Hello neighbors!
This week, Ann Arbor City Council considers a very long agenda that includes five public hearings: two ordinance amendments to reduce requirements for public notice and public participation related to development (B-1, B-2), a rezoning and site plan at Scio Church near Main (B-3, DB-1), and an amendment to the brownfield plan for public subsidy of Broadway Park (DS-1).
A lengthy resolution on this week’s agenda (DC-2) will extend and add funding to a consulting contract for work on the Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP). The resolution includes a long list of specific recommendations for the CLUP, some of which were previously sent to the City Planning Commission in April. A community group has organized around raising public awareness about the CLUP. If you are interested in understanding more about the process and local concerns, see:
a2pausetheplan.com
LAWSUIT: PROPOSAL A
A lawsuit was filed this week against the City for a misleading ballot question for Proposal A that residents will vote on this August. The complaint points to promises in the ballot question that do not exist in the City Charter amendment that would be adopted. If Proposal A is approved, the promises in the ballot language will not be legally binding. Both Proposal A and Proposal B will be decided in a special election directed by City Council for August 5, 2025. You can read Ryan Stanton’s reporting on the lawsuit here:
‘A fraud upon the electorate.’ Lawsuit challenges Ann Arbor ballot proposals for new library
https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2025/07/a-fraud-upon-the-electorate-lawsuit-challenges-ann-arbor-ballot-proposals-for-new-library.html
Elected City leaders have incorrectly presented the ballot question of Proposal A as the Charter amendment itself, asserting that it includes “guarantees” that are “legally binding.” In June, this wrong information was shared by Council Member Erica Briggs at a forum hosted by the League of Women Voters (LWV). A link to the recording of that forum has been publicized on the City’s “Elections” webpage since July 2, 2025, without correction or clarification.
Campaigns promoting the proposals and City-funded postcards promoting the election have included only the ballot questions, publicizing language that is not legally binding.
The City’s public information about the significance of Proposal B has also been incomplete. The City’s “Elections” webpage was only just updated this week (July 16) with a link to the City Council resolution for Proposal B. That resolution is where the public would find the City Charter language of Center of the City, which is subject to repeal with Proposal B.
A PDF of the complaint filed July 16, 2025 is available here: link
A PDF of the emergency motion filed July 17, 2025 is available here: link
For a five-minute review of the basis of this week’s lawsuit, watch the video below. Subscribe to my YouTube channel for more content like this: https://www.youtube.com/@a2elnel
A2Council Update Video
After every City Council meeting I send out an “A2Council Update” newsletter, which includes a summary video. Here is my A2Council Update video from the Council meeting of July 7, 2025:
In Case You Missed It…
On my YouTube channel, you can find recordings of public meetings that are open to attend live (online or in-person) but are not made available by the City to view later. Please reach out if you have suggestions about public meetings that should be recorded. Subscribe to my YouTube channel if you would like to be alerted to new content as it gets added.
https://www.youtube.com/@a2elnel
315 W Huron St Resident Participation Meeting: July 8, 2025
This is my recording of a resident participation meeting for a proposed development at 315 W. Huron Street in Ann Arbor. The meeting was held on Tuesday, July 8, 2025 at 7 pm at Zingerman’s Greyline Event Space, 100 N. Ashley Street. The meeting was led by Talbot Development.
From the meeting notice
The development team would like to invite you to attend a Resident Participation Meeting for the proposed project at 315 W Huron. This fully electric, 10-story mixed-use development features 280 units, a coffee shop, retail, and amenity spaces. The ground floor is mostly comprised of covered parking, including EV charging, with access from Washington. The first floor will have additional covered parking, and coffee/retail space with access from First Street. Floors 1-10 will contain a mixture of studio, one & two bedrooms, with 15% of the units being 60% AMI affordable housing. The project requests a variance from D2’s max building height of 60′.
https://a2council.com/315-w-huron-st-resident-participation-meeting-july-8-2025
Ann Arbor City Council Meeting Agenda
Below is my summary of issues on the City Council Agenda this week, with links to more information about each of them. If you have comments about any of these issues, you can email all of Council at CityCouncil@a2gov.org
Ann Arbor City Council Meeting
Monday, July 21 2025 7:00PM
Ann Arbor City Hall (2nd Floor)
301 E Huron St, Ann Arbor 48104
The full agenda (including a link to the latest published PDF agenda, and instructions for dialing into the meeting) is on the A2Gov Legistar website:
https://a2gov.legistar.com/MeetingDetail.aspx?ID=1251585&GUID=2F5A090F-4AE5-4DD1-B1B0-08205F7622E2
City Council meetings are broadcast live by CTN on Comcast (channel 16) and AT&T (channel 99) and online at a2gov.org/watchCTN
Meetings are also streamed live on the CTN YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/user/ctnannarbor
How to reserve public comment
People that wish to comment at a City Council meeting must sign up with the City Clerk’s office in advance. Speakers are allotted 3 minutes, with the first 15 speakers allowed to speak in a 45 minute session near the beginning of the meeting. Remaining speakers will speak at the end of the Council meeting. Public comment can be made either in person or remotely via phone/Zoom audio.
To sign up for public comment, please go to or call the City Clerk’s Office at 734-794-6140 on the day of the meeting between 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM. At 4:00 PM, all speakers that have signed up are randomly ordered in “priority groups”. After 4:00 PM, speakers are added to the end of the applicable priority group in the order received. No new speakers will be added to the list after 5:00 PM. For more information, visit the City’s website:
https://www.a2gov.org/city-council/council-meetings-overview/
Questions to the Agenda
In preparation for a Council meeting, Council members can ask questions of staff about scheduled agenda items. Questions must be submitted by noon on the Wednesday before a Council Meeting, and answers are returned the next day (Thursday) by 5pm.
AC-2 (25-1352) Agenda Response Memo and eComments – July 21, 2025
This agenda item has a PDF attachment with all questions raised by Council Members, and the answers provided by staff.
Communications from the Mayor
MC-1 (25-1294) Appointments – Confirmations
These appointments from the Mayor were presented at the previous meeting, and will therefore be voted on at this Council meeting.
- Brian Chambers – Economic Development Corporation Board
- Robin Hall – Economic Development Corporation Board
- Lauren Dunlap – Transportation Commission
Consent Agenda
Below is the list of items included on the Consent Agenda. If no one on Council specifically requests that an item be pulled for discussion, the whole of this list will be approved in a single vote.
CA-1 (25-1312) Resolution to Close Main Street from William to Huron and Liberty Street from Main to State on Saturday, August 2, 2025 from 7:00 AM until 11:00 PM for Ann Arbor Pride 2025
CA-2 (25-1249) Resolution to Approve Street Closing for the Pure Barre Pop-up Class on Saturday, July 26, 2025 from 7:00 AM until 10:00 AM
CA-3 (25-1310) Resolution to Approve Changes to Traffic Patterns and Parking on Certain City Streets for the 2025 University of Michigan Student Move-In Program from August 19 – August 24, 2025
CA-4 (25-1311) Resolution to Approve Street Closure of North University and East Washington Streets between Thayer and Fletcher for the University of Michigan Center for Campus Involvement’s Festifall Event on Wednesday, August 27, 2025 from 8:00 AM until 11:00 PM
CA-5 (25-1251) Resolution to Approve Street Closure of Washington between Fletcher and Thayer Streets for the University of Michigan GoBlueMix Welcome Celebration on Friday, August 29, 2025 from 2:30 PM until Midnight
CA-6 (25-1250) Resolution to Close Streets for the 2025 Autumnal Green Fair, Friday, September 19, 2025
CA-7 (25-1094) Resolution to Approve Braun Court Development Agreement, 313-327 Braun Court (CPC Recommendation: Approval – 8 Yes, 0 No)
CA-8 (25-1186) Resolution to Approve Jefferson Townhomes Development Agreement, 318 East Jefferson Street (Planning Manager Recommendation: Approval)
CA-9 (25-1234) Resolution to Approve Discharge of Prohibited Restrictive Covenants on Hansen Nature Area and 1146 S. Maple Rd. (8 Votes Required)
CA-10 (25-1176) Resolution to Support Installation of the “Murals That Bridge” Project on the North Main Street Railroad Overpass and Approve an MDOT Permit and Maintenance Agreement
CA-11 (25-1240) Resolution to Approve Amendment Number 1 to the Professional Services Agreement with Baker and Associates for the 2024-2025 Bridge Inspection Program ($31,311.49 increase; Total $155,489.96)
CA-12 (25-1222) Resolution to Approve Change Order No. 1 with Doan Construction Company for the 2025 Annual Sidewalk and Ramp Repair Project ($427,339.60 Increase; $1,165,002.62 Contract Total; RFP No. 24-05)
CA-13 (25-1252) Resolution to Approve a Contract with the Michigan Department of Transportation for the Seventh Street Capital Preventative Maintenance Project
CA-14 (25-1179) Resolution to Approve a Two (2) Year General Services Contract with Farmer Underwood Trucking, Ltd for Aggregate Materials and Hauling Services for Excavation and Street Sweeping Waste, ITB-4773 (Not to Exceed $350,000.00 Annually)
CA-15 (25-1170) Resolution to Approve a Purchase Order for the Rental of Street Sweepers from MacQueen Equipment Co. (MI Deal – NTE $184,750.00)
CA-16 (25-1223) Resolution to Authorize the Purchase of an Elgin Street Sweeper from MacQueen Equipment, LLC (MIDeal – $333,900.00)
CA-17 (25-1238) Resolution to Approve a Construction Contract with American Process Group LLC in the amount of $3,919,401.97 for the WTP Lime Residual Removal Contract No. 2 – Dredging and Hauling (RFP 25-18)
CA-18 (25-1255) Resolution to Approve the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the City of Ann Arbor and Assistant Fire Chiefs effective January 1, 2025 – December 31, 2027
CA-19 (25-1266) Resolution to Approve an Agreement with the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office for Weapons Screening Services in the Ann Arbor Justice Center (NTE $290,000.00)
CA-20 (25-1265) Resolution to Approve Amendment Number 1 to the Legal Services Agreement with Kaplan Kirsch, LLP For Legal Services (Airport Runway Project Litigation) (Amendment $75,000.00; Total $150,000.00)
CA-21 (25-1284) Resolution to Approve the First Amendment to the Legal Services Agreement with Dykema Gossett, P.L.L.C. Relative to the Jennifer Alexa, Jeff Malone, and Tim Rugg v. City of Ann Arbor Litigation and Appropriate Funds ($350,000.00) (8 Votes Required)
Public Hearings
Anyone wanting to comment on these issues may speak for 3 minutes, without having specifically reserved time. Issues subject to public hearing will also be up for a vote by Council later in the meeting.
PH-1/B-1 (25-1075) An Ordinance to Amend Sections 5.28.2, 5.28.3, 5.29.4, 5.29.6, 5.29.7 and 5.29.11 of Chapter 55 (Unified Development Code) of Title V of the Code of the City of Ann Arbor (Public Notices and Hearings) CPC Recommendation: Approval (7 Yes, 0 No) (ORD-25-24)
Proposed amendments to the Unified Development Code will remove public hearing requirements from numerous reviews.
These amendments will eliminate public hearing requirements for:
- Area plans
- Site plans
- PUD site plans
- Land divisions
- Wetland use permits
Amendments allow for public hearings only in cases of rezoning and tentative or preliminary plat. Amendments also remove a requirement that area plans, site plans, PUD site plans, and preliminary plans under review be accessible and viewable at City Hall prior to approval at public meetings.
These changes were approved by the City Planning Commission in March 2025: https://a2council.com/ann-arbor-city-planning-commission-march-18-2025/
PH-2/B-2 (25-0776) An Ordinance to Amend Section 5.28.4 of Chapter 55 (Unified Development Code) of Title V (Citizen Participation) CPC Recommendation: Approval as Amended (7 Yes, 0 No) (ORD-25-25)
Proposed amendments to the Unified Development Code will remove the requirement for public meetings of many development projects, and other modifications.
Resident participation meetings are currently required for larger development projects. Developers are required to send postcards to all property owners within 1000 feet of the location of proposed building and meet with them to share details about a planned development.
These amendments will remove current requirements for resident participation meetings for:
- Developments of more than 80 units
- Developments taller than 65 feet
- Developments larger than 50,000 sq. ft. of floor area
The amended ordinance will require neighborhood information meetings only in cases of a request for Planned Unit development (PUD) zoning, other rezoning, or a request for a special exception permit. In other cases, the need for a neighborhood information meeting will be determined at the discretion of the City Planning Manager.
When these neighborhood information meetings do occur, developers are relieved of any responsibility to report on who was sent notice of the meeting or who attended the meeting.
These changes were approved by the City Planning Commission in March 2025: https://a2council.com/ann-arbor-city-planning-commission-march-18-2025/
PH-3/B-3 (25-1041) An Ordinance to Amend the Zoning Map (Section 5.10.2 of Chapter 55 of City Code) – 5.9 Acres from TWP (Township District) to R4E with Conditions (Multiple-Family Residential District), 255-371 Scio Church Road and 2180 Ann Arbor-Saline Road – Robertson Homes Rezoning (CPC Recommendation: Approval – 8 Yeas and 0 Nays) (ORD-25-23)
A 6.3 acre property is currently in Pittsfield Township and will be rezoned R4E (Multiple Family) for a townhome project by Robertson Brothers.
According to the staff report (link) “The developer is proposing to construct 75 townhomes in twelve three story buildings. The buildings will be all electric, with no natural gas connection.”
The developer held a resident participation meeting on February 22, 2024: https://a2council.com/scio-church-townhomes-robertson-resident-participation-meeting-february-22-2024/
This rezoning was approved by the Planning Commission in January 2025: https://a2council.com/ann-arbor-city-planning-commission-january-7-2025/
https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2024/02/dozens-of-townhomes-proposed-for-development-in-southwest-ann-arbor.html
PH-4/DB-1 (25-1259) Resolution to Approve the Robertson Homes (aka 75 South Main) Site Plan and Development Agreement (255, 315, 371 Scio Church Road, 2180 Ann Arbor-Saline Road) (CPC Recommendation: Approval – 8 Yeas and 0 Nays)
A site plan for Robertson Homes (aka 75 South Main) at 255, 315, 371 Scio Church Rd and 2180 Ann Arbor-Saline Rd will permit the construction of twelve 3-story buildings: 75 attached townhomes (3-bedrooms) with 2-car garages underneath. There will be a total of 167 parking spaces: 150 in garages, plus 17 additional. The project will be all electric at a maximum height of 50 feet. The development agreement includes a contribution of $46,875 to City parks. See the rezoning in PH-3/B-3.
PH-5/DS-1 (25-1298) Resolution to Approve Amendment #1 For the Broadway Park Redevelopment Brownfield Plan
A brownfield plan for Broadway Park (841 Broadway) will be amended to more accurately reflect site conditions, funds already received, eligible activities, and project delays. Brownfield plans promote the cleanup and redevelopment of property by using tax incremental financing (TIF) to reimburse eligible costs. These plans are voted on and recommended by City Council and sent to the County Commission for final approval.
The original 2019 brownfield plan for Broadway Park awarded reimbursements of $9,336,999 for Environmental Activities and up to $8,000,000 in Non-Environmental Activities over a 12-year TIF period.
This week’s amendment shifts $3,128,499 in reimbursements for Environmental Activities to Non-Environmental activities. The capture period will be updated to 12-14 years due to COVID- related delays. A staff memo explains that the Broadway Park development has also received American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds and $20 million in state funds for public recreation via the Lowertown Riverfront Conservancy.
The $20 million in state funds made news in 2022 when it appeared in a state budget and caught Ann Arbor’s state-level lawmakers by surprise. Ann Arbor’s three lawmakers in Lansing – state senator Jeff Irwin and then state representatives Yousef Rabhi and Felicia Brabec – told news outlets that they did not sponsor or request the earmark and did not know who did.
https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2022/09/how-ann-arbor-project-got-20m-earmark-still-a-mystery-to-local-lawmakers.html
Ordinances – Second Reading
In order to amend the city code, Council must vote to approve the change, via ordinance, at two Council meetings. The following proposed ordinances were approved at a previous Council meeting, and are also subject to a public hearing as listed above.
B-1 (25-1075) is the same as PH-1 above.
B-2 (25-0776) is the same as PH-2 above.
B-3 (25-1041) is the same as PH-3 above.
Ordinances – First Reading
In order to amend the city code, Council must vote to approve the change, via ordinance, at two Council meetings. The following proposed ordinances are being introduced for “first reading”. If approved, the ordinance will be voted on at a subsequent Council meeting (“second reading”), where it will also be subject to a public hearing.
There are no first readings on the agenda
Motions and Resolutions
DB-1 (25-1259) is the same as PH-4 above.
DS-1 (25-1298) is the same as PH-5 above.
DS-2 (25-1086) Resolution Authorizing Summary Publication of Ordinance 25-24 – An Ordinance to Amend Section 5.28.2, 5.28.3, 5.29.4, 5.29.6, 5.29.7, and 5.29.11 of Chapter 55 (Unified Development Code) of Title V of the Code of the City of Ann Arbor (Public Notices and Hearings)
For the purpose of meeting legal requirements for publication, the ordinance amendment in B-1 will be summarized to spare expense.
DS-3 (25-1015) Resolution Authorizing Summary Publication of Ordinance 25-25 – An Ordinance to Amend Section 5.28.4 of Chapter 55 (Unified Development Code) of Title V of the Code of the City of Ann Arbor (Citizen Participation)
For the purpose of meeting legal requirements for publication, the ordinance amendment in B-2 will be summarized to spare expense.
DC-1 (25-1257) Resolution to Reappoint Jessica Francis to the Independent Community Police Oversight Commission
This re-appointment is from CM Eyer and CM Harrison, who serve on the Independent Community Police Oversight Commission, and CM Ghazi Edwin and CM Watson, who serve on the Human Rights Commission. This was presented at the previous meeting, and will therefore be voted on at this Council meeting
- Jessica Francis – Independent Community Police Oversight Commission
DC-2 (25-1295) Resolution to Reappoint Michelle Merusi to the Local Development Finance Authority (LDFA) as a Non-registered Elector (7 Votes Required)
This reappointment from the Mayor was presented at the previous meeting, and will therefore be voted on at this Council meeting. Seven votes are required because the “appointee is not a registered elector of the City of Ann Arbor”
- Michelle Merusi – Local Development Finance Authority (LDFA)
DC-3 (25-1371) Resolution Regarding the Draft Comprehensive Land Use Plan
A resolution will add up to $83,000 to a contract with consultant Interface Studios in order to fund more time, an additional iteration of a Draft Plan, and attendance at upcoming public meetings regarding the Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP). Mayoral appointees on the City Planning Commission are tasked with drafting the CLUP for Council to eventually consider and approve.
This week’s Council resolution includes a laundry list of requests to be considered by the Commission as they draft a CLUP:
- Multiple zoning districts
- Widespread infill options of duplexes and triplexes (larger buildings where they would “fit”)
- Regulation of parcel assemblage or maximum lot size
- Setback requirements
- Regulation of height
- Encouraging smaller homes
- Maximum amounts of lot coverage
- Maximum structure size via floor area ratio (FAR)
- Limits on number of units/beds
- More UM-related housing in “Hub” and “Transition” neighborhoods, to “maintain the existing neighborhood context” of near-campus neighborhoods
- Removal of current height exceptions in the UDC
- Data regarding changes in home prices and rent “during whatever time frame Staff concludes to be relevant”
- Limitations on short term rental uses in the Transition category
- Review of how existing laws will prevent light Industrial uses from causing a nuisance to adjacent Residential uses in the Transition category
The City Planning Commission may choose to adopt these recommendations or not.
On April 7, 2025, City Council approved a similar resolution of recommendations for the Planning Commission. Five of the recommendations in this week’s resolution were also requested in April: modifying setbacks, encouraging smaller homes, limiting scale based on FAR, limiting number of units/beds, and limiting parcel assemblage. You can read the April resolution here:
https://a2gov.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=7291194&GUID=FCC5827B-1596-49AA-912B-BBCA51EE07D9&FullText=1
Thank you for taking the time to be informed about our local government!
Elizabeth Nelson