The new phase-one site plan for the Village of Ann Arbor housing development off Pontiac Trail and Dhu Varren Road in Ann Arbor, as presented to the city's Planning Commission on July 19, 2022.Land Design Studio courtesy of Robertson Brothers Homes

ANN ARBOR, MI — Ann Arbor planning commissioners expressed a mix of appreciation and frustration as they voted on a major housing development Wednesday night, Sept. 7.

They’re glad the developer of the Pontiac Trail site is at least agreeing to compromise and include some sustainability features and they welcome the hundreds of new homes and apartments proposed, but some are still frustrated the developer isn’t doing more — such as making apartments all-electric and solar-powered, in keeping with city carbon-neutrality goals.

“I’m frustrated that it takes like nine volunteer commissioners and amazing members of the public so much time,” said Commissioner Ellie Abrons, referring to the continued pleading and negotiating to try to get developers to voluntarily build sustainable buildings, which isn’t a code requirement.

“It’s like pulling teeth or like dragging the development community through the mud,” Abrons said, arguing the climate crisis is everybody’s problem and developers need to be responsible.

In an 8-1 vote, the Planning Commission advanced the so-called Village of Ann Arbor development proposal and rezoning request to City Council for final consideration. Abrons cast the lone dissenting vote, though others shared her frustrations.

“We need to be acting like we’re in an emergency,” Commissioner Shannan Gibb-Randall said, noting the city has declared the climate crisis an emergency yet people are still taking small steps. “Here’s a chance to tell your kids you really did something,” she said of building all-electric buildings powered by renewable energy.

“This is kind of a big opportunity for us here, too, because it’s a lot of houses,” she added.

Bloomfield Hills-based Robertson Brothers Homes is proposing several hundred for-sale homes and rental apartments along the east side of Pontiac Trail south of Dhu Varren Road.

Though it’s been described as a 561-unit housing development overall, what’s presented in the first phase is 484 units, including 164 attached single-family homes and 320 garden-style apartments with a clubhouse and pool.

Based on previous feedback from planning commissioners, the developer has agreed to make the 164 homes all-electric and put solar panels on the clubhouse, but the 320 apartments still are planned to have gas service, which remains a concern to commissioners and residents who have spoken out, not just because of the climate impacts but also health impacts on residents. They also want to see renewable energy incorporated throughout the site, but the developer has pushed back.

Tim Loughrin, Robertson’s director of land acquisition and development, has continued to raise concerns about the costs and reliability of technology such as all-electric heat pumps.

Commissioners and residents are more convinced of the technology, noting it’s working in other places and noting solar panels actually pay for themselves — and then some — via reduced energy costs.

“It just feels like we’re not even asking for really radical stuff,” Abrons said, noting buildings are responsible for a massive amount of carbon emissions. “And I just think we need to do something about that.”

The burden is partly on commissioners’ shoulders, Gibb-Randall said.

“And we know that we don’t really have a lot of control over it, but we are trying to push and inspire people,” she said.

Commissioners are getting personal about it in a way they don’t usually and it’s awkward and uncomfortable, but it’s time to be uncomfortable, Gibb-Randall said.

“We just can’t do business as usual,” she said.

Gibb-Randall said she’s thankful the developer is still taking modest steps, since some don’t want to take any.

“I would love it if people embraced what we’re asking them to do, but I also understand that it’s also difficult to get big ships to turn,” she said.

“I feel you,” Loughrin responded to commissioners. “I understand exactly how you’re feeling and I appreciate it.”

But it’s a large project with a lot of stakeholders and Robertson is going above and beyond with what it’s offering, he said.

“I know it’s not enough for you, I get that,” he said. “But we do think that what we’re proposing certainly gets moving forward in a direction that a lot of other developers wouldn’t do on this site.”

That includes contributing $1.2 million to help build a roundabout at Pontiac Trail and Dhu Varren Road as part of a brownfield plan, public vehicle access to Leslie Park from both roads including a 10-foot-wide bike pathway, a $302,500 contribution to the city’s park fund, solar streetlights, possible nature trails through an old wooded landfill portion of the site and a covered bus stop and bicycle parking area along Pontiac Trail.

The developer also is agreeing to reduce car parking by 20 spaces, a 10% reduction in guest parking.

Loughrin said his team will look at the other requests, but they need to move forward with the project.

Ann Arbor climate activist Ken Garber spoke out at the end of the meeting, directing his remarks at Loughrin.

“You’ve seen how much we care in this community about our future, our present,” he said. “I mean, the climate crisis, to many of us, is something that keeps us up at night. It’s all we think about in our spare time. But we’re seeing our city climate-action plans basically go up in smoke in real-time — not just tonight, but in previous meetings with previous developers.”

Garber asked if the developer was willing to meet with concerned residents to try to work something out.

“We have a lot of smart people here in Ann Arbor,” he said, listing the credentials of various people arguing the developer can do more to be sustainable and still make it work financially. Loughrin indicated he’d be willing to meet with them.

Hugh Garton, a University of Michigan neurosurgeon who also spoke up, expressed hopes City Council can find a way to work with the developer to achieve what’s desired, even if that means tapping into some of the funds potentially coming from a new city climate-action tax on the November ballot.

“Here’s a great chance to spend that money in a way that will guarantee us a carbon reduction that we want,” he said.

Lisa Disch, council’s liaison to the Planning Commission, said trying to get the state building code changed to require sustainable buildings is on the city’s lobbying agenda. In the meantime, the commission and council can make requests of developers when they’re seeking approval of projects, but it’s not a situation for ultimatums.

“This developer is using sustainable building materials,” she said of the Pontiac Trail development she supported Wednesday night, expressing optimism the developer has shown willingness to continue dialogue about carbon-neutrality goals. “A creative solution may come of that.”

Read more Ann Arbor development stories.

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