Title
Resolution to Initiate Zoning Amendments Near Downtown and Central Campus
Staff
Reviewed by: Brett Lenart, Planning Manager
Derek Delacourt, Community Services Area Administrator
Milton Dohoney Jr., City Administrator
Body
Whereas, The Comprehensive Land Use Plan 2050 identifies ending Ann Arbor's housing shortage as one of its central goals;
Whereas, Implementing the Plan's zoning recommendations through the Unified Development Code rewrite will take several years;
Whereas, Ann Arbor's housing shortage is an urgent problem that requires prompt action, including zoning measures while the rewrite proceeds;
Whereas, The Hub and Transition areas extending south and east from downtown and the University of Michigan's Central Campus offer that potential because their proximity to the University and Michigan Medicine creates particularly strong demand from students and employees;
Whereas, The Plan recommends permitting a mix of uses throughout this area, and high-density development in Hub portions and in Transition portions far from Residentially zoned areas; and
Whereas, City Council has approved 4 project-specific rezonings in this area in the past five years, yielding over 1000 new units of housing, and an area-wide Zoning Map amendment would be more equitable and efficient than continued one-off rezonings;
RESOLVED, That City Council directs the City Planning Commission to undertake zoning amendment recommendations for the Hub and Transition areas extending south and east from downtown and the University of Michigan’s Central Campus, together with privately owned parcels in the Plan’s University of Michigan category, within the study area shown in Attachment A, with such boundary adjustments as the Commission may recommend;
RESOLVED, That the recommended amendments use existing zoning districts to permit a mix of uses and a range of building heights up to the following limits:
1. In Hub areas, high-rise development; and
2. In Transition areas and privately owned parcels designated University of Michigan, low-rise development within 300 feet of areas designated Residential, mid-rise development between 300 and 600 feet, and high-rise development beyond 600 feet;
subject to such adjustments as the Commission recommends;
RESOLVED, That these zoning amendments generally expand the range of permitted land uses and increase permitted density while continuing to allow land uses permitted under current zoning; and
RESOLVED, That City Council requests that the City Planning Commission complete its review and transmit the zoning amendments to City Council within 180 days after adoption of this resolution.
Sponsored by: Councilmembers Akmon, Cornell, Disch, Eyer, and Harrison