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Planning Commission approves 19-story mixed-use building at 1209 South University, recommends development agreement
Summary
The Ann Arbor Planning Commission approved the 1209 South University site plan for a 19-story, all-electric mixed-use residential building with ground-floor retail and no vehicle parking, and recommended the development agreement to city council.
The Ann Arbor Planning Commission on March 4 approved a site plan for 1209 South University Avenue, a proposed 19-story, mixed-use residential building on a 0.39-acre site, and recommended approval of the developer’s proposed development agreement to city council.
The developer, CRG, presented plans for approximately 183 residential units in a 19-story building with about 4,332 square feet of ground-floor commercial space, 79 Class A bicycle parking spaces and no vehicular parking. The project intends to use a rooftop photovoltaic array and full electrification to qualify for a 30% height bonus under the Unified Development Code.
Lisonbee Mills, vice president at CRG, and Ishawn Walker, principal at Lamar Johnson Collaborative, described the project as a pedestrian-oriented building with a ground-floor lobby and retail, a covered pedestrian corridor through the site, amenity space on upper floors and photovoltaics on the roof. Walker said the rooftop system would produce an estimated 235 megawatt-hours per year.
The site plan approval motion directed that the applicant combine all lots prior to permit applications (except demolition permits) and recommended approval of the development agreement. Commissioner White moved the site-plan approval; Council Member Disch seconded the motion.
Planning staff told commissioners the development meets applicable code and that the project will be permitted under the 2021 energy code referenced by staff. Staff noted the project provides 79 Class A and two Class C bicycle spaces, and that two-thirds of Class A spaces are low-lift vertical racks. Staff’s recommendation to approve included typical conditions listed in the staff report.
During public comment Ken Garber, a climate activist, asked technical questions about the electrification system and asked the applicant to include day‑one electrification in the development agreement so the building’s sustainability commitments would be enforceable. The applicant said the building will use a centralized water-source heat pump system with cooling towers and a centralized hot-water plant; a gas generator will provide backup power. The applicant also reported they have capacity confirmation from DTE to serve the all‑electric load.
The Planning Commission voted by roll call to approve the site plan and recommend the development agreement: Commissioners Adams, Wetherbee, Mills, Abrams, Hammerschmidt, Weiss and Chair Lee, and Council Member Disch voted yes. The motion carried.
