Title
Resolution to Approve Distribution of Amendments to the City of Ann Arbor Downtown Plan (CPC Recommendation: Approval - 9 Yeas and 0 Nays)
Memorandum
In October 2007, City Council passed Resolutions R-07-494 and R-07-495, which approved downtown zoning and urban design recommendations developed by two citizen advisory committees as part of the Ann Arbor Discovering Downtown (A2D2) initiative. The resolutions requested that the City Planning Commission initiate amendments to the Downtown Plan to support the implementation of these recommendations.
Since that time, staff and the Master Plan Revisions Committee have developed draft amendments to the Downtown Plan to incorporate the A2D2 recommendations. The draft plan (attached) has been edited down to a framework of objectives and action strategies that retain much of the same wording as the original. Where changes to the narrative have been made, they have been taken from the Downtown Development Strategies Implementation Plan, the A2D2 advisory committee recommendations, and Planning Commission recommendations. The plan’s existing condition maps and the Core/Interface area maps also have been updated.
The State Planning Enabling Act (PA-33 of 2008) and Chapter 8 of the Ann Arbor City Code require that the legislative body of the municipality approve the distribution of amendments to the master plan to adjoining jurisdictions and stakeholders. On April 15, 2008, the City Planning Commission recommended that City Council approve the distribution of these amendments to the Downtown Plan.
Adoption of this resolution will allow the process of receiving public comment to proceed. The Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on the amendments after the public comment period.
Staff
Prepared By: Wendy Rampson, Systems Planner
Reviewed By: Mark Lloyd, Manager, Planning and Development Services
Jayne Miller, Community Services Administrator
Approved By: Roger W. Fraser, City Administrator
Body
Whereas, City Council passed Resolutions R-07-494 and R-07-495 on October 15, 2008, which, in part, requested that the City Planning Commission initiate amendments to the Downtown Plan to support the implementation of the Ann Arbor Discovering Downtown zoning and urban design recommendations;
Whereas, The Ann Arbor City Planning Commission is reviewing draft amendments to the Downtown Plan for inclusion in the City Master Plan consistent with State law; and
Whereas, The State Planning Enabling Act (PA-33 of 2008) and Chapter 8 of the Ann Arbor City Code require that the legislative body of the municipality approve the distribution of any draft master plan and notify the secretary of the municipal planning commission to distribute the plan accordingly;
RESOLVED, That City Council approves the distribution of the amendments to the Downtown Plan; and
RESOLVED, That City Council notify the secretary of the City Planning Commission to submit a copy of the proposed amendments to the master plan for review and comment to the following, as required by State law: the planning commission or legislative body of each city, village or township located within or contiguous to the municipality; the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners; and local public utility and railroad companies, and that a copy of the draft plan also be submitted to other relevant groups and organizations that may be interested in the amendments to the Downtown Plan.