Kirk Westphal oversees a vote at the July 17, 2012 Ann Arbor planning commission meeting. He was elected chair at the start of the meeting. In the foreground is commissioner Eleanore Adenekan. (Photos by the writer.)

Commissioners reviewed a site plan for the new Blake Transit Center (BTC), the main downtown hub for the Ann Arbor Transportation Authority. A new two-story transit center will be constructed on the same parcel as the existing center, midblock between Fourth and Fifth avenues, north of William and south of the federal building. But the new building will be located on the east side of that site – near Fifth Avenue, opposite its current location – and the direction of the current bus lane will be reversed. Buses will enter Fourth Avenue into an eastbound lane that exits onto Fifth.

Commissioners voiced a variety of concerns and feedback, centered on improving the pedestrian experience and the appearance of the building and landscaping. They elicited the fact that although zoning would allow for a structure up to 180 feet tall – about 16 stories – the foundation for the new BTC is planned to accommodate only four stories, with a two-story structure to be built initially.

Kirk Westphal said he’d been a bit surprised by news that the AATA is interested in buying the adjacent Fifth & William lot from the city. That possibility was mentioned as part of a design review committee report. He urged AATA’s CEO, Michael Ford, to talk with the Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority about the AATA’s plans for Fifth & William, and to see if the DDA might be interested in collaborating to increase the footings and allow for a taller structure in the future. He noted that the DDA’s Connecting William Street effort, focused on plans to possibly develop certain city-owned sites, includes the Fifth & William lot.

As a public entity, the AATA does not have to follow the process for site plan approval that is required of private-sector property owners. The process is being conducted for review and input only. However, the planning commission did take a vote, unanimously affirming that the project does meet city requirements for private development, except for interior landscaping and driveway width. It will next be reviewed by the city council.

Another project that drew discussion is a private development proposed by Tom Fitzsimmons, for a three-story townhouse with five housing units at 922-926 Catherine St. During public commentary, several neighbors – including residents of the adjacent Catherine Commons condominiums – spoke in support of the project. However, some of them raised concerns about backups in the stormwater system, which is already a problem along Catherine Street. Staff indicated that those issues are likely tied to design flaws on the site of Catherine Commons. Members of the development team for the new project told commissioners that an underground stormwater detention system on their site could improve the situation along the street, and at the least would not make it worse.

Also at the July 17 meeting, three projects that had previously been considered by commissioners were back for various reasons. A site plan for a Speedway gas station at the northeast corner of North Maple and Miller had been postponed at the commission’s June 5 meeting, but was approved on July 17. Also approved by commissioners was a revised site plan for 2161 W. Stadium Blvd., where a Noodles & Co. restaurant is planned. Commissioners had signed off on the original project at their March 6, 2012 meeting – the revision involves shifting the building’s location 21 feet to the north. The former Sze-Chuan West restaurant there has already been demolished.

And parking for the Chalmers Place retail center on Washtenaw Avenue emerged again at the July 17 meeting. Commissioners approved a plan to increase the number of parking spaces on the center’s site from 88 to 112. A different parking plan had been rejected by the planning commission on May 1, after several neighbors spoke against it. There was no opposition to the new proposal.

Blake Transit Center

Planning commissioners were asked to review the plan for a new Blake Transit Center (BTC), the main downtown hub for the Ann Arbor Transportation Authority. The new transit center will be constructed on the same site as the existing center, midblock between Fourth and Fifth avenues, north of William and south of the federal building. However, the new center will be built on the opposite side of that site.

Aerial view of the Blake Transit Center site plan.

Currently a one-story building, built in 1987, is located on the northwest corner of the site, near Fourth Avenue. Buses enter the facility from Fifth Avenue into a one-way, westbound lane that exits onto Fourth. The project entails demolishing the existing building and constructing a new two-story 12,019-square-foot transit center on the southeast corner of the site, near Fifth Avenue. The direction of the bus lane would be reversed, with buses entering Fourth Avenue into an eastbound lane that exits onto Fifth.

The new building will include space for a main customer service lobby, restrooms, offices for AATA and getDowntown staff, conference rooms, a staff break room, and a basement for storage and mechanical equipment. A high canopy of steel and tinted glass will run along the northern side of the building. Bike parking and benches would be included on the site, and bus stops along Fourth Avenue will be redesigned as part of the project.

A schematic of the proposed Blake Transit Center, viewed from South Fifth Avenue side.

AATA hopes to get LEED Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council, and the project has several sustainability features. For example, roof stormwater run-off will be collected for “gray water” use, such as flushing toilets. Materials from the existing building will be recycled, and recycled materials will be used in the new building.

The project was considered by the city’s design review board at an April 18, 2012 meeting. [.pdf of design review board report] According to a memo from the planning staff, suggestions from some design review board members included: (1) keeping the building in its current location; (2) softening the design of the new building’s facade; and (3) enhancing an outdoor plaza with art and landscaping. In addition, planning staff recommended that AATA plant trees along Fourth and Fifth avenues.

As a public entity, AATA does not have to follow the process for site plan approval that is required of private-sector property owners. The process is being conducted for review and input only. Planning staff noted that there are only two ways in which the site plan does not conform to city code. For sites this size, the city requires 367 square feet of interior landscaping. The AATA site plan does not include any interior landscaping. Also, city code allows a maximum width of 30 feet for a driveway. In the AATA site plan, the driveway is 55 feet wide on South Fifth Avenue and 60 feet wide on South Fourth Avenue.

The current transit center would remain in use during construction of the new one.

Blake Transit Center: Public Commentary

Michael Ford, CEO of the AATA, told commissioners that he wanted to give some context to the importance of the new building. AATA has outgrown its current transit center. Since BTC opened in 1987, bus ridership has increased more than 60%. More than 5,000 passengers use the center each day – and that brings about 1.5 million people into the center each year. About 40 buses an hour pass through BTC, and that number will likely increase in the coming years. Time and weather have also taken a toll on the building, pavement and other aspects of the site, and it’s not ADA compliant. Nor does the current building have the capacity for meeting rooms.

The new building will be an up-to-date facility, Ford said, designed to better accommodate AATA’s customers, employees, buses and pedestrians. It will include sustainability features in its construction, and incorporate many of the suggestions that have been made during community meetings with riders, downtown businesses, residents and other stakeholders. He said construction will be coordinated with the Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority and Ann Arbor District Library, to minimize disruption to that area. [The library is embarking on a possible reconstruction of its downtown library, located across the street from the BTC at 343 S. Fifth. Also, South Fifth Avenue only recently reopened after being closed for nearly two years while a new underground parking structure – also located across the street from BTC – was built.]

Ford said they hoped to start construction this fall and be finished by next year’s art fairs in July. He looked forward to the commission’s support.

Stephen Kromkowski, a principal architect with the Lansing-based firm DLZ, said the project didn’t happen overnight. There has been lots of community outreach. It’s a tight site that needs to accommodate bus activity, he said. He noted that AATA acquired additional property to the south to “square off the site.” [The strip of land was purchased from the city of Ann Arbor, which owns the adjacent property to the south, which is currently a surface parking lot.] Kromkowski said the site can’t meet the interior landscaping requirements, due to a variety of constraints. He noted that there’s ongoing discussion with federal officials about adding a pedestrian path to the north of the site, running between Fourth and Fifth avenues on federal property. [The AATA site abuts property that houses the federal courthouse and post office.] Getting an agreement to use the land is not a quick process, he said.

Blake Transit Center: Commission Discussion – Building Materials

Diane Giannola asked about the canopy – what materials would be used? Kromkowski said it would be a steel structure with a glass canopy, designed to be dynamic and airy. When pressed by Giannola, who was concerned about whether the canopy would intensify the sun, Kromkowski noted that the glass will be slightly tinted and will be fritted, which will result in some “shading factors.” The frit will also help hide some of the dirt, he said, although there will be a maintenance plan for cleaning.

Giannola also asked whether canopies would be added to the bus stops along Fourth Avenue. Terry Black, AATA’s manager of maintenance, told her that all of those shelters would be redesigned as part of the project, with more protection from the elements. The current shelters are inadequate, he said.

Ken Clein commended AATA for pursuing LEED Gold certification.

Bonnie Bona noted that the current building is only 26 years old. What is being done in the proposed construction to make it last longer? she asked. The greenest building is one that’s already built, she said.

Kromkowski replied that materials are being selected for greater durability. He also noted that the existing building can’t accommodate the increase in AATA ridership, and isn’t structurally capable of supporting an additional story. It has a small lobby, which makes it more subject to abuse, he said. The new building’s lobby will be larger. There will also be minor design details to help create a more sustainable building, he said. For example, the current glass wall goes down to grade, he noted, and is more susceptible to deterioration from rain and salts. In the proposed design, the sill is raised about 18 inches. In general, the new building will be easier to maintain, he said.

From left: Ann Arbor planning manager Wendy Rampson and planning commissioner Bonnie Bona.

Bona wondered why she should believe that the new building will last more than 26 years. She said she understood the rationale of needing a new building from a programmatic standpoint. But what about the structural longevity? Kromkowski replied that about 95% of DLZ’s projects are publicly funded, so the firm is aware of the concerns about longevity. The materials are chosen for greater durability, even though that means a higher initial cost, he said – it yields a longer-term savings. Although more economical materials could be used, that’s short-sighted, he said. At the same time, he said they understand the need to be prudent with public funding.

Bona noted that typically you’d expect publicly funded projects to seek the lowest bid, despite the fact that the projects need to stand up over time and withstand a lot of abuse. She asked that the AATA make sure it tells the city council about aspects of the building’s design that improve longevity. She encouraged the designers to find as much opportunity as possible to incorporate aspects of longevity into the design, given that the facility probably won’t be maintained as well as they’d like it to be.

Kromkowski replied that they’ve been trying to do that. One example is that the site will include a snow-melt system – heating the driveway to melt the snow, to reduce the amount of plowing and salt that’s needed. That approach reduces wear and tear on the driveway, and reduces the amount of salt discharged into the stormwater system, he said.

Black said he’s the project manager on this effort, and that’s one of the challenges he’s given to the designers. It’s a public facility, and will take a lot of abuse. He also manages all of the AATA’s facilities, he noted, so he understands the importance of design, and of using materials that are durable and easy to clean and maintain.

Blake Transit Center: Commission Discussion – Traffic

Tony Derezinski asked about the traffic flow. With the potential of a new library in that same area, how will the AATA’s change in traffic flow affect that stretch of South Fifth, regarding both vehicles and pedestrians? Black replied that AATA had conducted a traffic study, because that had been one of their operational concerns. There were no issues, he said. The DDA is also happy with the new design, he said. And it helps that the traffic from the underground parking structure doesn’t exit onto South Fifth.

Blake Transit Center: Commission Discussion – Future Development

Tony Derezinski observed that the proposed building is two stories high. Was there any consideration of additional stories or air rights for future development? Black explained that the foundations are designed to support a taller building – as high as four floors. Later in the discussion, in response to a question from Bonnie Bona, city planner Jeff Kahan noted that the zoning allows height up to 180 feet, or about 16 stories.

Kirk Westphal said he rides the bus every day, and takes it as a great sign for the community that this investment is being made. He had questions about two written comments that the AATA had made in response to the design review board. Westphal quoted from that response: ”…assuming AATA is able to acquire the Fifth and William Parking lot site at some point in the future.”

He noted that the Ann Arbor DDA is undergoing a visioning process for the William Street area. [The effort, called Connecting William Street, aims to find alternate uses for the city-owned surface parking lots in the area bounded by William, Ashley, Liberty and Division streets.] Westphal serves on the Connecting William Street committee, and said the statement about AATA’s hopes to acquire the Fifth and William lot took him a little bit by surprise. He wondered if this plan has been shared with the DDA.

Michael Ford said he’d had some conversations with Susan Pollay. [Pollay is executive director of the DDA.]

Westphal thought it was great to have the forethought to put in footings to support a taller building. He asked that Ford talk about that again with the DDA, especially since the future of the site to the south of the AATA property is in question. “I don’t like regrets in situations like this,” Westphal said. There might be a way to increase footings in collaboration with the DDA.

Ford said he meets with Pollay regularly to talk about collaboration with the DDA and the library, and the general aesthetics of the area. He said he’d “dial back in” to make sure there’s not something he’s missing.

Blake Transit Center: Commission Discussion – Landscaping

Bonnie Bona said she was disappointed that the project didn’t meet the city’s interior landscaping requirements. There’s a lot of concern about providing sufficient green space downtown, she said. While she appreciated the fact that buses require more pavement, she hoped more green space could be added near the street. She also said she’d rather not have the greenscreens – screens made from climbing plants – that were indicated in the design. However, she said she understood that the screens might be there for functional purposes, to block wind and rain.

Ken Clein asked for more details on the greenscreens that were shown on the architectural drawings along the site’s south border. They look more like fences, he said. Kromkowski said they’ve gotten different types of feedback about the greenscreens. During the site plan review, there was a request from planning staff to provide more trees rather than greenscreens, Kromkowski said. Given the tight site, there’s not enough space for both, he said, so the current plan has eliminated the greenscreens in lieu of trees.

Kromkowski said they don’t want to create a barrier or fence, but trees alone don’t really provide a screening.

Following up on written comments from the design review board, Westphal wondered if any consideration had been given to adding street trees. Rob Sherman, a landscape architect with DLZ, said there’s boundary landscaping between the AATA and the Fifth & William surface parking lot. In terms of the sidewalk along Fifth Avenue, Sherman said they haven’t yet obtained information from the DDA about the configuration of that area. Kromkowski said they hoped a tree well would be located near the building along that Fifth Avenue side, to soften the facade.

As they discuss adding more trees on the site, Kromkowski said, several issues arise, including maintenance. Because of the number of people in that area, the trees will take more abuse. There’s also a safety issue, he said, in terms of lines of sight for drivers. The overall site width is 66 feet, he noted, and the building itself is 36 feet wide – narrower than the city council chambers, he noted. That said, they’d be open to possibly adding one or two more trees.

Bona wanted to reinforce having trees on the sidewalks, since there’s so much pavement on the site. She’d like to see two trees on the east side and one on the west.

Blake Transit Center: Commission Discussion – Other Design Issues

Derezinski praised the site plan, but wondered whether the canopy and width of the drive take into account possible future bus technology, related to size or exhaust. He also wondered about accessibility for handicapped patrons, in both the building and the overall site.

In terms of accessibility, Kromkowski said the building and site are fully accessible. Because the building is funded in part with federal grants, it meets additional federal accessibility guidelines as well. The design also takes into account the fact that bus exhaust is located at the back of the bus, so exhaust fumes won’t be trapped under the canopy. He noted that the canopy is designed to be high so that people can’t climb or hang off of it, but it also allows for better air flow.

Kromkowski noted that some buses are longer than they used to be, and that’s been factored into the design.

Black added that there are 41 hybrid buses in AATA’s current fleet – or about 3/4 of the total fleet – that operate with much lower emissions. Sixteen more buses have been ordered, and 11 of those will be hybrids, he said. Black didn’t anticipate the length or width would change dramatically in the near future. If they decided to start using articulating buses, “that would be a completely different story,” he said. Those types of buses are much longer, and wouldn’t fit on the proposed site.

Clein thought the design should give more consideration to the main entrance for pedestrians – celebrating how people get into the building. The recessed doors might provide some protection from the elements, but that makes it less obvious where people can enter, he said. Clein asked the designers to take another look at that.

Westphal said he understood that the site was designed for riders and employees, but he’s concerned about the relationship of the site to pedestrians and people who don’t use the bus. Although the Fifth Avenue facade has a relationship with the library, he also felt it doesn’t celebrate transit or ridership to the extent that the community does. The east and west sides are where most people will interact with the building, but the design shows a cinderblock wall on one side, he said, and a stairwell on the other.

Kromkowski replied that the material on the outside is limestone, though that’s difficult to discern from the drawings. The west side is where the restrooms are located, he noted. Windows aren’t large along the south side because that’s where the service space is located – restrooms, employee showers, the elevator, and services like security and the money-counting operation. The areas with larger windows are for the getDowntown offices and conference rooms. It’s a fairly narrow facade, he said, so there are fewer design options. The AATA logo and signs on that South Fifth side were an attempt to boost the facade, he said, but it’s the canopy that will really identify where the entrance is. He didn’t think there’d be confusion. However, Kromkowski said he’d take the commission’s suggestions into consideration, and see if they could make some changes.

Westphal wondered whether an awning or something could be added to the Fifth Avenue entrance, so that people coming from William or Liberty could see it more clearly. Kromkowski said the building is close to the property line, but he could look at it again. The signs on the facade will be backlit so they’ll glow in the evening, he noted. He didn’t think the entry would be difficult to see. The lights in the lobby and on the canopy will glow as well, he said. Though the design is sensitive about light trespassing, he anticipated the site would become an “evening icon.”

Bona noted that signage isn’t in the purview of the planning commission, and public projects don’t require the commission’s approval. But she said she finds it interesting that big signs get put in a place that very few people actually see. Most people will be coming to the center from the north or south, and won’t see the sign on the west facade facing South Fifth Avenue. The only people who’ll see it are coming from the library. There’s no pedestrian signage on the building, she noted – it could use signs that are smaller, not very high, and perpendicular to the sidewalk. She asked that they consider adding that kind of signage. That issue is part of the conversation about this building’s relationship with pedestrians and people who don’t ride the bus, she said.

Outcome: Commissioners voted unanimously to affirm that the Blake Transit Center project meets city requirements for private development, with two exceptions involving landscaping and driveway width.

Catherine Street Townhomes

The rezoning and site plan for a three-story townhouse with five housing units at 922-926 Catherine St. was on the commission’s July 17 agenda. The two vacant parcels are on the south side of Catherine between Ingalls and Glen, across from the University of Michigan School of Nursing building. The lots are located in the Old Fourth Ward historic district.

Aerial view of site for Catherine Street townhomes.

The development – which according to the owner, Tom Fitzsimmons, will be marketed to students, UM employees, young homebuyers, and empty nesters – entails rezoning the parcels from PUD (planned unit development) to R4C (multi-family residential). The PUD zoning is tied to a previous development that was approved but never built. The current site plan is contingent on approval from the city’s zoning board of appeals for variances from the conflicting land use buffer requirement. The two lots must also be combined as a condition before the city issues building permits.

Five garages would be part of the development, with nine parking spaces and bike storage located below the townhouses. A 24-foot-wide curb cut is proposed off Catherine Street for a driveway, which would run along the east side of the site leading to the garages. Two units would face north onto Catherine Street, with the three remaining units facing west.

The proposed building and site layout plans were approved by the Ann Arbor Historic District Commission on April 12, 2012.

Catherine Street Townhomes: Public Commentary

Six people spoke during public commentary, including four residents of Catherine Street.

Jayne Thorson spoke on behalf of the Catherine Commons Condo Association – Catherine Commons is located immediately east of the proposed development. She said the decrease in the proposed landscape buffer, from 15 feet to 4 feet, is a small concern. But her major concern involved stormwater drainage. The current situation is inadequate even with two vacant lots of highly absorbent lawn, she said. Thorson noted that she had shared her concerns with city staff, including Jerry Hancock, the city’s stormwater and floodplain programs coordinator.

Tom Fitzsimmons, developer of the proposed townhomes at 922-926 Catherine St.

She then read aloud from a letter she had sent to the developer, Tom Fitzsimmons, which described her concerns related to stormwater drainage. It stated that when Catherine Commons was built, apparently no one considered the effect on drainage – and the city should never have been approved the plan for it. The lowest points in the neighborhood are the drain in the Catherine Commons driveway and the lower-level garages and condos. In heavy persistent rains, the main storm sewer fills to capacity then overflows. That storm sewer doesn’t allow water from the Catherine Commons drain to flow into it, she said.

The city had addressed this by partially covering two street drains with metal plates in an effort to reduce the inflow, Thorson stated, and that generally worked. Later, those plates on the street drains were removed, so residents made a similar effort to cover the drains with a mat during heavy rains. That usually suffices, she said, although people tend to steal the mat. This drainage has been a serious problem. They’ve made do, but her concern is that if the two lots are paved over, it will flood with even the slightest sprinkle.

Edward Yee, another resident of Catherine Commons, said he’s seen two major floods since living there, and he wanted to lend support and credence to Thorson’s comments. Starting at the entrance to the University of Michigan parking structure, water flows down the south side of Catherine. Yee also noted that in the past, the city staff had indicated they would consider putting in a larger drain when they resurfaced Catherine. The resurfacing happened, but the new drain was not installed.

Chris Crockett, president of the Old Fourth Ward Association, told commissioners that she and other local residents – her husband Jeff Crockett, Ray Detter, Julie Ritter, and Wap John – had met with Fitzsimmons and had seen the design. They felt he had paid attention to things that were important. The design is compatible with the historic district. It’s the right size, scale and massing, and will bring more residents to the neighborhood. They like the way that part of the development will face onto Catherine. They weren’t in a position to know about the stormwater concern, she said, but she felt that it wasn’t a problem just for this development – it’s something that needs to be resolved for the entire street. Overall, it was a good development, she said. She hoped the other issues could be resolved and that it would be approved.

Julie Ritter, who lives on Catherine Street near the proposed development, called it a wonderful project and hoped it would be approved. She said she’s seen a lot of projects proposed for that site, and this is by far the best one. She also hoped the city could resolve the water issue – as it’s been a problem since she’s lived on Catherine.

Tom Fitzsimmons, the developer, told commissioners that he and his project team had spent time with the neighbors, and had received a very positive response from the city’s historic district commission. They had also met with residents of Catherine Commons, but he indicated that the stormwater issue raised earlier in public commentary had taken him a little by surprise. This site plan will actually reduce the net flow of water into the city’s stormwater system – as the plan includes an underground stormwater detention system. He said he didn’t know the cause or history of the water problems, but that his engineers have told him that the project won’t increase the problem.

Chet Hill, with the Johnson Hill Land Ethics Studio, assured commissioners that there would be less surface runoff from the site, because stormwater would be captured in an underground detention system underneath the driveway. It’s really a street problem, as he understands it. Hill also noted that while the project is seeking a variance to the city’s conflicting land use buffer, the overall landscaping far exceeds ordinance requirements. The open space for a project this size also exceeds ordinance requirements. The idea is to make this project fit into the neighborhood, he said.

Catherine Street Townhomes: Commission Discussion

Eric Mahler wondered why they had to go through the exercise of rezoning. Would it be more advantageous to leave it as a PUD (planned unit development)?

City planner Chris Cheng explained that if the site is zoned R4C, the project would be a by-right project – and if it conforms to city code, the developer would have the right to build it. If it’s zoned R4C, the developer believes there would be less potential for “additional interpretations” by the city council, Cheng said. Planning manager Wendy Rampson added that because the PUD was put in place prior to the requirement that PUDs include supplemental regulations, the city would need to create a new zoning district. It seemed to be more effort than it was worth.

Bonnie Bona clarified that there were two landscaping issues. One is to allow existing trees on the west side to count as the requirement for the conflicting land use buffer, as opposed to planting additional trees. That’s a modification that simply requires approval from the planning commission. The other is a request for a variance from the 15-foot-wide conflicting land use buffer on the east side of the property. The developer is asking for a 4-foot buffer instead, and to waive the requirement that trees be located every 15 feet along that property line. Those changes would require a variance from the zoning board of appeals.

Proposed townhomes at 922-926 Catherine Street, viewed from the street.

Cheng noted that the conflicting land use buffer was a relatively new requirement. If there’s no variance, then the landscaping buffer would be a total of 30 feet (15 feet on the east and west sides). Bona noted that the planning commission tried to change this requirement, but the changes “did not survive” the city council.

Bona then asked what size storm event is this project designed for. She was concerned about how this project will impact larger storm events. Cheng replied that the site’s stormwater system is designed to handle a “first flush” event, as required by city code. He also said he talked to an engineer in the city’s systems planning unit, and no project is planned to address the stormwater concerns raised in public commentary – there’s nothing in the city’s capital improvements plan (CIP) related to it. The problem seems to be related to a design flaw in the Catherine Commons development, he said, related to the elevation of a catch basin on that property. So the new development won’t be able to address the problem.

Bona wondered what it would take to add a project to the CIP to address the problem. Cheng expressed some skepticism that this would be possible, given that it stems from a problem located on private property.

Bona said she’d like the city to continue addressing it, but she realized it wasn’t a problem created by the proposed development. She commended the developer and his design team. The idea behind the citizen’s participation ordinance is to get input, and it sounded like that input had been used in the project.

Ken Clein and Eleanore Adenekan also expressed support for the project, as well as concerns about flooding. Clein said he appreciated that this development includes units that face the street.

Kirk Westphal raised the issue of the mats that Thorson had mentioned during public commentary, used to cover the storm drains. Is that something that’s advisable or inadvisable? he asked. Rampson said it’s “highly unusual” but it sounds like it’s working. Since it’s not permanent construction, she didn’t think there was anything in the city code that prevented it.

Diane Giannola asked whether the recent work on Glen Street had helped the stormwater problem on Catherine. Cheng said the work didn’t address the issue directly, but he could ask about it.

Rampson said that the planning staff will continue working with the city’s systems planning unit to look at the stormwater issue between now and the time that the proposed development is considered by city council.

Outcome: Commissioners voted to recommend that the city council approve the rezoning and site plan for a three-story townhouse with five housing units at 922-926 Catherine St. The commission also recommended approval of the variance from the city’s zoning board of appeals related to the conflicting land use buffer requirement. 

Chalmers Place Parking

Planning commissioners were asked to approve a site plan for the Chalmers Place employee parking lot, increasing the number of spaces there. The project also required a landscaping modification. The retail/office center is located at the intersection of Chalmers and Washtenaw Avenue, west of Arborland Mall.

A different parking plan had been rejected by the planning commission on May 1, after several neighbors spoke against it during public commentary. That plan had entailed building a new 43-space parking lot at the back of the Chalmers Place retail/office center, on a vacant lot that is zoned R1B (single-family residential). The owner, Len Nadolski, subsequently withdrew that plan.

The new proposal would increase the number of parking spaces on the center’s site from 88 to 112. The 24 new spaces would be used mainly by employees of the center, and would be located on the property’s north side, off an existing service drive on the east side of the building. The plan requires a variance from the city’s zoning board of appeals because a maximum of 100 parking spaces is permitted by city code (Chapter 59, Off-Street Parking) for a commercial center of this size. Another variance from the ZBA is required to reduce the width of a conflicting land use buffer.

The extra spaces will result in about a 2,500-square-foot increase of the total amount of impervious surface on the site, which will be offset by a new underground storm pipe meeting 100-year storm regulations.

The project included a request for modifying the city’s interior landscaping requirement, which could be granted by the commission without further approval. For this site, the city requires that at least 50% of the interior landscape must be depressed bioretention areas and used for stormwater management. An exemption was requested, according to a staff memo, because “existing grades and drainage patterns make it impractical to create functional recessed islands on this developed site.”

Chalmers Place Parking: Public Hearing

Kevin Travers, the center’s property manager, was the only person to speak during the public hearing. Len Nadolski, the center’s owner, attended the meeting but did not formally address the commission.

Travers reiterated points that he and others who are affiliated with the center had made at the May 1 meeting. He noted that they’ve proposed an alternative plan because the original one hadn’t been well received. They regrouped after that May 1 meeting, taking into account the comments from neighbors and the planning commissioners. He said he has represented the center since 2005, and the parking is needed very badly. If the center were at 100% occupancy, they wouldn’t be here asking for more parking, he said. But occupancy is only at 50%, and parking is always the first roadblock to getting new tenants. It’s hurting the business financially, he said. This extra parking will give the center a shot in the arm, Travers concluded, and help it survive long-term.

Chalmers Place Parking: Commission Discussion

Diane Giannola said she was happy to see a solution to the problem, even though she knew it wasn’t as much parking as the center had wanted. She hoped that by having more parking for employees in the back, it would free up spaces in the front for customers and that tenants could be found for the vacant stores.

She said she’s never been afraid of extra parking, though she realized that others on the commission would disagree. She hoped that this situation would make people see that parking is tied to how successful a business might be. Although the city wants to encourage public transit, they also need to pay attention to the success of small businesses, she said. Giannola noted that this time, no one had attended the public hearing to speak against the project. [At the May 1 meeting, 18 people had spoken during public commentary about the previous parking proposal. The majority of them were neighbors who opposed the project.]

Bonnie Bona said she appreciated that there’s a parking problem and she hoped this would help solve it. She said she’s always been a little unclear about how the city can determine a parking requirement without knowing the potential uses for businesses that might be located in a retail or office complex. One example is the Courtyard Shops on Plymouth Avenue, she said. When more retail businesses were located there, plenty of parking was available. But as some of those businesses have been replaced by food businesses, the parking is often full. She wondered why parking was a problem for Chalmers Place even though the center was only at 50% occupancy.

Planning manager Wendy Rampson replied that about 10 years ago, the city’s staff evaluated the commercial parking requirements by going out and doing actual counts of parking use for businesses. It could be that trends have changed since then, she said. Definitely food services require more parking than other uses, as do businesses like the nail salon, where customers stay for longer periods.

Bona asked what uses were being sought for the center. The mix of tenants is not an exact science, Travers replied. They try to avoid food uses, but finding a delicate balance is difficult. He also cited the nail salon as a business where customers stay for long periods, especially this time of year “when women like to show their feet,” he said. That business is generally packed on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

Bona noted that the center is located on Washtenaw Avenue, where the city’s most efficient bus route runs in terms of frequency of service and hours of service. [The Ann Arbor Transportation Authority's Route #4 between Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti runs along Washtenaw Avenue.] She asked if the management team had thought about providing motivation for employees not to use the center’s parking.

Travers reported that many of the prospective tenants are franchises for corporations that are located in places like New Jersey. When the suggestion of public transit is made, “the conversations go south,” he said. Verizon’s corporate policy, for example, is that every employee gets a parking space. He noted that the center’s management did look into public transportation, because there’s a bus stop in front of the center. But most employees come from relatively far away, and using a bus wasn’t always an option.

Eric Mahler also was glad that a compromise had been worked out. He noted that he had been the only commissioner to vote in favor of the previous proposal. Like Giannola, he said, he’s not afraid of parking – especially for small businesses. The reality is that people will drive there, he said. He was glad they came up with an alternative that also worked for the neighbors.

Outcome: The Chalmers Place parking plan and landscaping modification were approved unanimously. The project does not require additional approval by the city council. However, it will need to go before the city’s zoning board of appeals.

Speedway Gas Station

On the agenda was a site plan proposal for a Speedway gas station at the northeast corner of North Maple and Miller. The plan had been initially considered at the commission’s June 5 meeting, but was postponed.

Site of a proposed Speedway gas station at the northeast corner of Maple and Miller. The vegetation at the back of the site will remain in place as a buffer between the station and the residential neighborhood.

The project is located at 1300 N. Maple on a 1.39-acre site. The proposal also included a request to rezone a portion of the site from PL (public land) to C3 (fringe commercial). A third element requiring approval was a resolution to allow the existing vegetation on the site to count as part of the city’s conflicting land use buffer.

The plan calls for demolishing an existing 1,500-square-foot vacant service station building, which was built in the 1950s, and constructing a new 3,968-square-foot, single-story gas station and convenience store with five pumps. The gasoline pumps will be covered by a 28-foot by 121-foot canopy. Fourteen parking spaces will be provided next to the convenience store, and six bicycle hoops will be located on the south side of the building, adjacent to a sidewalk leading to Miller.

According to a staff report, underground storage tanks have been removed and an environmental analysis of the site is underway. If any environmental contamination is found, the owner will be required to remediate the site to meet requirements of the Michigan Dept. of Environmental Quality.

The staff report states that since the June 5 meeting, the city’s traffic engineer has reviewed a revised plan and confirmed that traffic issues have been addressed and the site plan meets the requirements of Chapter 47 (Streets) of the city code. The city’s natural resources planning coordinator has reviewed and recommended approval of a revised landscaping plan and landscape modification request. The modification, which requires only planning commission approval, would allow existing vegetation on the eastern property line to count as part of the landscaping requirement for the city’s conflicting land use buffer.

The plan will preserve all existing trees within the 25 feet at the back of the property, an area that includes an existing 5-foot-wide pedestrian path. In addition, seven oak trees will be planted along the sides of the proposed building, and required landscaping within the site will be provided.

Speedway Gas Station: Commission Discussion

No one spoke at a public hearing on the project.

Bonnie Bona asked whether the staff had any position on the landscaping plan. Matt Kowalski, who gave the planning staff report, noted that if all of the invasive plants were all removed from the eastern part of the site, the remaining foliage would be very thin. A neighbor had contacted the city to request that the vegetation there not be removed. He noted that the city’s natural resources planning coordinator had reviewed and approved the proposal.

Ken Clein asked about the building materials, indicating that it wasn’t possible to discern from the packet of information given to commissioners. Kowalski said the information is included in the architectural plan submitted to the city, but it’s not typically part of the staff report.

Kevin Foley of Grand Rapids, representing the owner, reported that the construction will include standard asphalt shingles for the roof and a material called Quick Brick for the building, which is a masonry block that has the appearance of brick.

Outcome: Commissioners unanimously recommended approval of the site plan and rezoning for the Speedway gas station at Miller and North Maple. The recommendations will be forwarded to city council.

Noodles & Co. Site Plan

A site plan for 2161 W. Stadium Blvd. – where a Noodles & Co. restaurant is planned – was on the agenda for the commission’s July 17 meeting.

A site plan for that location – site of the former Sze-Chuan West, adjacent to Bell’s Diner and Stadium Hardware – had been previously approved by commissioners at their March 6, 2012 meeting, and subsequently by the city council in April. But the future tenant wanted to revise the site plan and shift the building 21 feet to the north. The new location provides space for one row of parking along the south side of the building, to be accessed from the Big M car wash site at 2151 W. Stadium.

The existing 4,300-square-foot restaurant has already been demolished. The proposal calls for building a new 2,679-square-foot one-story restaurant with a 615-square-foot unenclosed patio at the front of the building. The 1.15-acre site is located on the west side of West Stadium, south of Liberty.

The site plan approval would be contingent on a land division request that’s currently being reviewed by the city’s planning staff. The division would separate the restaurant parcel from a larger parcel at 2151 W. Stadium, where the Big M car wash is located. Both parcels are owned by Chuck Gallup of Gallup Properties.

Another contingency relates to an easement that allows the site to access West Stadium. Currently, there’s a 10-foot access easement to the north – a shared driveway with 2163-2177 W. Stadium, where the building that houses Bell’s Diner and Stadium Hardware is located. However, the owner of that property is unwilling to expand that easement. Instead, a 20-foot permanent access easement across the adjacent property to the south – where the Big M car wash is located – will be required. No drive-through is proposed for the restaurant.

There will be 30 parking spaces – 22 in the back of the building and eight along the south side.

Noodles & Co. Site Plan: Public Hearing & Commission Discussion

Todd Quatro introduced himself as a project engineer who was there to answer any questions. There were no other speakers at the project’s public hearing.

Eleanore Adenekan clarified with staff that the restaurant won’t include a drive-through, and that the additional parking will be on the south side, next to the side of the building that faces the car wash.

Diane Giannola wondered whether it would be easy for customers to see that the parking is located behind the restaurant. Quatro replied that it should be fairly easy to see, because the drive between the car wash and the restaurant will be widened. There will also be “informal” accessibility from the north side, he said.

Facing east: The fenced-in site at the left of the photo is the location for a proposed Noodles & Co. restaurant. The building that formerly housed the Sze-Chuan West restaurant there has been demolished.

Tony Derezinski followed up on the term “informal” – what does that mean? Quatro explained the situation with the easement to the north of the Noodles & Co. site. It’s just for access, not for parking, he said.

Derezinski also asked what might happen if the car wash is busy and cars line up. Quatro indicated that there’s more than adequate capacity to handle the car wash business and allow access to the restaurant.

Bonnie Bona noted that planning staff had asked about removing one of the parking spots closest to the street. She asked for Quatro’s response to that suggestion. [The staff report states: "Staff recommends that the eastern most parking space adjacent to Stadium be removed to allow for safer ingress/egress to the main door and better pedestrian access from the adjacent parking area."

Quatro said that Noodles & Co. had felt strongly about keeping the parking there.

Bona also observed that she was happy to see the building close to the street, but because the parking is in the back, customers will just see the unadorned back of the building. Quatro replied that the kitchen is located there, so unless you put a fake window on the back, there's no other option. He noted that this is a standard corporate design for Noodles & Co.

Bona suggested that Quatro remind Noodles & Co. that this will be what most customers see. Perhaps even a door that's nicer than the standard service entrance would help. If the company can decorate the front and sides of the building, she said, it can also decorate the back.

Ken Clein noted that Bona had pointed out some interesting conundrums about a mostly auto-dominated strip. It's unfortunate that people parking there will mostly see the back of the building.

Outcome: Commissioners unanimously approved the site plan revisions.

Election of Officers

The planning commission's bylaws state that officers will be elected at the first regular meeting in July. The July 3 meeting had been cancelled, so the first regular meeting fell on July 17.

Eric Mahler, who has served as chair since July 2010, began the meeting and oversaw the election of the new chair, vice chair and secretary. Only one person was nominated for each position, so the election was handled as a voice vote rather than a secret ballot, in conformance with the commission's bylaws. [.pdf of planning commission bylaws] All votes were unanimous.

Kirk Westphal, who has been serving as vice chair, was elected chair. Although she was absent, Wendy Woods was elected as vice chair. Westphal indicated that Woods had been amenable to that outcome. Bonnie Bona was elected as secretary. Diane Giannola has served as secretary for the past two years.

Westphal and Mahler exchanged seats and Mahler handed over the wooden gavel – the leadership transition was completed without a coup.

Present: Eleanore Adenekan, Bonnie Bona, Ken Clein, Tony Derezinski, Diane Giannola, Eric Mahler, Kirk Westphal.

Absent: Evan Pratt, Wendy Woods.

Next regular meeting: Due to the Aug. 7 primary election, the planning commission’s next meeting will be held later in the week – on Wednesday, Aug. 8 at 7 p.m. in the second-floor council chambers at city hall, 301 E. Huron St., Ann Arbor. [Check Chronicle event listings to confirm date]

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The project does not require additional approval by the city council. However, it will need to go before the city’s zoning board of appeals.

A different parking plan had been rejected by the planning commission on May 1, after several neighbors spoke against it during public commentary. That plan had entailed building a new 43-space parking lot at the back of the Chalmers Place retail/office center, on a vacant lot that is zoned R1B (single-family residential). The owner subsequently withdrew that plan.

The new proposal would increase the number of parking spaces on the center’s site from 88 to 112. The 24 new spaces would be used mainly by employees of the center, and would be located on the property’s north side, off an existing service drive on the east side of the building. The plan requires a variance from the city’s zoning board of appeals because the maximum number of parking spaces permitted by city code (Chapter 59, Off-Street Parking) for a commercial center of this size is 100.

The spaces will result in about a 2,500-square-foot increase of the total amount of impervious surface on the site, which will be offset by a new underground storm pipe meeting 100-year storm regulations.

This brief was filed from the city council’s chambers on the second floor of city hall at 301 E. Huron, where the planning commission meetings are held. A more detailed report will follow.

Len Nadolski, left, talks with city councilmember Tony Derezinski before the start of the May 1, 2012 Ann Arbor planning commission meeting. Nadolski owns the Chalmers Place Retail Center on Washtenaw Avenue and hopes to add a parking lot behind the center. The proposal was rejected by the planning commission, on which Derezinski serves. (Photos by the writer.)

About half of those speakers came out to oppose a parking project for the Chalmers Place Retail Center on Washtenaw Avenue, located next to Paesano restaurant in the former Arbor Dodge lot. The owner – Len Nadolski of Howell – asked to rezone a vacant parcel behind the center to P (parking), from its current single-family residential zoning. He said the center has been unable to lease all of its stores because tenants are concerned about a lack of parking.

Commissioners expressed sympathy for the owner, but voted against recommending the rezoning. The majority of commissioners did not feel that the situation warranted overriding the master plan, which calls for that property to be zoned residential. Erica Briggs said the situation added urgency to plans to make the Washtenaw Avenue corridor more safe and amenable to walking and biking.

Eric Mahler cast the lone vote in favor of rezoning. He said he normally wouldn’t support a proposal that was essentially “spot zoning,” but in this case he voted for the plan because he didn’t see any viable alternatives for the owner.

Another project that drew public commentary had previously been recommended for approval by the commission: Maple Cove Apartments & Village development, located on North Maple near Miller Road. The commission had approved the project at its March 20, 2012 meeting. But that vote was rescinded when it was discovered that Scio Township residents on Calvin Street had not been included in an original public notice mailed out for the commission’s March meeting.

Nearby residents voiced several concerns about the project – including density, flooding, aesthetics, traffic and a lack of sidewalks from North Maple back to the seven houses. Those issues were echoed by some of the commissioners, who also complained about the lack of responsiveness from the property owner, Muayad Kasham of Dynasty Enterprises. He has not attended the commission’s meetings to address concerns.

But it was the two proposed entrances off of North Maple – separate entrances for the apartments and the single-family homes – that prompted the most discussion among commissioners, and ultimately the move to postpone. Wendy Woods pointed out that the city’s traffic engineer had advised that a single entrance would be preferable. The city code allows for two entrances, however, based on the property’s lineal frontage. The owner has indicated a commitment to two entrances in order to market the apartments and single-family homes separately, and the city code allows for two entrances based on the property’s lineal frontage.

No date has been set for when the project will next appear on the planning commission agenda.

The commission also approved the city’s 2013-2018 capital improvements plan (CIP), with only minor modifications from the previous year. But commissioners voted to postpone action on a master plan update – they’re expected to discuss it at a retreat set for Tuesday, May 29.

The final item of the meeting was dispatched quickly, as commissioners recommended rejecting a proposed revision to the city’s medical marijuana zoning ordinance. The proposal – recommended by the medical marijuana licensing board – was to strike one sentence from the zoning ordinance: “Medical marijuana dispensaries and medical marijuana cultivation facilities shall be operated in compliance with the MMMA (Michigan Medical Marijuana Act).” Commissioners expressed caution about the implications of eliminating the sentence, with Mahler stating that the change would authorize illegal uses, and would have severe consequences for the city.

Maple Cove Apartments & Village

The planning commission rescinded its previous action regarding a site plan for the Maple Cove Apartments & Village development and reconsidered the proposal at its May 1 meeting.

The commission had previously approved the project at its March 20, 2012 meeting. But that vote was rescinded because Scio Township residents on Calvin Street had not been included in an original public notice mailed out for the commission’s March meeting. There were no changes to the plan in the interim period.

The project is located on 2.96 acres at 1649 N. Maple, north of Miller Road between North Maple and Calvin Street on the city’s west side. At the March 20 meeting, Bonnie Bona and Eric Mahler had voted against the project. Bona was absent from the May 1 meeting.

Project area for Maple Cove is showed outlined in black. (Image links to higher resolution .pdf file)

The plan calls for combining two sites – 1649 N. Maple and 1718 Calvin – and demolishing an existing single-family home and detached garages there. Two 3-story apartment buildings would be built with a 64-space parking lot and eight bike spaces. The project also includes building a private street to serve seven new single-family houses near Calvin Street, but with an entrance off of North Maple. According to a staff memo, there will be no access to Calvin Street, which “is a private street with a checkered history regarding access rights.” The apartment complex would have a separate entrance, also off of North Maple.

Each apartment building would contain a total of 18 one-and two-bedroom apartments ranging from 745 to 1,057 square feet. The plan calls for each apartment building to have a rooftop patio for use by residents, with the possibility of a vegetated cover (green roof) for the remainder of the roof surface. The staff memo noted that the city has requested a $26,660 parks contribution, but the developer has declined to make that contribution.

The site has two zoning designations, which the project accommodates. The eastern half of the parcel, adjacent to North Maple, is zoned O (office), but residential uses are permitted as long as the project conforms to the area, height and placement regulations of office zoning. The maximum height allowed is 55 feet, and the proposed apartment buildings would be 44 feet tall. The western half of the site, where the single-family homes are planned, is zoned R1C (single-family residential).

Site plans for two previous projects had been approved by the city (in 2005 and 2008) but neither project was built. Planning staff had recommended approval of this current project.

Maple Cove Apartments & Village: Public Hearing

Several neighbors attended the May 1 meeting and six people spoke against the project for a variety of reasons, including density, flooding, aesthetics and traffic.

Alice Boss told commissioners that she lives on Calvin, directly across the street from the proposed development – she’s lived there 10 years. This is the second time that she’s come to the commission for a project that’s been proposed for the land, which she described as beautiful green space. It’s a flood zone that’s used by migratory birds, and she’s concerned about what would happen to those birds. The existing homes along Calvin are small, she said, and the larger homes proposed for Maple Cove would be incongruous with the neighborhood. In general, she’s concerned about over-density, noise, light, and crime. The development would substantially degrade her quality of life, she concluded.

Carole Starnes said her property abuts the part of the Maple Cove project that’s next to Calvin. She’s concerned about the density of the apartments, but said she’s more familiar with the situation on Calvin. The soil in that area is clay, and there’s always water – she doesn’t want to see more flooding. What guarantees do they have that the problem won’t worsen? She noted that most homes in that area are built on lots that are more than one acre, but the seven Maple Cove homes will all be built on less than two acres total. She was concerned about density. Will there be any buffer between the development’s back yards and existing homes – and is there any guarantee about it, or will it be left up to the developer? Starnes said she’d hate to be looking out her living room window and see a house right there. Most people who live in that area now chose the location because of its rural character, she said.

Cheryl Brown criticized the commission and planning staff, saying “shame on you” for not initially notifying all neighbors about the project and for infringing on their right to due process. She pointed out that Calvin is a private street, so people would need permission to use it as an entrance or exit. [There are no plans by the developer to connect the project to Calvin.] She said she’d prefer some type of fence between the existing homes and the development, and she wondered where the property’s easement was located. It seemed like it was all take and no give by the developer – she didn’t see that the developer was willing to do anything in exchange for the project. Brown suggested that instead of building one of the houses, a park could be added.

Pete Miller said he’s lived on Calvin Street for 25 years, and the sump pump in his basement runs continuously. There’s a huge water problem in the area, and when the developer starts digging, even more problems will be caused, he said. It scared him to know that the county is responsible for drainage in that area, because the county hasn’t done anything to address the problem in years, he said.

Some of the residents who spoke during public commentary against the Maple Cove development on Ann Arbor's west side.

Stephanie Raupp reminded commissioners that she had spoken at the project’s public hearing in March – she had been the only person representing neighbors at that hearing. She’s a homeowner who lives directly across North Maple from the proposed development, on Enclave Lane, and had presented a petition on behalf of other residents who were concerned about the apartments. Based on feedback at this meeting, though, she said it seems like people are concerned about the apartments and the houses.

The main issue is that it feels like a bait and switch, Raupp said. When the property was rezoned based on a previous proposal by a different developer, that project had been significantly different than the one that’s now proposed, she said. It had been mostly offices, with a lot of green space and just a few loft apartments. The rezoning was approved based on that plan, but the current plan is nothing like that. She pointed out that many homes in the area have families with children who attend Skyline High, but the developer refuses to put in sidewalks. He at least owes the neighborhood sidewalks and more green space, she said. The parking lot is huge, and water runoff is a problem. The project needs to be reexamined, she said.

Brian Biggs was the last speaker, and said he lived on Woodrow Street near Calvin. He urged commissioners to go out to North Maple in the morning between 6:45-8:45 a.m. and then tell him how that road would accommodate 100 more cars. There are already backups at the roundabouts north of the proposed development, he said – where are the extra cars going to go? Kids have to cross North Maple to get to Skyline High or the elementary schools, he noted. Biggs also told commissioners that the soil on the property, where a salvage yard was previously located, is still contaminated. The developer wants to make a buck, he said, but “we need to think past the dollar.”

Maple Cove: Commission Discussion

Commissioners spent about an hour discussing the Maple Cove project. This report organizes the discussion thematically.

Maple Cove: Commission Discussion – Site Contamination

Jamie Gorenflo with Midwestern Consulting was the only representative of the developer at the meeting. He said a phase 1 environmental assessment had been completed, and that remediation was done on the site – it’s been cleaned up, he said. This prompted several people from the audience to shout “No way!”

Wendy Woods observed that the neighbors seem to think the site hasn’t been cleaned up. She asked Gorenflo for more details. He replied that a phase 1 and phase 2 environmental study had been done as part of a requirement in the sale of the property to the current owner. However, he said he hadn’t been privy to the recommendations from those studies. Woods said that concerned her.

Kirk Westphal asked whether the city could get a copy of the environmental study results. City planner Matt Kowalski said he wasn’t sure if the information was confidential, but he would ask for it. Is it required by the city? Westphal asked. Planning manager Wendy Rampson said the only time the city requires that kind of information is if the developer is seeking brownfield status. Otherwise, it’s handled at the county or state level. The city has no regulatory authority, she said. The private sector typically deals with this kind of issue prior to a property sale, to determine who has responsibility in case there’s any litigation.

Westphal asked who the neighbors could contact for more information. Rampson pointed to the Michigan Dept. of Environmental Quality (MDEQ), and said the planning staff would also follow up with the developer.

Maple Cove: Commission Discussion – Drainage, Flooding

Queried by commissioners, city planner Matt Kowalski confirmed that the project’s site plan must manage water on-site, and not allow runoff. He said the city staff and county water resources commissioner have reviewed the plan and given it preliminary approval. Excess water would be directed to an underground detention basin.

In response to a question from Evan Pratt, Jamie Gorenflo with Midwestern Consulting indicated that there’s no problem anticipated with groundwater. Pratt said it sounds like the site is wet, but that the project won’t make things worse. He noted that if there’s water on the surface, that usually means there’s water underground. It’s never a good idea to put basements in an area where there’s groundwater – you’ll end up with sump pumps that run continuously, he said.

Responding to another question, Gorenflo said he wasn’t sure if the single-family homes will have basements. The apartment buildings will have a small basement for mechanicals, but it won’t extend under the entire building.

Wendy Woods asked to clarify the term groundwater – she noted that groundwater is the term used to refer to underground water that’s been contaminated by Pall/Gelman Sciences with 1,4 dioxane. Gorenflo said he had been using the term only to refer to surface water – water that was on the ground.

Maple Cove: Commission Discussion – Developer Responsiveness

Several commissioners complained about the attitude of the developer. Wendy Woods said she was glad that more neighbors had come to raise their issues, and it seemed the project would cause a lot of concerns in the future. Even though she had previously voted in favor of the project, she said she didn’t think she could support it now. Hearing from the neighbors and seeing the unwillingness of the developer to address these issues were a big concern for her.

Erica Briggs observed that the developer was just coming in and doing what he wanted. The project isn’t consistent with the surrounding area, and there’s no discussion about meeting the basic needs of even the residents who’ll live in the new development, she said. Briggs noted that the developer hadn’t attended any planning commission meetings. The project reflects a problem with the city’s code, she said, or with the rezoning. Residents supported that previous project there, which was mostly offices, but this current development is nothing like that, she noted.

Briggs wondered if some of the minor issues could be addressed, at the least. ”Is there any way for these grievances to be answered?”

City planner Matt Kowalski replied that the planning staff had raised some of the same concerns as the neighbors and commissioners, but the project met the city’s regulations and code, so there was nothing the staff could do.

Briggs asked if there was any advice that could be provided to the neighbors. Nothing beyond speaking to the city council, Kowalski said. Planning manager Wendy Rampson suggested that neighbors could contact the developer directly and try to work something out.

Eric Mahler, the commission’s chair, pointed out that it’s not the staff’s role to be an advocate for the developer or anyone else.

Maple Cove: Commission Discussion – Density, Traffic, Sidewalks

Kirk Westphal observed that when people buy a home, they typically don’t look at the zoning of property around them – it usually only comes up when a project is proposed, like Maple Cove. He said there’s not much consolation for people who are debating the density of a project like this, other than to keep an eye on the process and contact their city council representative. But once the code is in place and follows the city’s master plan, there’s not much recourse. ”If code is something we want to change, we can always change that in the future,” he said.

Wendy Woods said she had raised concerns about a lack of sidewalks at the March 20 meeting, and she’s still not comfortable with that. Jamie Gorenflo with Midwestern Consulting said he couldn’t speak for the developer, but that the plan called for posting signs with a speed limit of 5 mph – a comment that prompted laughs from the residents. Other traffic-calming strategies would also be deployed, he said. Even if there were sidewalks from the single-family homes to North Maple, he said, there isn’t a sidewalk along North Maple to connect with. There will be a sidewalk in front of the development, but nothing on either side of it.

Tony Derezinski asked whether sidewalks can be required. Matt Kowalski clarified that sidewalks are required in the front of the development, along North Maple. Beyond that, sidewalks are only required for drives leading to developments with eight or more houses – this one had only seven houses. What about curbcuts? Derezinski asked. The developer is entitled to two curbcuts, Kowalski said, based on the project’s lineal frontage.

Derezinski said the problem is that a lot of people don’t like the city code, in this case – it’s a dilemma. The fact is, people are in a bind, but the city needs to follow the law, he said.

Westphal asked for clarification about why the decision was made that developments with less than eight houses did not require sidewalks. Kowalski said he didn’t know why the code was written that way, but that the planning staff had recommended sidewalks for this project. He noted that city code requires a sidewalk along the front of the property, along North Maple, but not on the drive leading back to the houses.

Maple Cove: Commission Discussion – Postponement

Evan Pratt noted that the city’s traffic engineer has stated that one driveway is preferable – there’s a reason for making that determination, he said. Pratt said he looked at it from a health, safety and welfare perspective, and he had concerns about two driveways onto North Maple. Pratt said he’d like to propose an amendment to approve the project contingent on it having only a single driveway. Otherwise, he said he’d like to postpone action until the developer could respond. He moved the amendment, which was seconded by Wendy Woods.

Tony Derezinski wondered whether such an action would violate the city’s zoning code. Wendy Rampson said the developer is entitled to two curbcuts, but the traffic engineer does have a certain amount of discretion. Pat Cawley was the city traffic engineer who prepared a report for this project.

Derezinski said the only hook for the city would be if the two driveways created a threat to public health, safety and welfare. That’s a fairly high standard, he noted, and the city is on tentative ground. For that reason, he said he’d prefer a postponement, not an amendment making the approval contingent on a single driveway.

Woods pointed to the summary of the traffic engineer’s report, as provided in the staff memo on the project:

The City Traffic Engineer has requested a consolidation of access points for the development in accordance with The City of Ann Arbor Transportation Plan Update, May 2009. In order to minimize potential conflicts along Maple Road, it is advised that the single-family and apartment buildings utilize the same access point.

“That speaks volumes to me,” she said. The access points – the two driveways – are close, Woods said, and create potential points of conflict. Citing the comments from neighbors and proximity of Skyline High, she said she’d like to take another look at requiring a single driveway. Woods joked that she was looking at the attorney across the room to get his response, but he wasn’t making eye contact. [Kevin McDonald of the city attorney's office was at the meeting, but did not comment on this issue.]

Planning commissioner Wendy Woods.

Eric Mahler pointed out that if the commission amended the resolution, they’d be amending the developer’s site plan, and the developer hasn’t had a chance to rebut. He said it was more procedurally tasteful to vote down the project, ask the developer to revise the site plan, then reconsider it at a future meeting.

Derezinski agreed, saying the commission was on “very tender ground.” If commissioners amended the agreement because of the threat to public health, safety and welfare, that’s a high threshold and they need to ensure that there’s documentation to support it, he said. Derezinski said he’d vote for postponement in order to get that documentation, but otherwise, “we shouldn’t do it.”

Kirk Westphal also weighed in to support postponement, saying it was unfortunate that the developer wasn’t there to respond. Erica Briggs said she wouldn’t give too much sympathy to the developer, pointing out that he had just as much opportunity to attend the meeting as the neighbors did.

Pratt withdrew his motion to amend, and said he’d also support postponement.

Mahler noted that the developer is under no obligation to consider any changes to his proposal. Commissioners need to recognize that a postponement might not move the needle on this project. “We can only request it,” he said.

Jamie Gorenflo with Midwestern Consulting told commissioners that the owner was committed to two entrances in order to market the apartments and single-family homes separately. Gorenflo said he was 90% sure the owner wouldn’t change his mind on this issue.

Diane Giannola said she supported postponement in order to hear from the traffic engineer regarding how big of a concern the two curbcuts are. Woods again pointed to the summary in the staff report, and argued that if even one child could get hurt, that’s a big concern. She said her blood pressure was rising, and that if Gorenflo had indicated there was no need to postpone because the owner wouldn’t change his mind, then she would feel vindicated in voting against the project.

Pratt then formally moved to postpone in order to get clarification from the city’s traffic engineer. The motion was seconded by Eleanore Adenekan.

Derezinski noted that the postponement related only to the curbcut issue – all of the other issues that had been raised weren’t part of the postponement. Woods replied that there might be other issues that would cause a commissioner to vote against the project. She asked whether there would be another public hearing on the project.

Mahler indicated that the commission would re-open the public hearing when the project is taken up again.

Westphal asked whether having a single curbcut would eliminate the sidewalk issue. Rampson responded that the planning staff couldn’t make code reviews on the fly, but they could look at that.

Outcome: Commissioners voted to postpone action on Maple Cove, to get more information from the traffic engineer about whether the proposed two separate entrances to the property created a health, safety and welfare hazard. The vote to postpone was 7-1, with dissent from commission chair Eric Mahler. Bonnie Bona was absent. No date has been set for when the project will next appear on the planning commission agenda.

Chalmers Place Parking

Planning commissioners were asked to vote on three resolutions related to a proposal for Chalmers Place, at 2090 Chalmers Drive near the intersection with Washtenaw Avenue: (1) rezoning a vacant lot from R1B (single-family residential) to P (parking); (2) authorizing the disturbance of a 25-foot natural features open space; and (3) a site plan for the parking lot. The site is west of Arborland Mall.

Aerial map of the lot (outlined in black) that was proposed to be rezoned from residential to parking. The lot is located directly north of the Chalmers Place retail center at 3365 Washtenaw Ave. (Links to higher resolution .pdf file)

Chris Cheng gave the report of planning staff, which recommended denial of the proposal. Reasons for denial included the fact that the proposal did not conform to the city’s master plan for that area, and because a parking lot would cause greater disturbance to the site’s natural features than a single-family residential development would.

The plan called for building a 43-space parking lot on the .92-acre site, which is now vacant. Most of the parking would be used by employees of the Chalmers Place Retail Center at 3365 Washtenaw Ave., located south of this site. Len Nadolski, the owner of both the retail center and the vacant parcel, and his representatives argued that they can’t fully lease the stores at the center without additional parking. Ten to twelve spots would also be set aside for park-and-ride commuters using the AATA bus stop on Washtenaw Avenue.

Chalmers Place Parking: Public Hearing

There were 18 people who spoke during a public hearing on the project, which lasted about an hour. A summary of their remarks is presented in this report. The majority of speakers were residents from the neighborhood who opposed the project, but the first three speakers were affiliated with the owner.

Jeff Smith of Professional Engineering Associates in Howell told commissioners that the owner’s team had worked very hard over the past year. This parking project is a last resort to help the struggling retail center. It’s a plan that could be approved, he said, and there’s a desperate need for parking. One of the primary concerns that people have cited is the removal of trees, and there seems to be a perception that this property contains high-quality woodland. But it’s really an overgrown residential lot, Smith said, and 42% of the trees are invasive. It’s not pristine in terms of natural features.

Smith said they knew that the master plan would be a challenge, but their justification for the project is that parking provides a natural transition between the retail center and the residential neighborhood, and is not out of character. It’s a unique project because a portion of the spaces are dedicated for an AATA park-and-ride lot. That can be pointed to as a special use, he said, so it doesn’t set a precedent for other projects. Traffic won’t be increased as a result of the lot, Smith contended. And the topography – a steep incline – is such that the lot will be 18 feet below Chalmers. Combining that with the evergreens to be planted as screening, and residents won’t be able to see the lot, he said. Smith concluded by asking commissioners for their approval: “We really hope you can keep this retail center going.”

From left: Len Nadolski, owner of Chalmers Place retail center; property manager Kevin Travers; and David Sharp, manager of the Verizon store at the center.

Kevin Travers, the center’s property manager, noted that the first tenants moved into the center in 2006. So it’s not like this approach to parking was the first thing they tried – in fact, it’s the last thing they wanted to do, he said. They’ve struggled to make the center viable and fill the stores, but there’s still 7,200 square feet with dirt floors, and a total of 9,800 square feet of vacant space. He said the property has been shown to more than 100 potential tenants, but parking is always an issue. The owner is ready to spend $250,000 on this new lot – it’s absolutely needed to survive, he said. This business has paid taxes, improved the side road, kept the area neat and clean. They’ve been good neighbors, he said. The city owes it to taxpayers to stabilize the tax base now and in the future, he concluded.

Matt Berke, a principal with Keystone Commercial Real Estate, told commissioners that he didn’t have much to add, but he wanted to attest that he’s the third broker for the property. He’s handled the property for over a year, and virtually every potential tenant voices the same concerns over parking. He said he knows of at least two tenants who’ve leased at other locations in this market.

Michael Roddy, owner of Paesano at 3411 Washtenaw, noted that his restaurant is directly across Chalmers from the retail center – he remembers when Arbor Dodge was located there. Roddy said he’d previously spoken to the city council and planning commission members about other issues on behalf of his neighbors, and he was here to do the same again. Unlike the Maple Cove developer, Roddy said, the owner of Chalmers Place had met several times with neighbors and others in the area. It’s a wonderful development that has increased the value of property, improved the sidewalks and done everything a good neighbor should do. Roddy said they don’t need more vacant lots or stores along Washtenaw. He also has seen people park in the Paesano parking lot and walk over to Chalmers Place. There are two businesses there that have customers and employees who fill the retail center’s parking lot. Roddy said the parking project would beautify the area, and he urged commissioners to support it.

Michael Homel, a resident of Wooddale Court, identified himself as a board member of the Woodcreek Homeowners Association, and noted that several other people who live in the Woodcreek development were at the meeting. Homel said he supported the staff recommendation of denial for this project. The main issue is zoning, he said – keep the commercial activity on Washtenaw Avenue, and the residential on Chalmers. Nothing has changed since the owner built the retail center, Homel observed, and perhaps better planning would have been a better approach. Homel noted that the owner says the retail center is struggling because of parking – that assertion can’t be proven or disproven, yet there are many other vacant stores in the area. There are probably a lot of reasons for those vacancies, and it’s not the role of others to plumb into that, he said.

Homel reminded commissioners that the owner had previously tried to rezone the property on Chalmers from single-family to multi-family residential. He also noted that the decision to allocate spaces for AATA park-and-ride was not an AATA initiative, and if there are spaces to spare for AATA, it seems to disprove the assertion that parking is needed for employees and customers. Finally, Homel said that although it’s true that the owner held a neighborhood meeting and did other outreach, the residents don’t support it. The Woodcreek Homeowners Association board had voted unanimously against the project, he reported. They support the planning staff’s findings, and he hoped the commission would deny the rezoning.

Amir Mortazawi, who lives on Woodcreek, said that he and his wife both oppose the project. He held up photos of the current parking lot, when there was plenty of parking. Parking should have been part of the business plan when the project was built, he said. Asking for the zoning change seemed like a way to circumvent the rules. He hoped that wasn’t the case. Mortazawi said he and his wife moved there 10 years ago hoping that they could walk to the shops along Washtenaw. That’s what the city should promote, he said. But they no longer walk along Chalmers – that would be risking their lives. The drivers for Jimmy John’s – one of the Chalmers Place tenants – drive fast along Chalmers. “We don’t need more businesses like that,” he said. Mortazawi urged commissioners not to make a bad situation worse by adding more traffic and fast drivers.

Lois Kamoi, a resident of Chalmers, said her daughter lives in the house adjacent to the proposed parking lot. Her property was purchased from Nadolski and she knew at that time that the adjacent land was also zoned residential. She was concerned that strangers in the parking lot could look down and see her grandchildren playing outside. Kamoi noted that at the neighborhood meeting that Nadolski held, the neighbors were told that the parking lot would be for employees. But later, the spots for AATA riders were added. Kamoi also disputed the need for more parking, saying that she walks her dog past there every day and she’s never seen the employee spaces full. The Jimmy John’s drivers take up several spaces in front, so perhaps they could park in the lot behind the center, she suggested. She also raised concerns about adding 43 more vehicles exiting onto Chalmers, if the new lot were built.

Gwen Nystuen, a member of the Ann Arbor park advisory commission, pointed to the master plan, which calls for that property to be residential. It’s appropriately zoned now, and keeping it that way would better protect the site’s natural features and the Mallets Creek watershed, she said. Nystuen also didn’t think it would be smart to add more traffic to that area, and she hoped commissioners would reject the rezoning.

Jane Heineken of Brian Court said there are already a lot of near misses as people pull out of Chalmers onto Washtenaw Avenue, as well as when people try to get in and out of Paesano, Chalmers Place and stores on the south side of Washtenaw. She’s a frequent AATA rider, and would applaud a park-and-ride lot in the area. But that would need to be accompanied by a crosswalk across Washtenaw. Currently, people try to dart across five lanes of traffic – it’s already a problem. As much as residents would like to see all the shopping centers along Washtenaw be successful, it’s important to look at the bigger picture, she said.

Danielle Gonzalez and her mother Madeline Gonzalez, who live across the street on Chalmers from the proposed parking lot, both spoke against it. The people who park behind the center now are loud, Danielle Gonzalez said, and a new lot would increase noise, traffic, and lights. It’s already difficult to turn onto Washtenaw, she said. Madeline Gonzalez asked commissioners to follow the planning staff recommendation, based on the issue of safety. Residents have the right for children to play in a safe area, but there are no sidewalks there and the cars drive fast. She also noted that residents weren’t told about the AATA park-and-ride spaces when they met with the owner, adding that AATA brings in “different elements.” She observed that Roddy likely supports the project because his customers use parking at Chalmers when the Paesano’s lot is full. Gonzalez said she wants the shops to succeed, but not to impact the quality of life in the neighborhood.

Jan Ulrich, an Oakwood resident, talked about the traffic along Washtenaw Avenue between Carpenter and Huron Parkway – “it’s a mess.” She had concerns about how the development got approved in the first place, given the traffic. It’s quite dangerous there, and she was pleased to see the planning staff’s recommendation for denial. Ulrich also raised environmental concerns for the project’s impact on Mallets Creek, and about the quality of life for residents. Pointing to the addition of parking for AATA, she noted there was an aspect of deception involved, too.

Two managers of tenants at the center spoke in support of the new lot. David Sharp, Verizon store manager, said there’s no one better than him to attest to the need for parking. He spends most of his day standing near the window that overlooks the lot. Between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. there are few available spaces – he’s seen customers drive up and then leave because they can’t find parking. When tenants move into the four vacant stores, the problem will be even worse. He also noted that the types of businesses are a factor, too. Customers for some stores – like Verizon, and the nail salon – spend a long time at the business, so there’s not frequent turnover in parking. He strongly encouraged approval of the rezoning.

The manager of LUV Manicures & Pedicures also spoke in support of rezoning. She said the front parking lot is frequently full, and customers complain. She’d like to see more businesses in the center, which would help all the stores, but when that happens the parking will be worse. Customers will start to go elsewhere. Approving the project would benefit the entire center, she said.

From left: Michael Homel and Amir Mortazawi, residents of the Woodcreek subdivision, at the public hearing for the Chalmers Place parking project. Homel is a board member of the Woodcreek Homeowners Association. They were among the 10 residents who spoke in opposition to the project at the May 1 hearing.

Jim Sweetnam said there are people who are beloved to him that live in the neighborhood. It seemed that the most contentious issue relates to where the employees park. He said he’s in favor of park-and-ride – just not at that location. He suggested that employees could park elsewhere and take the bus to the center, which would save a lot of money and grief.

Marsha Brashears lives on Chalmers and said her biggest concern is the AATA park-and-ride. She couldn’t imagine the large AATA buses going up and down Chalmers, with families there. [The parking lot project would not entail any changes to AATA routes.]

Len Nadolski made a final plea for the project. He said he and the project team respect the watershed and don’t want to degrade or pollute it. The property is unique, and their plan is designed to reduce the impact on the neighborhood. He pointed to aspects of the plan that he said would improve the area and make it safer – including fencing, lighting, and security cameras. Vehicles would be towed if they don’t belong to employees, he said.

He argued that they haven’t been able to attract tenants because of the parking concern. Now, the project isn’t meeting the ratios required by its lending institution, he said. [Nadolski didn't specific what those ratios entailed. Common ratios are loan-to-value ratio, debt ratio, and debt service coverage ratio.] Nadolski said he wouldn’t invest in the parking lot unless he had to, but “we’re at a crossroads right now.” The center is at a desirable location, but parking is the problem. Referring to the city’s master plan, he said that every plan has the opportunity for exceptions, and he hoped the commission would take that into consideration.

Chalmers Place Parking: Commission Discussion

Erica Briggs said she felt for the petitioners, because the issue they’re facing is real. But the issues that planning staff raised are real, too, she said. It’s important to respect the fact that this proposal isn’t consistent with the city’s master plan or with the needs of the neighbors. Transportation demand management provides solutions beyond just the addition of parking space, Briggs noted, and a lot of TDM strategies are being deployed downtown. Washtenaw Avenue has been facing these challenges a long time, she said, and businesses should work together to find solutions. One possibility is to find another way to get employees to their work sites. Discounted bus passes would be one example, she said. This is a really significant issue that needs to be solved, but a parking lot isn’t the answer.

Kirk Westphal clarified with city planner Chris Cheng that it wouldn’t be a hardship to develop the property as it’s currently zoned – that is, it would be possible to develop the land for residential use. That’s correct, Cheng said. Westphal noted that unlike the Maple Cove site, this is a case where the zoning of the property meets the neighbors’ expectations, either as vacant property or as single-family residential. To him, that was a compelling reason to keep the zoning as it is. He said it’s not the planning commission’s place to speculate on why the retail center isn’t able to lease its stores.

From left: planning commissioners Evan Pratt and Kirk Westphal.

Wendy Woods agreed with Briggs and Westphal. She urged the owners to look for creative alternatives – perhaps an AATA shuttle from a remote parking lot. But that’s obviously not an issue that commissioners can solve now, she said. Woods expressed sympathy to the parking issue, but said it doesn’t rise to the level of rezoning.

Woods then smiled and said, “Let me just speak for the trees,” a remark that elicited laughter from her colleagues. Even though the trees are considered invasive or non-native, she said, “they still need to be respected.”

Tony Derezinski also spoke about possible parking alternatives, pointing to the large parking lot on the other side of Washtenaw Avenue where he said there always appears to be plenty of available parking. He alluded to the Reimagine Washtenaw Avenue project, saying that he hoped it would eventually improve walkability along that corridor. It was a tough situation, but he felt that deference should be give to the planning staff’s assessment.

Diane Giannola wondered if the retail center’s parking lot was used by commuters who parked there and then took a bus into town. Kevin Travers, the center’s property manager, noted that there was an AATA bus stop in front but that he didn’t think commuters parked there.

Giannola asked whether the planning staff had looked at other areas for parking. Cheng said it might be possible to restripe the existing lot for smaller spaces, and maybe reduce the setback along Chalmers. They might be able to gain at most 10 additional spaces by doing that.

Briggs noted that both the owner and the neighbors describe Washtenaw Avenue as uncomfortable for biking and walking, and it’s unsafe to cross the street. The city needs to work rapidly to improve that area, she said. If this owner is willing to invest $250,000 to build a parking lot, Briggs wondered how many other businesses would invest in improvements, like pedestrian-activated crossing signals (HAWK) or other changes to make it more pedestrian friendly. Instead of leaving it entirely up to the owners, perhaps the city could partner with them to find solutions, she said.

Eric Mahler said it comes down to a case of spot zoning against the master plan. The commission has been consistent in not doing that, he said, nor is it their place to look at financial data or forecasts. However, Mahler said he empathized with the owner, and had to give him the benefit of the doubt that potential tenants are being chased away because of the parking situation. It’s one thing to generalize and say that people should work together to come up with a solution, he said. But he had to assume that if there was another solution, the owner would have pursued it. Mahler said he had to support the project because he didn’t see any other option for the property owner.

Outcome: In three separate votes, planning commissioners voted 1-7 to recommend denial of the Chalmers Place proposal. Commission chair Eric Mahler cast the only votes in support of the resolutions. Neighbors in the audience applauded after the final vote was taken.

Medical Marijuana Zoning Revision

The planning commission was asked to weigh in on a proposed change to the city’s zoning code for medical marijuana dispensaries and cultivation facilities.

Earlier this year, the city’s medical marijuana licensing board had recommended one change – to strike the following sentence from the zoning ordinance: “Medical marijuana dispensaries and medical marijuana cultivation facilities shall be operated in compliance with the MMMA (Michigan Medical Marijuana Act).” [.pdf of the recommended zoning ordinance change]

The board’s recommendation had been sent to Ann Arbor city council. But at their April 2, 2012 meeting, councilmembers voted 9-1 instead to direct the planning commission to review the medical marijuana zoning ordinance. The councilmember voting against that direction was Tony Derezinski (Ward 2), who also serves as a planning commissioner.

In a staff memo to planning commissioners, planning staff had recommended denial of the ordinance change. From the memo:

Without this provision in the City’s ordinance, there would be no way for staff to distinguish between a use legally allowed under the MMMA and a clearly illegal one. For instance, if the provision is removed, an applicant claiming to be a medical marijuana dispensary could comply with zoning, but actually be an illegal drug operation. Finally, keeping this provision in the list of requirements for the establishments for a medical marijuana dispensary or cultivation facility serves to clarify for potential applicants that the City will not approve a facility that is inconsistent with state law.

At the May 1 meeting, planning manager Wendy Rampson reviewed this history of the ordinance and the staff’s position. She noted that Kevin McDonald of the city attorney’s staff was present at the meeting and available to answer questions.

This proposed zoning ordinance change was one of three medical marijuana-related items that city council considered at its April 2 meeting. The other items were (1) revisions to the city’s medical marijuana licensing ordinance; and (2) direction to the city attorney to delay enforcement action against those dispensaries for which the city’s medical marijuana licensing board has recommended licenses. The council had unanimously postponed consideration of the licensing ordinance revisions until the council’s June 18 meeting.

And on a 6-4 vote, the council had tabled the resolution directing the city attorney to delay enforcement activities until the revisions to the local ordinances have been either adopted or rejected. A tabled resolution will demise if it’s not brought back off the table in six months.

For additional background, see Chronicle coverage: “Tension Grows in Medical Marijuana Debate,” and “Ann Arbor Marijuana Licenses: Who Decides?”

Medical Marijuana Zoning Revision: Public Hearing

The only speaker during a public hearing on the proposed zoning revision was Dennis Hayes. He began by noting that he had submitted a letter to the commission on behalf of a group of dispensaries operating in Ann Arbor. [.pdf of Hayes' letter]

Chuck Ream and Dennis Hayes pick up agendas prior to the start of the May 1 planning commission meeting. Hayes later spoke during a public hearing for the proposed changing to a zoning ordinance for medical marijuana dispensaries.

He asked that the sentence be removed from the zoning ordinance. He argued that McQueen decision was very narrow, and the case is literally up in the air, he said. [This was a reference to the lawsuit Michigan v. McQueen (Compassionate Apothecary). An Aug. 23, 2011 court of appeals ruling on the case has been interpreted by many authorities to mean that no medical marijuana dispensaries are legal. The McQueen case has been accepted for review by the Michigan Supreme Court, which means that it’s not yet settled case law.]

Hayes noted that nine dispensaries in Ann Arbor have been recommended for licenses. As part of that process, the dispensaries are required to get zoning compliance permits. That’s been done, he said. [Rampson later clarified that zoning compliance permits have not, in fact, been issued yet.]

The issue, Hayes said, is that the city desires to interpret the zoning ordinance in a way that’s inappropriate and unnecessary. The medical marijuana dispensaries are already zoning compliant, he argued, and have business models that they believe are compliant with state law.

When the three minutes allotted to speakers during public commentary elapsed, Hayes indicated that because he was speaking on behalf of a group, he should be given a five-minute speaking turn. Rampson replied that he wasn’t speaking on behalf of a recognized group, such as a homeowners association, so his speaking turn was limited to three minutes.

Medical Marijuana Zoning Revision: Commission Discussion

There was only brief discussion of the resolution, and all commissioners seemed in agreement.

Diane Giannola noted that if she were asked to insert the sentence, she’d argue that it wouldn’t be necessary – it’s implied that state law should be followed. But deleting the sentence would indicate that people don’t have to comply with state law, she said, and that bothered her.

Giannola also observed that it’s difficult to talk about zoning for medical marijuana dispensaries when the issue is so political. Should the city remove the sentence from its zoning ordinance so that someone can get a license from the city for something that’s illegal? she asked. The McQueen ruling might be overturned, but does that mean the city should remove the sentence? It bothered her, she said, and she didn’t think the commission should have been asked to make a recommendation on this. She didn’t see how she could ever support it.

Tony Derezinski said he had similar thoughts. This zoning change was one of three resolutions that had been brought forward to city council, he said, to ameliorate the medical marijuana ordinances that had recently been passed after a hard-fought debate. He had a real problem procedurally with putting a burden on the planning commission to act. He didn’t like the process, and would vote against the resolution.

Evan Pratt said he didn’t think there was any dispute that state law must be followed. When the city wants to make that clear, then it is stated explicitly. If they want to be ambiguous, they would take it out. So leaving the sentence in place makes the ordinance less ambiguous, he said, and that speaks for keeping it in.

Kirk Westphal also opposed changing the ordinance, and said he echoed the staff report’s comment that removing the sentence would make it more difficult to differentiate between legal and illegal operations.

Erica Briggs pointed out that this zoning change is a separate issue from the one regarding whether zoning compliance permits should be issued. It may be that the city is denying permits unnecessarily, she said, but that’s unrelated.

Eric Mahler said he’d be extremely uncomfortable recommending the proposed change. That would result in authorizing illegal uses, and it would have severe consequences for the city, he said. Mahler said he wouldn’t want to explain to the state’s attorney general or anyone else why the city had taken out that sentence.

Outcome: Commissioners voted unanimously against recommending the proposed zoning ordinance revision.

Capital Improvements Plan

Cresson Slotten, manager for the city’s systems planning unit, was on hand to brief commissioners about proposed adjustments to the capital improvements plan, known as the CIP. The city code requires that the CIP be developed and updated each year, looking ahead at a six-year period, to help with financial planning. It’s intended to reflect the city’s priorities and needs, and serves as a guide to discern what projects are on the horizon.

Slotten noted that the CIP process mirrors the city’s two-year budget process. Last year, the city developed a CIP covering the fiscal years 2012-2017 – planning commissioners had approved it at their Jan. 4, 2011 meeting. It included a list of major capital projects, those that were funded as well as for those for which funding hadn’t yet been identified.

This is the second year of the two-year cycle, and Slotten described the changes as tweaks based on getting more information about a project’s scope, cost, schedule or other details. A more major effort will get underway later this year, as city staff prepare a new six-year CIP.

According to a staff memo, there are 345 projects or needs in the current CIP, including 131 for fiscal 2012 and/or 2013. For the update, there are 20 new projects that are proposed to be added and 17 projects deleted from the plan, resulting in a net total of 134 projects for fiscal 2013. [.pdf of proposed FY2013-2018 CIP]

Funding needs for fiscal 2013 – which begins July 1, 2012 – total $108,038,780. Of that total, 85.3% ($92,110,480) are projects for which funding is identified. The total funding need is roughly $16.637 million more than what was included in the FY 2012 CIP, an increase of 18.2%. The major adjustments summarized in the memo are:

1. Adjusting project schedules in city-owned buildings and the municipal airport from FY 2012 to FY 2013 (approximately $2.3 million shifted from FY 2012 to FY 2013)

2. Delaying the Washtenaw Avenue/US-23 underpass shared use path to FY 2013 – a delay due to the Michigan Dept. of Transportation ($2.8 million)

3. Shifting some new street projects related to private development from FY 2012 to FY 2013 ($1.5 million)

4. Adjusting the other street project schedules: resurfacing/reconstruction of the Ann Arbor-Saline Road from Eisenhower to the city limits ($1.05 million) and a new project for the South State Street/Ellsworth intersection roundabout ($1 million)

5. Increasing the funding schedule for renovation at the city’s wastewater treatment plant (approximately $4 million)

Slotten also introduced Devorah Gosselin, a recent hire as systems planning engineer who would be handling oversight of the CIP process in the future.

Commissioners held a public hearing on the plan, but no one from the public spoke during the hearing.

Capital Improvements Plan: Commission Discussion

Diane Giannola said it was her understanding that the CIP is a list of all possible projects, not just those that are approved. Yet when the city council removed the airport runway project from the CIP last year before approving the plan, that made it seem as though approving the plan was the same as approving all of the projects. She asked Slotten to clarify.

Slotten explained that the CIP is a list of identified needs, funded and unfunded. Technically, he said, the airport runway wasn’t removed from the CIP but was eliminated from the city’s capital budget. [The project – called the "runway safety extension" – remains in the proposed CIP, with funding in FY 2013 at $1.667 million.]

Giannola ventured that it’s not standard practice to remove items that are politically controversial. That’s right, Slotten replied, adding that the CIP is a list of key needs. Giannola noted that just because a project is included in the CIP doesn’t mean that it will be undertaken. That’s correct, Slotten said.

Tony Derezinski observed that there had been a lot of opportunity for public input. Slotten said that the proposed CIP had been posted on the city’s website for about a month, and sent to representatives of homeowner associations in the city. Derezinski confirmed with Slotten that to date, no public comment had been received on the CIP.

Wendy Woods asked about the roundabout at South State and Ellsworth. Many people were surprised when the project came up and a roundabout was proposed, she said. Now it seems that the project is funded and on a fast track.

Slotten noted that the intersection is at the city’s boundary with Pittsfield Township, and the Washtenaw County road commission is responsible for the portion of South State that’s south of the intersection, and for Ellsworth west of the intersection. The project is also keyed to the Costco project, which is expected to increase traffic to that area. The store is expected to open this summer.

Responding to a query from Woods, Slotten explained that the city was responsible only for a portion of the $2.6 million in funding listed in the CIP, but he wasn’t sure how much the city would pay. [The Ann Arbor city council subsequently approved that project at its May 7, 2012 meeting. The city will pay $350,000 for a water main improvement it wants to do anyway, and contribute an additional $135,000 to the intersection improvement.]

Erica Briggs noted that 90% of the unfunded projects were in the category of alternative transportation. Why is that percentage so high? she wondered. Slotten said that until recent years, the budget and the CIP were linked, and the CIP included only projects that had a funding source. It eventually evolved that for planning purposes, the CIP should include all projects that are identified as a need – funded and unfunded.

A lot of the alternative transportation projects are long-term and expensive, he noted. At this point, the major implementation expenses are unfunded. [Some of the major alternative transportation projects in the CIP are construction of a transit connector ($300 million) and the Fuller Road Station Phase II ($43.277 million).]

Eric Mahler asked about the 18.2% increase in total funding needed for the CIP, and noted that one of the main items related to the renovation of the wastewater treatment plant. He asked for more details about that $4 million increase.

Slotten said he couldn’t provide much more detail on the costs for that project. He noted that it’s the largest capital project the city has ever undertaken, at $136 million. [The city council approved award of the major construction contract for that project at its Feb. 6, 2012 meeting.] As it has evolved, $4 million as a percentage of the total isn’t very much, Slotten said. One key piece of that project was the city’s ability to obtain funding through the state’s revolving fund loan program. So instead of bonding, the city can get low-interest loans, which will save millions in financing expenses, he said.

Mahler said he was glad to see the wind project at the drop-off station on the list. [The funded needed for that project in FY 2013 is $250,000 with an additional $260,000 in FY 2014.]

Outcome: Commissioners unanimously approved adjustments to the city’s capital improvements plan for FY 2013-2018.

Master Plan Review

The planning commission’s bylaws require that the commission review the city’s master plan each May.

The resolution considered by commissioners affirmed the existing master plan, which consists of (1) Land Use Element (2009); (2) Downtown Plan (2009); (3) Transportation Plan Update (2009); (4) Non-motorized Transportation Plan (2007); (5) Parks and Recreation Open Space Plan (2011); and (6) Natural Features Master Plan (2004). These documents can be downloaded from the city’s master plan website.

Planning manager Wendy Rampson said the staff likes to keep the master plan fresh. She hoped that commissioners would spend some time reviewing the elements of the master plan to identify anything they’d like to add to the official master plan that state law requires.

The resolution presented to the commission stated that the group will continue to develop comprehensive plans for the Washtenaw Avenue and South State Street corridors. In addition, three minor changes were proposed:

• Adding the city’s park advisory commission, housing commission, and housing & human services board to the list of groups that are developing a sustainability framework for the city. Initially, only the planning, energy and environmental commissions had been involved.
• Stating that the planning commission will assist in updating the Non-motorized Transportation Plan, which was adopted in 2007; and
• Stating that the planning commission will update the land use element of the city’s master plan to include land use recommendations from the Huron River and Impoundments Management Plan (HRIMP). This had been discussed at a March 2012 meeting of the commission’s master plan revisions committee.

No one spoke during a public hearing on the proposed revisions, nor did commissioners have any commentary.

The planning staff had recommended postponing the resolution until the commission holds its annual retreat on May 29. Evan Pratt made a motion to postpone.

Outcome: Commissioners unanimously voted to postpone action on the master plan review.

Present: Eleanore Adenekan, Erica Briggs, Tony Derezinski, Diane Giannola, Eric Mahler, Evan Pratt, Kirk Westphal, Wendy Woods.

Absent: Bonnie Bona

Next regular meeting: The planning commission next meets on Tuesday, May 15, 2012 at 7 p.m. in the second-floor council chambers at city hall, 301 E. Huron St., Ann Arbor. [confirm date]

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The city’s planning staff had also recommended denial of the proposal because it did not conform to the city’s master plan for that area, and because a parking lot would cause greater disturbance to the site’s natural features than a single-family residential development would. The city received seven letters from nearby residents – including one from the Woodcreek Homeowners Association – opposing the proposal, citing safety and other concerns. Eighteen people spoke during a public hearing on the proposal, including the owner, Len Nadolski of Howell; two managers of stores in the complex; and 11 residents who opposed the project.

The plan called for building a 43-space parking lot on the .92-acre site, which is now vacant. Most of the parking would be used by employees of the Chalmers Place Retail Center at 3365 Washtenaw Ave., located south of this site. Nadolski and his representatives argued that they can’t fully lease the stores at the retail center without additional parking. Ten to twelve spots would be set aside for park-and-ride commuters using the AATA bus stop on Washtenaw Avenue.

Several commissioners expressed sympathy for the owner, but did not feel that the situation warranted overriding the master plan, and that it wasn’t in the best long-term interests of the neighborhood. Erica Briggs said the situation highlighted the need for the city to partner with businesses and find a better solution to this problem. She said it added urgency to plans to make the Washtenaw Avenue corridor more safe and amenable to walking and biking.

Mahler said that he normally wouldn’t support a proposal that was essentially spot zoning, but in this case he supported the plan because he didn’t see any viable alternatives for the owner.

This brief was filed from the second-floor council chambers at city hall, 301 E. Huron St., where the planning commission holds its meetings. A more detailed report will follow: [link]