Title
Resolution of Intent to Create a Joint Corridor Improvement Authority for Washtenaw Avenue
Body
Whereas, The City of Ann Arbor has determined that it is in the best interest of the public to redevelop its commercial corridors to promote economic growth and support transit-oriented development, consistent with the City Master Plan;
Whereas, The City of Ann Arbor has participated with the City of Ypsilanti, Pittsfield Charter Township and Ypsilanti Charter Township in the Washtenaw Avenue Joint Technical Committee (JTC), which created a document called, the “Washtenaw Avenue Corridor Redevelopment Strategy” (as attached);
Whereas, The JTC recommends the implementation of a strategy that includes the creation of a Corridor Improvement Authority, which would support community goals, encourage consistent investment in public infrastructure across jurisdictions, attract private investment, and make available a number of additional financing tools;
Whereas, The City of Ann Arbor recognizes that the JTC’s recommendation of a Joint Corridor Improvement Authority in accordance with the provisions of The Corridor Improvement Authority Act, Public Act 280 of 2005 (The Act) as amended, is one appropriate way to redevelop the Washtenaw Avenue commercial corridor and desires to work with the other communities to explore the merits of this tool for inter-jurisdictional cooperation;
Whereas, The City portion of the proposed development area includes primarily commercial land uses on either side of Washtenaw Avenue from US-23 to Stadium Boulevard, as shown on the attached map;
Whereas, The City’s Proposed Development Area meets the following criteria in Section 5 of The Act for the establishment of development areas:
a) Is adjacent to or is within 500 feet of a road classified as an arterial or collector according to the Federal Highway Administration Manual, “Highway Functional Classification - Concepts, Criteria and Procedures”.
b) Contains at least 10 contiguous pa...
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