R4C/R2A Advisory Committee Meetings Set

The first meeting of the re-established R4C/R2A advisory committee, with slightly different membership from its original iteration, has been scheduled for Wednesday, Aug. 14 from 7-9 p.m. in the basement conference room at city hall, 301 E. Huron.

At its July 1, 2013 meeting, the Ann Arbor city council voted to reconstitute the citizens committee, which had previously worked to provide input on possible changes to zoning in the R4C/R2A (multi-family) zoning districts. That action followed the planning commission’s vote at its April 16, 2013 meeting to send recommendations to the city council for revisions to the R4C zoning areas – but without the actual wording of the ordinance changes. Those recommendations, which were crafted with input from the original citizens advisory committee, were provided to the council as an item of communication on May 20, 2013.

When the the planning commission discussed its annual work plan at a June 4, 2013 meeting, the group set a goal of completing actual amendments to the R4C/R2A zoning ordinance by March of 2014. But before the council gives additional direction to the planning commission about these recommendations, the advisory committee will have another chance to weigh in.

The committee will be chaired by Julie Weatherbee. Sabra Briere (Ward 1) will represent the planning commission and city council. Other members appointed to the committee on July 1 were: Chuck Carver representing rental property owners; Ilene Tyler and Ray Detter (Ward 1); Wendy Carman and Carl Luckenbach (Ward 2); Ellen Rambo and Michelle Derr (Ward 3); Julie Weatherbee and Nancy Leff (Ward 4); Eppie Potts and Anya Dale (Ward 5). However, the membership is expected to change slightly. Any changes to the committee would require city council approval.

At a July 9 working session of the planning commission, Ann Arbor planning manager Wendy Rampson had reported that the planning staff will offer only as much staff involvement as the committee members want. She had indicated that when the committee had done its original work, some members felt that “staff cut the conversation off unduly, so we don’t want to reinforce that by being on the committee if we’re not needed,” she said. So planning staff will attend the meetings only if asked.

In addition to Aug. 14, other meetings of the R4C/R2A advisory committee are set for the following Wednesdays from 7-9 p.m.: Aug. 28, Sept. 11, and Sept. 25.

More information about the R4C/R2A zoning review is on the city’s website. [.pdf of planning commission recommendations] [.pdf of original advisory committee report] [.pdf of chart by Sabra Briere outlining differences between the advisory committee and planning commission recommendations] See also Chronicle coverage: “Planning Commission Signs Off on R4C Draft.”