D1 Downtown Zoning Review Meetings Set

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A range of public forums and focus group meetings have been scheduled in September for the ongoing review of downtown Ann Arbor zoning.

  • Friday, Sept 6: Downtown zoning evaluation community coffee, 8-10 a.m. at Espresso Royale Cafe, 324 S. State St.
  • Monday, Sept. 9: Downtown zoning evaluation brown bag lunch, noon-1 p.m., at the A2Y chamber boardroom, 115 W. Huron St.
  • Monday, Sept. 9: Downtown zoning evaluation public focus group, 5-6 p.m. at the Traverwood Library multipurpose room, 3333 Traverwood Dr.
  • Monday, Sept. 9: Ann Arbor planning commission’s ordinance revisions committee, 6:30 p.m. in the basement conference room of city hall, 301 E. Huron.
  • Tuesday, Sept. 10: Downtown zoning evaluation public focus group, 5-6 p.m. at Pizza House, 618 Church St.
  • Tuesday, Sept. 10: Downtown citizens advisory council focus group, 5-6 p.m. in the basement conference room of city hall, 301 E. Huron.
  • Tuesday, Sept. 10: Ann Arbor planning commission regular meeting, 7 p.m. in city hall’s council chambers, followed by a working session at 8 p.m. in the basement level of city hall, 301 E. Huron.
  • Wednesday, Sept. 11: Downtown zoning evaluation public focus group, 5-6 p.m. at Bill’s Beer Garden, 218 S. Ashley St.
  • Thursday, Sept. 12: Downtown zoning evaluation public focus group, 8-9 a.m. at the DDA boardroom, 150 S. Fifth Ave.
  • Thursday, Sept. 19: Downtown zoning evaluation community coffee, 8-10 a.m. at Espresso Royale Cafe, 324 S. State St.
  • Thursday, Sept. 19: Downtown zoning evaluation public workshop, 7-9 p.m. at the Workantile Exchange, 118 S. Main St.

Most of the sessions will be led by Erin Perdu, a consultant hired by the city to lead a review of downtown zoning, working with the city’s planning staff and planning commission. The work is the result of a city council resolution passed on April 1, 2013. It directed the planning commission to address three specific questions: (1) whether D1 zoning is appropriately located on the north side of Huron Street between Division and South State and the south side of William Street between South Main and Fourth Avenue; (2) whether the D1 residential FAR [floor area ratio] premiums effectively encourage a diverse downtown population; and (3) whether a parcel on the south side of Ann Street adjacent to city hall should be rezoned “to the appropriate zoning for this neighborhood.” That parcel, currently a surface parking lot, is now zoned D1, which allows for the highest density development.

The council’s resolution set a deadline of Oct. 1 for the planning commission to deliver recommendations to the council.

For more background, see Chronicle coverage: “Priorities Emerge in Downtown Zoning Review” and ”Downtown Zoning Review Moves Forward.”