Title
Resolution to Direct the Ann Arbor Planning Commission to Review D1/D2 Zoning and Make Recommendations to Amend the Current D1 Zoning Regulations
Memorandum
Background:
The A2D2 (Ann Arbor Discovering Downtown) task force worked with the community, the planning staff, and the Planning Commission to address downtown zoning issues; this resulted in the decision in 2009 to create two zoning districts for downtown Ann Arbor (D1: Core area and D2: interface zone). It also resulted in the development of the Historic District Design Guidelines (2008) and the Downtown Design Guidelines (2011).
The zoning for the downtown that was approved by Council in 2009 is a unique, hybrid document. Zoning is generally either ‘use-based’ (Euclidian) or ‘form based’. Ann Arbor’s D1 zoning includes elements of both. Built into the resolution recommending that Council approve the rezoning of downtown was an expectation that the Planning Commission would review the zoning after a year.
Because construction under the new zoning was constrained by external economic forces, the Planning Commission delayed this review until there were several examples to consider. The projects constructed, under construction, approved but not yet constructed, and considered by the Planning Commission include:
Project Date approved by Council Status
Zaragon West (D1 project) 2011 Completed
The Varsity (a planned project under D1 zoning) 2012 Under construction
624 S. Church (D1 project) Planning Commission recommendation for approval by Council 2013
413 E. Huron (D1 project) Planning Commission recommendation for denial by Council 2013
These four projects provide sufficient opportunities for the Planning Commission to review and evaluate the massing, parking, use of premiums and modifications to the underlying zoning.
The planning documents approved in 2009 emphasize the need to provide protection for nearby residential and historic neighborhoods while providing opportunities for new d...
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