301 E. Huron St.  
Ann Arbor, MI 48104  
http://a2gov.legistar.com/  
Calendar.aspx  
City of Ann Arbor  
Meeting Minutes - Draft  
Building Board of Appeals  
Thursday, April 16, 2026  
1:30 PM  
Larcom City Hall, 301 E Huron St, Second  
floor, City Council Chambers  
This meeting will be broadcast live on CTN Cable Channel 16, ATT Channel 99, and  
online at a2gov.org/watchCTN  
To speak at public comment call Toll Free 877-853-5247 or 888-788-0099 Enter  
Webinar ID: 916 9923 5911  
Passcode: 385615  
A
B
CALL TO ORDER  
P. Darling called meeting to order at 1:31pm  
ROLL CALL  
3 - Paul Darling, Robert Hart, and Hugh A. Flack Jr.  
2 - David Arnsdorf, and Kevin Cox  
Present:  
Absent:  
Others present:  
Building Official Michael Lemieux  
Deputy Building Official Barry Penix  
Fire Marshall Michael Reddmann  
Administrative Assistant Juliet Harvey  
Administrative Assistant Stephen Kokoski  
C
PUBLIC COMMENTARY - GENERAL  
Seeing no speakers, Chair Darling closed public commentary  
D
E
APPROVAL OF AGENDA  
APPROVAL OF MINUTES  
E-a  
26-0471  
BBA Meeting Minutes Thursday October 16th, 2025  
Moved by Flack, seconded by Hart to approve the October 16, 2025  
Building Board of Appeals Meeting Minutes. Minutes were approved  
unanimously and forwarded to City Council.  
F
APPEALS, ACTIONS, AND SHOW CAUSE HEARINGS  
F-a  
26-0474  
BBA26-0002 - Appeal for 1620 Hillridge Blvd, Ann Arbor, MI 48105  
STAFF PRESENTATION:  
Building Official Mike Lemieux presented the staff report. Staff  
recommends this application be denied as it does not meet the  
standards for approval, the code has not been misinterpreted, the  
provisions of the code do apply, and the building department is unable to  
confirm an equal of better form of construction has been provided.  
The Building Official’s determination is based on the following sections of  
the 2015 MRC:  
• Section R301.1.3 (Engineered Design): "Where a building or portion  
thereof utilizes  
elements not conforming to the prescriptive provisions of this code, those  
elements shall be  
designed in accordance with accepted engineering practice."  
Note: There are no prescriptive tables in the MRC for attaching  
structures to living trees.  
• Section R104.11 (Alternative materials, design and methods of  
construction): This section  
allows the Building Official to approve alternatives, provided they are  
found to be  
"satisfactory and comply with the intent of the provisions of this code."  
However, it explicitly  
states the Building Official shall require supporting data to assist in the  
approval.  
• Section R106.1 (Submittal Documents): Authorizes the Building Official  
to require  
construction documents prepared by a registered design professional  
when the complexity  
of the work warrants it.  
APPLICANT/REPRESENTATIVE:  
Zachary Adams, property owner, presented the proposed request.  
BOARD DISCUSSION:  
The Board took into consideration the presented petition and discussed  
the matter.  
[For a complete record of the discussion, please see available video  
format].  
Moved by Hart, Seconded by Flack.  
In the case of BBA26-00002, the appeal of the building official’s  
decision to 1620 Hill Boulevard is granted relief from section  
R104.11,R 106.1, and R301.1.3 of the 2015 me Michigan residential  
code. The building board of appeal reverses the building official’s  
decision for the reasons that the building board of appeals accepts  
what is proposed as an equal or better form of construction with the  
following provisions. The applicant has provided additional  
supportive data on the plans, including providing additional  
tree/timber Two, the applicant will extend secondary grade beams  
with additional supports to alleviate the load on the western tree  
adjacent to the curved stair. Three, the applicant will demonstrate  
flexibility of electrical conduit connection to structure to handle  
movement. And four, the applicant will provide anchorage of stair to  
platform to ensure its stability. And finally, in granting this appeal,  
the board understands that the applicant and its engineer of record  
have performed due diligence in the design and engineering of the  
accessory structure.  
On a voice vote, the motion passed unanimously. Vote 3-0.  
G
H
I
OLD BUSINESS  
None at this time  
NEW BUSINESS  
None at this time  
ADJOURNMENT  
Chair Darling adjourned meeting  
Accommodations, including sign language interpreters, may be arranged by  
contacting Planning and Development Services by telephone at 1-734-794-6000,  
x42663 or by written request addressed to Planning Development Services c/o Board  
of Appeals, 301 East Huron, Ann Arbor, MI 48104. Requests made with less than two  
business days notice may not be able to be accommodated. Email:  
SKokoski@a2gov.org