Council: Sustainability Goes in Master Plan

At its July 2, 2012 meeting, the Ann Arbor city council voted to direct the city planning commission to start a process to adopt 16 sustainability goals as part of the city’s master plan. While that master plan review process is underway, the council’s resolution directs the city administrator to apply the 16 goals in staff work. [.pdf of 16 sustainability goals] [File was updated after initial publication to replace an earlier draft of the goals]

The sustainability goals are divided into four categories: resource management; land use and access; climate and energy; and community. By way of illustration, from the land use and access category, one of the goals is: “Establish a physical and cultural environment that supports and encourages safe, comfortable and efficient ways for pedestrians, bicyclists, and transit users to travel throughout the city and region.”

The goals were culled from more than 200 goals that are already found in existing city planning documents, as part of a project that began in early 2011. The work has been funded by a Home Depot Foundation grant.

Development of the work by city staff was initially guided by volunteers who serve on four city advisory commissions: park, planning, energy and environmental. Members from those groups met at a joint working session in late September of 2011. Since then, the city’s housing commission and housing and human services commission have been added to the conversation. A series of panel discussions on each category was held earlier this year, as was a public forum to solicit input.

The city planning commission voted on June 5, 2012 to recommend to the city council that it take the action it did on July 2.

Additional background on the Ann Arbor sustainability initiative is on the city’s website. See also Chronicle coverage: “Building a Sustainable Ann Arbor,” “Sustaining Ann Arbor’s Environmental Quality,” “Land Use, Transit Factor Into Sustainability,“ and “Final Forum: What Sustains Community?”

This brief was filed from the city council’s chambers on the second floor of city hall, located at 301 E. Huron. A more detailed report will follow: [link]