Title
Resolution to Establish Preserve Areas Within the City Park System
Staff
Proposed by: Parks Advisory Commission
Body
Whereas, The goals of the City of Ann Arbor Natural Features Master Plan 2004 call for preserving high-quality woodlands and prairies, and protecting native forest and savanna fragments, and habitats rich in native flora and fauna. The disturbance of such areas can cause the introduction of invasive and destructive species along with erosion and other detrimental effects on plant and wildlife habitat;
Whereas, The 2006-2010 PROS plan states that “the Nature Preserve designation signifies that these are the highest quality natural areas within the City and thus deserve the highest level of protection.”;
Whereas, The City of Ann Arbor recognizes that the preservation of nature’s diversity is an important goal;
Whereas, For many urban residents, an opportunity to experience an environment where non-human forces define the landscape is a valued respite from everyday life and a recreational and visual resource;
Whereas, The City has extensive ‘natural areas’ in our parklands that contribute to these goals;
Whereas, The Natural Area Preservation program (NAP) has undertaken an extensive analysis of the ecological status of natural areas within the city parklands, and classified them, based on floristic quality, as either Conservation Areas (higher quality, restorable sites) or Greenspace (lower quality disturbed sites);
Whereas, The Natural Area Preservation program has designated as Wildlife Sanctuaries those Conservation Areas or Greenspace that meet one or more of these criteria: A) part of a contiguous block of 20+ acres of Natural Area or other undeveloped habitat, or B) part of a contiguous block of 5+ acres of Natural Area or other undeveloped habitat and adjacent to the Huron River or one of its tributaries, or C) known to contain useable habitat for note-worthy species of wildlife;
Whereas, At the present time there are no designated Preserves within the City’s parks;
Whereas, The Parks Advisory Commission has discussed these considerations and held a public hearing on the question; and
Whereas, In the attached resolution, the Parks Advisory Commission at its October 16, 2007, meeting unanimously recommended the establishment of Preserve areas within the City Parks:
RESOLVED, That Council designate certain parklands as Preserves, as described in the 2006-2011 PROS Plan, in order to protect the ecological integrity and character of the Preserve for present and future generations. Preserve sites are designated based on floristic quality, biodiversity of native plant and animal species and habitat, sensitivity to disturbance, and ecological integrity, and proximity to the Huron River;
RESOLVED, That City will not build on, develop, or grade parkland designated as Preserve for any purpose, including athletic fields or facilities, or off-trail uses. Trail maintenance, trail development, and recreational and educational activities that the Natural Area Preservation program finds do not negatively affect the ecological resources of the Preserve are allowed. Maintenance to existing underground infrastructure is permitted in Preserves, provided that the disturbed area is restored to its original state;
RESOLVED; Any construction, development, grading or other improvement to areas designated as Preserves will be allowed, as long as the proposed improvement will improve the ecological diversity, environmental condition, or water quality as determined by Parks Advisory Commission;
RESOLVED, That the following Conservation Areas and Wildlife Sanctuaries as shown on the Natural Area Preservation maps (on file in the City Clerk's Office) shall be designated as “Preserves”: Furstenberg Nature Area, Gallup Park Wet Prairie, Barton Nature Area, Bird Hills Nature Area, Cedar Bend Nature Area Woods, Dolph Nature Area, Mary Beth Doyle Nature Area Woods, Scarlett Mitchell Nature Area, and Black Ponds Woods Nature Area. Excluded from the Preserves are the existing parking, picnic, garden, mowed, or otherwise developed areas; and
RESOLVED, That designation of additional Preserves or modification of boundaries of existing Preserves shall be by recommending Resolution of the Parks Advisory Commission and approval by City Council.
As Amended by City Council Resolution R-16-502 Approved on December 19, 2016.