[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_46":47,"_48":49,"_50":51,"_52":53,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},"mediaId",6124233,"mediaKeyId","2685892-3e0c88d9e05e65db026f45d06432ddcf","parentId",2685892,"title","Votes at a glance: council approves fire station bonds, SCU ordinance, Packard consent-judgment negotiation; Arbor South postponed","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",1834000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2685892-3e0c88d9e05e65db026f45d06432ddcf&start=1834&end=1834","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2685892-3e0c88d9e05e65db026f45d06432ddcf/thumbnail_1834000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6124233/Ann-Arbor-City/Washtenaw-County/Michigan/Votes-at-a-glance-council-approves-fire-station-bonds-SCU-ordinance-Packard-consent-judgment-negotiation-Arbor-South-postponed","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6124233-73a35e53e1b6a6308299fb72dbedb089/orig.mp4?Expires=1771196636&Signature=VWguNBvBfGIFbdZrJOn-pcD~fZi4Cb936-Y9iJy9Vkq-s6G33xPotKcy2HpfpFKOfKmKhFVqwrHh46bQt3JAcmhFv0I7-1XKlcKELlUZIKDne5MNoWvA-z7wSgcGgWVEp21tZj-~O51GNBRcooV4zxtj6dbIWxCE97GySRtScgvtbCm6oIdNO6240rnnQSK8btcGkvgQLuHHu~-457PDhg2wB9VfLZKkFoF85WnOpGozpaqLoh8NcSBYBGp7VldLaWBJGPb9vf7eIOEFjfdMCVxWBs4gg-3L0XZ5SXP-Rbje6HBG0J1UPUvHD5W54UaoaqxqbSqciIcK14x04Nheeg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","CTN Ann Arbor","date","2025-03-17T00:00:00Z","article","The Ann Arbor City Council took a series of votes on capital, utility, land-use and administrative items during the meeting.

Key outcomes: the council authorized issuance of 2025 capital improvement bonds not to exceed $12,000,000 for the Fire Station Number 4 replacement project (DS-2); adopted an ordinance adding Chapter 35 (Sustainable Energy Utility) to Title 2 of the City Code (C-2); approved a motion directing the city administrator to negotiate a revised consent judgment in support of development for a privately owned parcel on Packard Road (CA-10); and postponed resolution DC-1, which would have authorized city participation in the Arbor South project including potential ownership, operation, and bonding for parking decks.

Nut graf: Council members said the fire station bond would allow replacement of an outdated facility and support sustainability goals; the Sustainable Energy Utility ordinance creates a legal framework the council said will let the city offer a 100% renewable option to willing customers; and the Packard Road action asks the city administrator to pursue an alternative development proposal that prioritizes landmark-tree protection, reduced carbon emissions, all-electric construction, and diverse housing forms while recognizing a 2020 consent judgment currently governs the site.

Highlights and procedural notes:
- Fire Station No. 4 bonds (DS-2): Moved by Council Member Cornell and seconded by Council Member Iyer. Council Member Dish called out the project’s sustainability goals and council held a roll-call vote that recorded unanimous yes votes among present members; Council Member Harrison was absent. The motion carried.
- Sustainable Energy Utility ordinance (C-2): Moved by Council Member Ackman, seconded by Council Member Briggs; council members expressed enthusiasm and described the measure as establishing the city’s local energy option. The ordinance was approved on the floor.
- Packard Road consent judgment direction (CA-10): The consent-agenda item directing the city administrator to negotiate a revised consent judgment for development of 2857 Packard Road was moved by Council Member Regina and seconded by Council Member Dish; the consent agenda was approved (with CA-1 withdrawn and CA-10 retained for discussion). Council discussion described the site’s 2020 consent judgment (Washtenaw County Circuit Court) that previously allowed up to 51 homes and included tree-preservation provisions; staff and council noted the owner may sell and the city wants to prioritize tree protection and carbon-reduction objectives in negotiations.
- Arbor South participation (DC-1): A motion to postpone the resolution authorizing city participation in the Arbor South project was moved by Council Member Adena and seconded by Council Member Watson; the motion to postpone passed.

Ending: Several ordinance and resolution adoptions included direction for staff follow-up, and council members flagged remaining technical questions (for example, materials analysis tied to building-efficiency measures) to be resolved through staff reports and the upcoming UDC rewrite.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Ann Arbor City Council 3/17/2025","oneSentenceSummary","At the meeting the council approved bonds for Fire Station No. 4, advanced an ordinance establishing a Sustainable Energy Utility chapter, directed staff to negotiate an amendment to a Packard Road consent judgment, and postponed the Arbor South participation decision.","taxTitle","Ann Arbor City, Washtenaw County, Michigan","taxId",5773,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_46":80,"_48":81,"_50":82,"_52":83,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":84,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":85,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6124238,"Council votes to remove mandatory Design Review Board hearings from development review",1494,2304000,3798000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2685892-3e0c88d9e05e65db026f45d06432ddcf&start=2304&end=3798","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2685892-3e0c88d9e05e65db026f45d06432ddcf/thumbnail_2304000.jpg","/articles/6124238/Ann-Arbor-City/Washtenaw-County/Michigan/Council-votes-to-remove-mandatory-Design-Review-Board-hearings-from-development-review","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6124238-32d7bdffabc7a7284fedcc8526c19532/orig.mp4?Expires=1771196636&Signature=Aoxxa2vTYzo2A5K3sKWk-fO7tGwfl9~Wtvn8uRJDOXtXqQbY9wIg4HPbCh6gnsFgVJ9cdeY8rkdq7U26hP3HJSB-3q~1wit95uZvLR-5~0DvuhUdzo-N~DLTMeHlcQoJitd7-lHHLQMKyeiFoMqpPY1DrIwzyIPrXJrCuVEjk0cnNcMzNpfWjF0Sb1NcQQ87RhnMcSIIm2tlawP23duSm1zoyQAZnRfHXXnS9zqbET8YpuclEz3H~BmMDXqTkQJmdUhwk~6T06qgjwlKYZc8WHV7P3td~p7SrSc2Zl9KdoujwMcUk-4XxsN1N~6JgVrUz4csu~OXFkPcshFh~Ax6Uw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Ann Arbor City Council members voted to amend the Unified Development Code to eliminate mandatory Design Review Board (DRB) hearings and make design review primarily a professional staff function.

Council members who supported the change framed it as a step to speed housing development and reduce staff time spent on a board process that, they said, often adds weeks to project timelines without mandatory standards. “The Design Review Board adds a month or more to the development process,” Council Member Dish said, urging the council to remove the mandatory step and rely on staff review and existing guidelines.

Opponents and some council members urged caution and said design remains a high community priority. Council Member Briggs and others argued the city has detailed downtown design guidelines that should be amplified rather than removed. Legal counsel Mr. Leonard explained that if the council advances the ordinance in totality it could notice the sections it intends to modify and remove specific material-related changes at adoption if desired.

Nut graf: Council debate focused on trade-offs between expedited permitting and preserving community design standards. Supporters said the DRB process incurs Open Meetings Act timing and citizen-participation notice delays; opponents said voluntary DRB advice and published design guidelines remain important to placemaking.

The meeting record shows an attempted amendment to strike a provision (related to allowing EIFS and certain material allowances) failed in an early vote; later the main ordinance amendment eliminating mandatory DRB hearings passed on the council floor. The final recorded vote on adoption was “Motion carries.”

Ending: Council members said they expect code and guideline work to continue through a broader UDC rewrite and that staff will return with more details on specific material choices and implementation.","After extended debate over design guidance and permitting delays, the council voted to transfer design review duties from the volunteer Design Review Board to professional planning staff and remove mandatory DRB hearings from the Unified Development Code.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_46":92,"_48":93,"_50":94,"_52":95,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":96,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":97,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6124242,"Council approves Hickory Way 3 PUD, 39 affordable units with supportive services",228,1465000,1693000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2685892-3e0c88d9e05e65db026f45d06432ddcf&start=1465&end=1693","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2685892-3e0c88d9e05e65db026f45d06432ddcf/thumbnail_1465000.jpg","/articles/6124242/Ann-Arbor-City/Washtenaw-County/Michigan/Council-approves-Hickory-Way-3-PUD-39-affordable-units-with-supportive-services","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6124242-eba1dac0b6d1619f1414916e83de9ac0/orig.mp4?Expires=1771196636&Signature=FGLVEuTX9dVOGM7MgNPhQsrB~oij0AyGsEIdF-8EzfaH6jh9iIsZ5V2~cdC4Z0ZcN1FHVXHHFQN3YFLij6-B0HA6AV7wFRWzss7li-NwUkY2kieiUbnXDDi6GcmB7psU~ZjNJA7LYojbNe-loiOwcda5RnRyJU81GnQgygdFdyQiClopgLJlBknEemWrpyKq-yYo7CKJCqa0ng~WUV1nja985i3YjFPGOUwDRrOI-5TbK0aPjhuhjViIPrif~XqWFIKlwXxoSkB8GAR475tn~KywadGYx9tKUbK4KnwbAEFlRVZMS8Hdx-5v62GJ5iEEc9hPa~~5IicJ71YPTUICmA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Ann Arbor City Council on the evening’s agenda approved rezoning 1.15 acres at 1146 South Maple Road to a Planned Unit Development and authorized the Hickory Way 3 site plan, a four-story building that will add 39 one-bedroom affordable units.

Council members and project proponents framed the vote as a response to rising homelessness and a shortage of affordable housing. “This project more than meets the first criteria for a planned unit development,” Council Member Dish said, citing the PUD’s compatibility with surrounding multifamily land uses and planned sustainability measures. Wendy Harding Saxon, director of real estate development at Avalon Housing, told the council she “really appreciate[d] your moving forward agenda as is.”

Nut graf: The council said the Hickory Way 3 project meets PUD criteria including beneficial effects on surrounding land use, consistency with the city’s comprehensive plan, added open space, and project-specific standards that enable funding eligibility. Council members noted the building will meet a national green building silver standard (or equivalent), be all-electric, and incorporate energy-efficient envelope and systems.

Under the site plan and development agreement, at least 35% of units will be accompanied by supportive services. Council discussion referenced recent county funding action: an Urban County recommendation moved $3,400,000 in HOME-ARP HUD funds toward development programs, and council members said the project was a primary beneficiary of that allocation.

Council Member Dish walked through the PUD criteria at the meeting, saying the project provides open space in excess of minimums, allows a setback modification that preserves unit count while meeting MSHDA parking requirements, and does not disturb identified natural or historic features. Council members Briggs and others expressed support, saying the project will add needed affordable housing in the Fifth Ward.

The council approved the rezoning ordinance (B-1) and the development site plan/resolution (DS-1) by voice vote; no roll-call tally for the rezoning appears in the transcript. The DS-1 motion was moved by Council Member Dish and seconded by Council Member Medina.

Ending: The council recorded the approvals during the meeting’s land-use items; the development agreement and final plan will return to the city’s formal land-use review and permitting channels as required by the PUD and applicable approvals.","The Ann Arbor City Council rezoned 1.15 acres at 1146 South Maple Road to a Planned Unit Development and approved a site plan for a four-story, 39-unit, 100% affordable building with at least 35% units paired with supportive services.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: council approves fire station bonds, SCU ordinance, Packard consent-judgment negotiation; Arbor South postponed

Council votes to remove mandatory Design Review Board hearings from development review

Council approves Hickory Way 3 PUD, 39 affordable units with supportive services