. 16, 2011 meeting, the Ann Arbor planning commission recommended that two parcels located in Ann Arbor Township “islands” – 1643 and 1645 S. State St., south of Stimson and next to the Produce Station – be annexed into the city of Ann Arbor. The annexation request will now move forward to the city council for approval. A request to zone the properties as C3 (fringe commercial district) was postponed.

The parcels cover about 0.6 acres and include four non-residential buildings. A new business – Biercamp Artisan Sausage and Jerky – is located at 1643 S. State, along with an auto repair shop and furniture manufacturer. The building at 1645 S. State is used for storage. The only speakers during a public hearing on the issue were Biercamp owners Walt Hansen and Hannah Cheadle.

Hansen and Cheadle have applied to the township for a certificate of occupancy at that site. If the township issues a certificate of occupancy, the business would be grandfathered in under zoning that allows it to sell items produced on site. Planning staff recommended postponing the zoning request until that issue is resolved with the township.

This brief was filed from the planning commission’s meeting in the second floor council chambers at city hall, 301 E. Huron St. A more detailed report will follow: [link]