Council Mulls Extension Of City's Northeast Side

Ann Arbor in the near future may expand its boundaries beyond the US-23 expressway on the city's northeast side. At the recommendation of City Administrator Guy C. Larcom Jr. last night, the City Council approved a resolution stating this would be a "logical area" for expansion of city utility service. Bert L. Smokler had sought some assurance from the council that services would be extended to a 220-acre parcel at the northeast corner of Plymouth Road and US-23 when the parcel is annexed. Currently, there is no city land east of the US-23 expressway. Larcom said that the request "poses some fairly important policy questions" but said the administration was prepared to recommend the extension of services. He added that the developer had agreed to pay the cost, which would be extensive, of laying utility lines under the expressway. Public Works Departmenti Supt. Fredrick A. Mammei said the area in question could be serviced and that the capacity available could handle some 2,260 persons. If the city extends service into the Fleming Creek drainage basin, Mammei said, the 220 acre parcel could be serviced by the new line without too much additional cost. Larcom said the developer wanted some assurance on the extensión of services prior to starting on plans to develop the parcel. Smokler has built several residential neighborhoods in the city. Also last night, Utilities Department Supt. Wayne H. Abbott Jr. reported to the council that water service could be extended to Mercywood Hospital, 4038 Jackson Rd. The hospital had requested the extension to provide an adequate supply of water for fire protection. Abbott said the hospital would finance the extension and be reimbursed as new properties along the line annexed to the city. The council has a policy of not extending services to areas beyond the city limits. In the past, however, it has extended services to institutions if an agreement was reached that annexation would take place when the property becomes contiguous to the city. In another matter last night, Larcom reported that it would cost about $125,000 to enclose a open drainage ditch running along Sequoia Parkway. He said the new budget include funds to make engineering studies of this and other enclosures and that with favorable council action the drain could be enclosed next year. To be determined is how the enclosure will be financed whether by special assessment or city-at-large. The council's special assessment committee will discuss this problem with Larcom and the city-township relations committee will also discuss it.