Title
An Ordinance to Amend Sections 5.13.9, 5.17.4, 5.18.6, 5.28.1, 5.28.6, 5.29.10, 5.30.1 and 5.37.2 of Chapter 55 (Unified Development Code) of Title V of the Code of the City of Ann Arbor (Premium Options, Affordable Housing Dwelling Units, Reimbursements) (Ordinance No. ORD-19-34)
Memorandum
Amendments are proposed to the Unified Development Code to allow change the premium options by eliminating the residential use premium and affordable housing premium and offering an affordable residential unit premium option. Related changes, such as changing and replacing the term affordable housing for lower income households to affordable housing dwelling unit, changing the fee reimbursement policy for developments proposing affordable housing dwelling units, and clarifying the requirements for affordable housing dwelling units in planned unit developments, are also included.
These amendments were developed by the Planning Commission in response to City Council Resolution R-19-109, which asked for recommended changes to the Unified Development Code to gain more affordable dwelling units downtown. A new option, Affordable Residential Unit Premium, offers increasing blocks of bonus floor area for increasing percentages of affordable dwelling units. Each block of bonus floor area must be used for residential use, and half of required affordable units may be offered at market rates when a payment in lieu is made to the Affordable Housing Fund. A provision is included to allow limited increased height only with the highest amenity level so that the additional floor area bonus can be realized. All affordable dwelling unit area is subtracted from the off-street parking requirement for premium floor area. A provision requiring an affordability agreement that addresses operating and maintaining the affordable units is included, as well as a penalty for violations.
Following public hearings on June 4 and August 7, 2019, the Planning Commission recommended approval o...
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