League Of Women Voters Have Vision Of Future
THE ANN ARBOR NEWS
Page Twenty-One
Friday, June 30, 1967
Problem Area
The problem of where to put the growing number of cars is just one of the problems to be faced by future planners.
The League of Women Voters has suggested that parking lots such as this one at least be screened from view.
Future Problem Area?
Possible lack of foresight in planning may cause Maple Rd., which is scheduled to become a main traffic carrier, similar to an outer drive, to be lined with light industrial shops that will be considered an eyesore in the future.
League Of Women Voters Have Vision Of Future
Al Lubowitz
(News Business Editor)
What kind of city is Ann Arbor going to be?
The problem is not academic. Ann Arbor is growing and growing fast. With population projections predicting that the Ann Arbor-Ypsilanti area will soon be a major urban center, with all the problems urban centers customarily have, the time for planning is now.
Because Planning Director Raymond Martin is aware of the immediate need for future planning, which will prevent crucial problems later, he has asked members of the planning commission to draft what they feel should be the future goals of the city.
However, while members are reflecting over the matter, other groups in the community have come to certain conclusions.
The League of Women Voters is one such group. The league, long interested in preserving the unique character of the city, has come up with a planning consensus and a general design plan.
Because the League strongly believes that the people of Ann Arbor should be consulted and participate in planning decisions, the planning consensus has been offered to the commissioners hopefully to serve as a guideline while they draft their own proposals.
The result of several months work, the general design plan is divided into six sections. The sections deal with urban form, residential neighborhoods, circulation, commercial development, industrial development and open space.
The urban form of future Ann Arbor as the League envisions it should be confined within the expressways. It should contain a strong central business district, surrounded by new communities or neighborhoods that contain their own diversified land uses. Each neighborhood should provide convenient needed services, permit workers’ home to be near places of work, and should be designed to relieve main arterial congestion.
Plans should estimate the number of persons who can be well accommodated within the main arterial by-passes, and beyond that point, expansion should be made through additional communities.
The League feels these communities might be annexed to the city, but should be set off from the city and other communities by green belts.
The League also recommends that sites and areas important in maintaining the character of Ann Arbor as a residential town of long standing be preserved.
One other point the league believes is important to planning considerations is that University expansion should be coordinated with city growth by close cooperation between the University and city.
Under the section devoted to residential neighborhoods, the league suggests that these neighborhoods be diversified. “Neighborhoods should have a central focus, containing schools, open space and retail services within walking distance of homes.”
Densities in these neighborhoods should be coordinated with schools and recreational facilities. There should be a mix of residential zoning districts to facilitate diversity of family size, composition and income level within a neighborhood, the league believes.
Cluster zoning to permit green belts and access to green recreational areas should be encouraged.
The pedestrian-oriented central business district will have high-rise and high density zoning with parking supplied.
Under circulation, the league advocates the idea of developing an integrated plan for pedestrian, bicycle, auto and public transportation.
Efficient public transportation between various communities in the county and within the city should be provided. Emphasized is the need for an efficient, frequent and regular city transportation system.
Envisioned in the league’s design are pedestrian and bicycle paths, particularly by junior and senior high schools, and between University campuses, including paths on bridges. The league wants to make it pleasant and safe to walk and bicycle within the city limits.
Through traffic should be separated from local traffic. Parking areas should be buffered or screened. On-street parking in the central business district should be eliminated and outlying parking areas for all-day parking should be provided.
In discussing commercial development, the league recommended that the central business district be pedestrian-oriented. The elimination of strip zoning was also recommended.
Also suggested was that regional shopping centers not be allowed to encroach on the vital financial and professional functions of the CBD, but should be restricted to stores and shops. All shopping centers should be surrounded with green spaces.
The league, however, did not have much to say when it came to industrial development. It only suggested that new industry be encouraged to locate in the area provided it (conformed to controls on air, water, noise, architecture, landscape and parking.
Regarding open spaces, the league stated, “All planning should take into consideration preservation and creation of open spaces, natural areas and connecting landscaped urban passageways.”
The league recommended that as much open space as possible be acquired to preserve and enhance the beauty of the area.
And last of all, the league emphasized that the people of Ann Arbor be consulted from the outset on all planning so they too may help in formulating possible solutions to problems before they arise.