A series of public meetings have been scheduled to discuss proposed amendments to Chapters 55 (Zoning) and Chapter 59 (Off-Street Parking) pertaining primarily to the Area, Height and Placement standards that regulate density, height and setbacks in the City of Ann Arbor. The proposed code amendments will update older ordinance requirements and compliment sustainable land use practices. Click here (15.5 MB pdf) for more information about the proposed amendments. For a summary version click here (pdf).
Background
Many of the development standards in the Area, Height and Placement schedule of Chapter 55 were established in the 1950s and 1960s. These standards addressed the tremendous post-war growth occurring in Ann Arbor and many communities across the United States as population, employment and retail centers expanded into former agricultural areas. In many ways, the standards reflected the sprawling planning values of the day by calling for segregated land uses, wide streets, large parking lots, large setbacks, single-story buildings, auto-oriented retail centers, and low intensity employment centers.
More recently, current best practices in land use planning and environmental design recommend a more efficient use of land and infrastructure which can provide a number of community benefits including:
- Preserving and enhancing natural features.
- Supporting mass transit by focusing growth along major transportation corridors in existing urban areas which already have utility infrastructure.
- Locating buildings closer to sidewalks to promote non-motorized access.
- Encouraging business expansion within the city instead of in outlying areas that do not have access to transit.
- Supporting the redevelopment of outdated retail centers.
- Encouraging new residential uses along mass transit corridors.
- Locating some parking under new buildings.
Project Materials New!
Click on links below to view Video-on-demand, pdf documents and maps.