Development Plan Not Sacred, Planner Tells Area Officials

Acin Arbor's proposed General Development Plan went thromgh the first of what is expected to be a long series of reviows last night. City Planning Commission Chairman John R. L a i r d a s s u r e d representatives of organizations and townships attendling the initial session there is nothing sacred about the Planning Department's document, that it is subject to change? following the review meetin.gs. One of the suggestions voiced by a rmember of the audience would result in a significant change: if the commission chose to follnw this advicie. Phñip S. Carrol)! said the plan should include: a comprehensive land use miap, claiming this was the intent of City Council when it initallj' requested the drafting of a iruaster plan. The Planning Department has avoideid land use maps as such, choosiiig to draw a plan which sets .'tandards and policies. Assista.nt Planning Director Michaél Prochaska says these policies will guide and control land use. One of the major topics, of discussdon last night was the n e e d f o r intergovernmental cooperátion in planning for the Ann Arbor area. The General Development Plan points out there are 52 local units of government in Ann Arbor's Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area a?id 10 independent units in the city's immediate area. Laird commented the plan may lead to the conclusión that I the County Planning Commission mtist have the authority for overall planning in the area. I Prochaska said the plan could also lead to a change in I the city's policy concerning I extensioü of water and sewer I outside the city limits. The City I Council is currently faced with I this issue and has been asked to make a decisión in the near future. Arm Arbor does not now extend services outside the city except in unusual circumstances. The final decisión on Utilities' extensión will be the major factor in determining the city's growth and ultimate size. Sections of the plan reviewed last night listed the following problems confronting A n n Arbor and its surrounding area: - Ann Arbor is striving to maintain its unique identity within the región as an educational-research center and excellent place in which to live; -Planning areas delineated by federal, state, regional and local authorities are not well coordinated for effective physical, social and economie planning; - Many land áreas adjacent to the Hurón River have severe limitations for urban development in terms of soil conditions; and -The University student population places high demand on rental housing and results in atypical housing characteristics. tics. Listed as potentials in the General Development Plan were: -High speed rail transit could put Ann Arbor within convenient commuting distance of Detroit; -Ann Arbor could expand and improve its regional, state and national identity in activities such as education, medicine and research; - With careful planning and coordination Ann Arbor can maintain its unique identity within the Detroit urban región; - Ann Arbor's topography can accommodate all types of urban development; -The Huron River Valley and natural landscape can become a framework to help organize land use, circulation, leisure opportunities and the environmental quality of Ann Arbor; and - The city can accommodate and encourage future population growth and population characteristics irrespective of University growth policies.