Update on the City of Ann Arbor Comprehensive Plan, as of September 2025
- by Wendy Carman and Brad Pritts
In our last newsletter (May 2025), we outlined the status of the City’s long-term effort to replace Ann Arbor’s Comprehensive Plan . Since then, a second version of the proposed new plan has been published and reviewed (The City’s official presentation is available at: https://engage.a2gov.org/comprehensive-land-use-plan). That version has recently been sent back to the consulting team to prepare a third draft with some edits (see list: https://a2gov.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=7515915&GUID=EE0E65F2-D204-4154-93F5-A6FB8073608C)
A revised version is expected to be back at Planning Commission for final review by October 7th. There is no information yet on when the public will be able to view the new draft.
While there are more than a few major issues that the Planning Commission has not yet addressed (including where and how far transitional districts will extend into existing residential areas), the major goals remain. They are working toward a simplified document to replace the current plan with one that focuses on affordability, sustainability, and equity. Meanwhile, they are leaving the actual details of how they will accomplish those goals to be determined later, when changes to the unified development (zoning) code will be passed to implement the plan.
Meanwhile, public awareness is growing, with several organized groups beginning to speak out. The groups differ on several key issues:
Some of you have seen the slogan “Pause the Plan.” That message comes from a newly formed grassroots organization calling itself the Ann Arbor Neighborhood Network. Their positions are described on their website https://a2pausetheplan.com/.
Proponents of major growth have formed the organization “Ann Arbor Neighbors for More Neighbors." Their message can be seen at https://www.moreneighborsa2.org/.
If you have questions or concerns that you would like to discuss, contact Wendy or Brad. We can set up a discussion session.
More details on how to contact City personnel can be found at https://www.a2gov.org/city-council/council-meetings-overview/. Details on how to contact the Planning Commission, can be found at https://www.a2gov.org/city-clerk/boards-and-commissions/
Disclosure: Coauthors Wendy Carman and Brad Pritts are members of the Ann Arbor Neighborhood Network.
A revised version is expected to be back at Planning Commission for final review by October 7th. There is no information yet on when the public will be able to view the new draft.
While there are more than a few major issues that the Planning Commission has not yet addressed (including where and how far transitional districts will extend into existing residential areas), the major goals remain. They are working toward a simplified document to replace the current plan with one that focuses on affordability, sustainability, and equity. Meanwhile, they are leaving the actual details of how they will accomplish those goals to be determined later, when changes to the unified development (zoning) code will be passed to implement the plan.
Meanwhile, public awareness is growing, with several organized groups beginning to speak out. The groups differ on several key issues:
- How much growth is appropriate for Ann Arbor?
- The most aggressive proponents call for up to 90,000 new residents, while others call for much more cautious growth. Considering that our current population is under 120,000, this clearly would be a major change.
- How can residential zoning best be configured to attain these goals?
- The proponents call for major changes to residential categories, particularly increasing density in traditional single-family and duplex housing districts. Under the current draft plan, single-family, duplex, and likely townhouse zoning categories would be eliminated. This would allow various multifamily construction in neighborhoods currently exclusively single-family.
- Many other significant questions have been raised in this process, such as infrastructure requirements, sustainability, park and open space impact, and relationships with the University and neighboring municipalities, among others.
Some of you have seen the slogan “Pause the Plan.” That message comes from a newly formed grassroots organization calling itself the Ann Arbor Neighborhood Network. Their positions are described on their website https://a2pausetheplan.com/.
Proponents of major growth have formed the organization “Ann Arbor Neighbors for More Neighbors." Their message can be seen at https://www.moreneighborsa2.org/.
If you have questions or concerns that you would like to discuss, contact Wendy or Brad. We can set up a discussion session.
More details on how to contact City personnel can be found at https://www.a2gov.org/city-council/council-meetings-overview/. Details on how to contact the Planning Commission, can be found at https://www.a2gov.org/city-clerk/boards-and-commissions/
Disclosure: Coauthors Wendy Carman and Brad Pritts are members of the Ann Arbor Neighborhood Network.