Brown Recommended for N. Main Group
At its May 23, 2012 meeting, the Ann Arbor public art commission (AAPAC) unanimously recommended that Connie Rizzolo Brown be nominated for a position on a task force to study the corridor along North Main Street and the Huron River. That recommendation will be forwarded to mayor John Hieftje.
The task force was established by the city council at its May 7, 2012 meeting, with membership to include the following: one member of the park advisory commission, one member of the planning commission, one resident representing the Water Hill neighborhood, one resident representing the North Central neighborhood, one resident from the Old Fourth Ward, one resident representing the Broadway/Pontiac neighborhood, two business and property owners from the affected area, and one member of the Huron River Watershed Council.
At its May 21 meeting, the two sponsors of the resolution that created the task force – Ward 1 councilmembers Sabra Briere and Sandi Smith – proposed adding three additional representatives: a member of the city council, someone from the boating/fishing community of river users, a representative from the Huron River Citizens Association. Tony Derezinski (Ward 2), who also serves on AAPAC, then proposed an amendment to add an AAPAC member to the task force. The AAPAC addition was passed by council on a 6-5 vote. [See Chronicle coverage: "Positions Added to North Main Task Force"] Appointments are expected to be made at the council’s June 4 meeting.
At AAPAC’s May 23 meeting, Derezinski told commissioners that “basically, we need someone at the table.”
The task force is charged with delivering a report to the city council more than a year from now – by July 31, 2013 – that describes “a vision to create/complete/enhance pedestrian and bike connection from downtown to Bandemer and Huron River Drive, increase public access to the river-side amenities of existing parks in the North Main-Huron River corridor, ease traffic congestion at Main and Depot at certain times of a day and recommend use of MichCon property at Broadway; …”
Earlier than that – by the end of 2012 – the task force is to make recommendations on the use of the city-owned 721 N. Main parcel.
Brown has served on AAPAC since early 2009, and has chaired the commission’s projects committee. She is a principal of Rizzolo Brown Studio, an Ann Arbor architecture firm.
This brief was filed from the basement conference room of city hall at 301 E. Huron, where AAPAC held its meeting. A more detailed report will follow.
The backup on Packard was worse than usual. It might have moved more quickly than it often does, perhaps because there are fewer cars on or turning on to Stadium and the light is cycling more quickly or giving Packard a greater percentage of green time.
A couple of drivers lost patience and crossed the double yellow line prematurely (near Shadford) to get in the left turn lane. One of them almost ran into a snowplow which would have really fouled things up!
The light for turning left from E. Stadium onto Packard also needs tweaking as it was backed up as far as South Industrial Monday morning. The City is working on it. Also, people seem to be catching on to other routes.
Folks are also confused at Stimson and State. The cars are too far out from under the light to see the left turn signal so they just sit there and turn once the intersection is cleared of any on-coming traffic.
There really needs to be a left turn signal across the street. Or else, for once it would help if cars who can see the light would honk in code “light is green.”
Last night, Packard was backed up past Thompson from Stadium. It took me 45 minutes to get from downtown to Packard & Granger on the bus. I should have walked. I would have saved 15 minutes AND gotten some exercise!