Title
Resolution to Dissolve the Brownfields Plan Review Committee
Memorandum
In 2003, the City Council first established the Brownfields Plan Review Committee, a subcommittee of the City Council, to provide recommendations to the full City Council on proposed Brownfield Plans. Pursuant to the process established by state legislation, the adoption of Brownfield Plans by the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners requires approval by the local unit. This review committee has had the role of considering aspects of a proposed development project, and whether the City should be supportive of the proposed plan to provide tax increment financing assistance to environmental and/or nonenvironmental brownfield activities.
Since the establishment of the Committee, the City Council adopted (in 2019) the Brownfield Redevelopment Policy that provides a specific framework by which City staff can evaluate, measure, and make recommendations on a proposed Brownfield Plan. This policy can be amended or modified as desired by Council. Elimination of the Brownfields Plan Review Committee would remove a step in the review process, without sacrifice to the priorities established by the City Council. At their January 6, 2023 meeting, the Brownfields Plan Review Committee unanimously recommended this action.
.Staff
Prepared by: Brett Lenart, Planning Manager
Reviewed by: Derek Delacourt, Community Services Area Administrator
Approved by: Milton Dohoney Jr., City Administrator
Body
Whereas, The Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners established the Washtenaw County Brownfield Redevelopment Authority (WCBRA), which facilitates the implementation of plans relating to the identification and treatment of environmentally- distressed areas within the County of Washtenaw, pursuant and in accordance with provisions of the Brownfield Redevelopment Financing Act, being Act 381 of the 1996 of the Public Acts of Michigan, as amended (the “ACT”);
Whereas, The ACT requires explicit consent of each local unit of government included in the Authority, which the City of Ann Arbor joined by resolution R-24-1-02;
Whereas, The Brownfields Plan Review Committee was established by resolution R-127-4-03 on April 7, 2003 for the purpose of coordinating the Brownfield Plan application process from submission to determination by Washtenaw County;
Whereas, Through the adoption of the Brownfield Redevelopment Policy in 2019, the City Council has explicitly provided direction to staff and applicants on desires and expectations of the City in conjunction with Brownfield Redevelopment Act provisions; and
Whereas, The dissolution of the Brownfields Plan Review Committee will not change any authority of the City Council to approve Brownfield Plans to evaluate consistency with the City’s goals, but will provide for a more efficient and streamlined process for Brownfield projects to meet the shared goals of applicants and the City;
RESOLVED, That City Council rescinds Resolution R-127-4-03 and eliminates the Brownfields Plan Review Committee; and
RESOLVED, That the City Council directs the City Administrator to update all applicable policies and processes to remove the Brownfields Plan Review Committee from the review and approval of any Brownfield Plan in the City of Ann Arbor.