Title
An Ordinance to Amend Sections 5.18.3, 5.18.4, 5.17.3, 5.37.2.A and 5.37.2.S, to Add Sections 5.19.6 and 5.33.6, and to Repeal Sections 5.30.1and 5.30.4.B of Chapter 55 (Unified Development Code) of Title V of the Code of the City of Ann Arbor (Planned Project Site Plan Modifications) (ORD-21-20)
Memorandum
Amendments are proposed to the Unified Development Code to eliminate the Planned Project Site Plan Modifications provisions and offer additional flexibility in setbacks and height. These amendments are intended to replicate the majority of benefits offered and realized by the current Planned Project Site Plan Modifications in a less complicated, more straightforward, predictable and intuitive manner.
* Section 5.30.1, Planned Project Site Plan Modifications, is provision to provide "an added degree of flexibility in the placement, design, and interrelationship of the buildings within a site planned development" by allowing "modifications" to the dimensional standards (setbacks and height limits) when the development will result in at least one of nine specified features. Neither the degree of modification nor the quantity or quality of features is established, meaning that any amount of increased height or decreased setbacks can be approved for any degree of additional open space, increased setbacks, preservation of natural features, number of affordable housing dwelling units.
* During the course of its work, Planning Commission found that the most useful and most used modifications - changes to height and setbacks - should be retained, and sustainability and affordable housing were the two features that concretely further City Master Plan goals. Any proposed amendments should enable setback and height flexibility for those types of developments, only, and should do it in a defined, discrete and clear method.
* Instead of the open-ended Planned Project Modifications, setback flexibility has been reworked and expanded, the exceptions to height lim...
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