Planning Commission approves Spring Hill Suites at 2295 South State Street with electrification pledge

The Ann Arbor Planning Commission on July 21 approved the site plan for a five-story, 118-room Spring Hill Suites hotel at 2295 South State Street.

Heath Hart, a consultant with Midwestern Consulting, told the commission the revised plan relocates a water main to the property line and will extend a sanitary main through the site to benefit an adjacent parcel. He said the design shifts surface parking under part of the building to reduce impervious surface and includes a shared driveway to eliminate one curb cut on State Street. “We are moving the surface parking under the building,” Hart said, describing roughly 38 under-building spaces and a total parking count the petitioner later gave as approximately 122–124 spaces.

Planner Deo said staff recommended approval after a technical review. Deo described natural‑feature impacts on the site—including the removal of woodland and landmark trees totaling 856 inches DBH—and said the applicant will mitigate 50% of removed tree DBH with a mix of on-site plantings and a payment in lieu for remaining mitigation. Deo also told the commission that the University of Michigan is providing partial financial support for a safe pedestrian crossing nearby, and the developer has agreed to contribute toward design and implementation.

Public commenter Ken Garber pressed the project team and staff on sustainability and parking counts, noting inconsistency between the staff report (122 spaces) and the petitioner (124 spaces) and asking whether the hotel would pursue green building certification. Commission discussion focused on pedestrian safety, stormwater controls and brand parking minimums. When Commissioner Weatherbe asked whether the building would be all‑electric, architect Scott Bowers replied, “It is all electric.”

Planner Deo promised to incorporate the electrification commitment into the development agreement before council review: “I will add it to the development agreement,” Deo said. The commission approved the motion to adopt the site plan (moved by Commissioner Adams, seconded by Commissioner Dish) and, on a roll call, Hammershmid/Hammersmith, Adams, Dish, Weatherbe, Norton, and Bessi voted yes. The motion carried unanimously.

Next steps: staff will prepare a development agreement addressing tree mitigation, the pedestrian crossing contribution and the other conditions discussed; the agreement will proceed to city council for final action.