Title
Resolution in Support of the Allen Creek Greenway
Body
Whereas, The City first recognized the idea for an Allen Creek Greenway in the July 1981 Plan for Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces and that this idea was further codified in the May 2009 revision of the Downtown Plan through the following goal for Ann Arbor's Downtown: "Foster the development of a system of linked open spaces on the floor of the Allen Creek valley to create an amenity which encourages residential investment and provides an improved transition between the downtown Core and west side neighborhoods";
Whereas, In 2001 the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) and, the Washtenaw County Drain Office and the Huron River Watershed Council officially adopted the Allen's Creek Watershed Management Plan (May 30, 2001) created by the Allen's Creek Watershed Group which calls for the creation of a Greenway in the Allen's Creek floodplain;
Whereas, The creation of an Allen Creek Greenway may significantly reduce flood hazard for residents and businesses in the Westside of Ann Arbor as acknowledged by the Washtenaw Water Resources Commissioner, the MDEQ and the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA);
Whereas, On August 15, 2005, the Ann Arbor City Council passed R-258-6-05 "Resolution to Create a Task Force to Plan a New Greenway" in which it acknowledged the "opportunity and desire" to "create a Greenway along the Ann Arbor Railroad tracks that will connect to and complement" the existing Huron River Greenway and would allow "more City residents to enjoy the benefits of walking and cycling on green pathways";
Whereas, The Ann Arbor City Council directed the City Administrator on August 15, 2005 to begin substantive discussions with the Ann Arbor Railroad to gain their cooperation in the creation of a Greenway along the Railroad Right of Way;
Whereas, The Allen Creek Greenway Task Force met for nearly 2 years and hosted a series of presentations, exhibits, and public input sessions and delivered their final report and recommendations to the Ann Arbor City Council on March 16, 2007;
Whereas, In 2007 the City adopted a Flood Mitigation Plan which recommends that city codes be amended to limit new development in floodplains, including properties in the Allen Creek floodplain on the west edge of downtown;
Whereas, On July 6, 2009, the Ann Arbor City Council passed R-09-273 "Resolution to Preserve the City-Owned Parcels at the Northeast Corner of First and William Streets as Open Space" in which Council noted the importance of the site relative to the Allen Creek Greenway;
Whereas, On July 6, 2009, the Ann Arbor City Council rezoned the site at First and William Streets as Public Land and also directed the City Administrator to continue seeking additional funds for the remediation of the site;
Whereas, On February 1, 2010, the Ann Arbor City Council passed R-10-028 "Resolution calling for the Creation of an Innovative Process of Community Collaboration to Explore a Greenway Park and Arts Center at 415 W. Washington" in which Council recognized the importance of this site as an anchor park for the Allen Creek Greenway;
Whereas, The Parks, Recreation and Open Space (PROS) Plan and the Non-Motorized Transportation Plan, official planning documents for the City of Ann Arbor, recognize the future creation of the Allen Creek Greenway;
Whereas, The Ann Arbor City Council recognizes the importance of environmentally conscious design of infrastructure in the floodway and floodplain of the Allen Creek with regard to flood mitigation;
Whereas, There are three organizations in the City which are dedicated to the creation of the Allen Creek Greenway, an informal group of citizens called the Friends of the Ann Arbor Greenway, the Allen's Creek Watershed Group and a 501(c) (3) non-profit corporation called the Allen Creek Greenway Conservancy dedicated to advocating and fundraising for the creation of the Greenway;
Whereas, The concept of this Greenway has received support from many other community members and organizations;
Whereas, The City of Ann Arbor has expended considerable resources in the creation of a beautiful and scenic Huron River Greenway that extends across the entire City, is used yearly by thousands of walkers, runners, and cyclists, and creates and maintains wildlife connectivity;
Whereas, The Allen Creek Greenway would extend from Stadium Boulevard, through Downtown Ann Arbor to North Main Street and the Huron River and would connect recreationists to the already established and well-utilized Huron River Greenway and the Washtenaw County Border-to-Border Trail;
Whereas, The Allen Creek Greenway Conservancy is now consulting with landowners along the alignment of the Greenway in order to facilitate the effective implementation of the Greenway and submitting proposals for funding the construction of the first segment of the Greenway; and
Whereas, The Allen Creek Greenway Conservancy is collaborating with the developer of the Near North Project to establish a segment of the Greenway at Summit and Main Street; it is therefore;
RESOLVED, That the Ann Arbor City Council is fully supportive of the creation of the Allen Creek Greenway, and hereby directs City staff to continue to work with and to assist the Allen Creek Greenway Conservancy during the Greenway's development and implementation phases.
Sponsored by Mayor Hieftje, Council Members Hohnke and Teall