The long awaited report of the citizen g...

The long awaited report of the citizen groups which took part in the Anti Arbor Area Goals Conference has been published. Now being distributed, the reported is entitled, "Quo Vadis, Ann Arbor?" - a catchy way of saying, "Where are you going, Ann Arbor?" The question needs to be asked. It especially needs asking because the city is growing fast, and no formal planning goals have yet been defined by the City Planning Commission. An indication of how fast the city is growing can be had by reading the report of the National Planners Association. In their last report, the planners predicted that by 1975 Ann Arbor will have a population of 237,000. That's a prediction of a growth rate of more than twice the city's present populalion - and in only eight s. And still the City Planning Commission has yet to come up with planning goals which will guide the city's growth. The obvious need for such goals was one of the motivating factors behind many citizen groups banding together in 1965 to take a critical look at Ann Arbor's future. The Ann Arbor Area Goals Conference opened January 25, 1966. Now, a year and a half later, the report of that conference is available. In the report, there are precise statements of various goals which were formulated at the conference. If it is true that communication between cilizens and planners has been inadequate, as it has been charged by the conference participants, then it may be of some importance for residents to take note of some of the goals put forth in the report. The first goal recommended was the establishment of a county or metropolitan area citizens planning council to serve as a coordinating, guiding and information disseminating agent for the many groups wishing to obtain better planning. Second goal was the study of planning staff structure throughout the county to come up with the best organized means of achieving metropolitan area planning. Third goal, which is alr e a d y underway, was the preparation of a design plan for the Huron River Valley, and a comprehensive site plan for all existing or potential public park land. Fourth goal, also underway, was preparation of comprehensive plans for open space land development beyond the present urban area. It was recommended that be prepared by City and County Planning departments for the metropolitan growth área íor the next 20 years. It was suggested that this study identify the future open space structure, suggest a linear network, zones for active recreation and conservation, locate primary parkways and scenic drives, and suggest areas of planned unit developments and higher density housing. Fifth goal was development of plans for the entrance corridors to the city. It was recommended that design concepts and typical site plans be prepared for the 12 major entrances to the city, and for the land áreas adjacent to the cxpressway belt surrounding our community. It suggested guidelines for the development of land that is undeveloped or in the process of change. Another goal recommended was the creation by the City Council of a committee of competent citizens to study park design concepts and to put forth imaginative proposals. At this point, the repor states that progress on this goal has been discouraging establishment of an environmental design committee to guide the development of Ann Arbor's character was another goal resulting from the conference. Another goal was the development of an efficient and unobtrusive transportation system, and the creation of a desired pedestrian atmosphere by providing pleasant and attractive facilities for foot and bicycle traffic such as arcades, mails, pedestrian bridges, and underpasses. Related to that goal was the recommended goal of capitalizing on the special environmental potentials of the core área of the city. It was recommended that severe restrictions be placed on the use and parking of cars within the core areas. It was also suggested that historical buildings be preserved, as well as open spaces in the core areas for the recreation of students. Additional goals resulting from the conference were eommunication of the city's concern over the Residential College site in the Huron River valley to the University Regents, the increase of the supply of skilled and semi-skilled workers, the improvement of the school system, and a revision of land tax assessments to preserve open space.