301 E. Huron Street  
Ann Arbor, MI 48104  
http://a2gov.legistar.com/  
Calendar.aspx  
City of Ann Arbor  
Formal Minutes - Draft  
Historic District Commission  
Thursday, April 9, 2026  
7:00 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 206-337-9723 or 213-338-8477 or Toll Free 877-853-5247  
or 888-788-0099 Enter Meeting ID: 965 3669 9762  
A.  
CALL TO ORDER  
Chair Rochlen called the meeting to order at 7:05 PM stating: Welcome  
to the Thursday, April 9, 2026, in-person and electronic (hybrid) meeting  
of the Ann Arbor Historic District Commission. Public comment will be via  
in-person, via Zoom or via telephone. To speak during any of the public  
comment opportunities please call 877-853-5247 (Toll Free) or  
213-338-8477 and enter meeting ID 965 3669 9762. This information is  
also available on the published agenda, in the public notices section of  
the city website, and on the broadcast of this meeting on CTN channel  
16, AT&T channel 99, and online at www.a2gov.org/watchctn.  
Here's an overview of the sequence of events for each hearing on the  
agenda. First, Planning Services staff will deliver their report followed by a  
report from this month's review committee commissioners. Then, the  
applicant will provide their presentation and answer any questions from  
the commissioners. At that point, the hearing will be open to the public  
comment. Following public comment, the commission will make a motion  
and discuss the application. Finally, the approval from a majority of  
commissioners present will be required for a certificate of  
appropriateness to be granted.  
B.  
ROLL CALL  
Historic Preservation Coordinator and Principal Planner Jill Thacher  
called the roll.  
7 -  
Present:  
Chair David Rochlen, Jennifer Ross, Benjamin Calderon,  
Chip Smith, Steve Kaplan, Sarah Nisbett, and Jenna  
Carter  
C.  
D.  
APPROVAL OF AGENDA  
The agenda was unanimously approved as presented.  
PUBLIC COMMENT - (3 Minutes per Speaker)  
Seeing no speakers at this time Chair Rochlen closed the Public  
Comment.  
E.  
UNFINISHED BUSINESS  
None.  
F.  
HEARINGS  
26-0582  
F-1.  
HDC26-0026; 1223 Traver St, driveway; BHD  
1223 Traver SR w attachments.pdf  
Attachments:  
STAFF PRESENTATION:  
Principal Planner, Jill Thacher presented the staff report. [See attached in  
agenda packet.]  
REVIEW COMMITTEE REPORT AND RECOMMENDATIONS:  
Commissioner Kaplan and Commissioner Calderon visited the site as  
part of their review. They reported their findings and recommendations to  
the Commission.  
PUBLIC HEARING:  
The Applicant was present in person to respond to the Commission's  
inquires. Noting no speakers, the Vice Chair declared the public hearing  
closed.  
[For a complete record of the discussion, please see available video  
format.]  
Moved by Commissioner Kaplan seconded by Commissioner Carter  
I move that the Commission issue a certificate of appropriateness  
for the application at 1223 Traver Street, a contributing property in  
the Broadway Historic District, to pave a driveway as proposed. The  
work is compatible in exterior design, arrangement, texture, material  
and relationship to the surrounding resources and meets the Ann  
Arbor Historic District Guidelines for paved areas and landscape  
features, and The Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for  
Rehabilitation, in particular standards 1, 2, and 10, and the  
guidelines for building site.  
Commission Discussion:  
The Commission took into consideration the presented application  
and discussed the matter. [For a complete record of the discussion,  
please see available video format.]  
On a voice vote the vote was as follows with the Chair declaring the  
motion carried. Vote 7-0.  
7 -  
Yeas:  
Chair Rochlen, Ross, Calderon, Smith, Kaplan, Nisbett,  
and Carter  
0
Nays:  
F-2.  
26-0581  
HDC26-0027; 512 W Liberty St, rear addition; OWSHD  
512 W Liberty SR w attachments.pdf  
Attachments:  
STAFF PRESENTATION:  
Principal Planner, Jill Thacher presented the staff report. [See attached in  
agenda packet.]  
REVIEW COMMITTEE REPORT AND RECOMMENDATIONS:  
Commissioner Kaplan and Commissioner Calderon visited the site as  
part of their review. They reported their findings and recommendations to  
the Commission.  
PUBLIC HEARING:  
The Applicant was present in person to respond to the Commission's  
inquires. Noting no speakers, the Vice Chair declared the public hearing  
closed.  
[For a complete record of the discussion, please see available video  
format.]  
Moved by Commissioner Ross and seconded by Commissioner  
Smith  
I move that the Commission issue a certificate of appropriateness  
for the application at 512 West Liberty Street, a contributing property  
in the Old West Side Historic District, to construct a 361 sq ft,  
two-story addition on the rear elevation of the house and install new  
stairs, posts, and railings on the front porch as proposed. The work  
is compatible in exterior design, arrangement, materials, and  
relationship to the house and the surrounding area and meets the  
City of Ann Arbor Historic District Design Guidelines for All  
Additions, Historic Residential Additions, and Residential Porches  
and The Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation and  
Guidelines for Rehabilitating Historic Buildings, in particular  
standards 2, 9 and 10 and the guidelines for District or  
Neighborhood Setting and New Additions.  
Commission Discussion:  
The Commission took into consideration the presented application  
and discussed the matter. [For a complete record of the discussion,  
please see available video format.]  
Moved by Commissioner Ross seconded by Commissioner Smith  
I move to amend the motion to add a condition that the new kitchen  
windows either be casement with each sash being three light  
simulated, divided light muttons or if they are double hung that  
there's an appropriately sized or appropriately dimensioned mullion.  
Staff should have the authority to review and approve to ensure that  
the new windows are appropriate to the character of the house.  
Commission Discussion:  
The Commission took into consideration the presented application  
and discussed the matter. [For a complete record of the discussion,  
please see available video format.]  
On a voice vote the vote was as follows with the Chair declaring the  
motion carried as amended. Vote 7-0.  
G.  
NEW BUISNESS  
G-1.  
26-0580  
Annual Report  
2025 HDC ANNUAL REPORT to CC .pdf  
Attachments:  
Historic Preservation Coordinator Jill Thacher gave a brief description of  
the report.  
G-2.  
26-0579  
Annual Report for SHPO  
2025 SHPO annual report.pdf  
Attachments:  
Historic Preservation Coordinator Jill Thacher gave a brief description of  
the report.  
G-3.  
26-0578  
Awards Committee  
Commissioners Sarah Nisbett and Jenna Carter volunteered for the  
Historic District Committee Awards Committee.  
H.  
APPROVAL OF MINUTES  
H-1.  
26-0577  
March 2026 Historic District Commission Meeting Minutes  
Attachments:  
March 2026 Historic District Commission Meeting  
Minutes.pdf  
The March 2026 Historic District Commission meeting minutes were  
unanimously approved by the Commission and forwarded to City  
Council.  
I.  
REPORTS FROM COMMISSIONERS  
None.  
J.  
ASSIGNMENTS  
J-1.  
26-0583  
Review Committee: Monday, May 11, 2026 at 5pm, for the Thursday, May  
14, 2026 Regular Meeting  
Commissioners Ben Calderon and Steve Kaplan volunteered for the  
Monday, May 11, 2026 HDC Review Committee.  
K.  
L.  
REPORTS FROM STAFF  
Historic Preservation Coordinator Jill Thacher informed the HDC that the  
staff report format has changed to improve ADA compliance.  
CONCERNS OF COMMISSIONERS  
Chair Rochlen requested that concrete driveways be added to the list of  
staff approvals.  
M.  
COMMUNICATIONS  
M-1.  
N.  
26-0584  
Various Communication to the Historic District Commission  
Received and filed.  
ADJOURNMENT  
The meeting was unanimously adjourned at 8:13 pm.  
David Rochlen, Chairperson  
Jill Thacher, HDC Staff Coordinator/Planner  
Brittany Alexander, Administrative Assistant  
These meetings are typically broadcast on Ann Arbor Community Television Network Comcast 16 /  
AT&T 99 live, and recent meetings can also be streamed online from the CTN Video On Demand page of  
the City's website https://a2gov.org/watchctn.  
The complete record of this meeting is available in video format at https://a2gov.org/watchctn, or is  
available for a nominal fee by contacting CTN at (734) 794-6150.