League Opposes Planning Ordinance

STATEMENT TO THE ANN ARÖÓR CITY PLANNING COMMISSION REGARDING THE PROPOSED SUBDIVISIÓN AND LAND USE CONTROL ORDINANCE, PRESENTED BY ELIZABETH LEONARD, SECRETARY OF THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF ANN ARBOR OCTOBER 26, 1971. Three weeks ago, when we spoke to the Commission we carne because the version of the subdivisión control ordinance then under consideration denied citizens their nght to particípate fully in their government. It did this by having no provisión for public information and public hearings and no provisión for appeal to the Zoning Board of Appeals, and by withdrawing from the elected City Council the function of approving site plans. The "blue version," under consideration tonight, still has these faults. We are here to ask you to uphold basic democratie principies by restoring to our elected officials their funcüon as the final approving body for site plans, by restoring the right of appeal, and by including in the subdivisión control ordinance sections on public information which make the following provisions: 1) All area and site plans, preliminary and final plats shall be public information; 2) The type, area and location ofsuch documents shall be indicated in a city-wide map located in City Hall for public view; 3) The specific plans and plats shall be displayed for public view prior to action; 4) Public hearings regarding area and site plans shall be held by both Commission and Council prior to their respective actions; 5) Notice of such public hearings shall bepublished in a local newspaper pursuant to Public Act 306 of 1969 under "Public Notices," in such a way as to be easily identifiable and understandable by the general public; 6) Commission action regarding area and site plans shall be published in a local newspaper under "City Projects. " Almost the only difference between these provisions and what has actually been happening in recent months is that the process would be a legal requirement rather than a gentlemen's agreement. The difficulty with an informal agreement is, as we see to our chagrín, that it can be dissolved as easüy as it has been made. The strength of our constitution lies in the fact that civil rights are set forth specifically, ready for use whether we choose to use them or not. When a right is threatened, even the usually indifferent rally to defend it, while if it is assured, it is often neglected. S.till, the right must be assured. In fact it is just because of the inertia of citizens who feel secure in their rights that the inclusión of public information sections in the ordinance is not only feasible; it is practical good sense. The Planning Staff has said that' they have neither the additional manpower nor the additional money to implement such provisions. That is a complaint we can all sympathize with. I am sure there is hardly anyone who hasn't at some time felt a lack of time and money. But if provisión for public information and review is as vitally important as everyone seems to agree it is, then surely there must be some way of making it possible. We will not argüe tonight with the Planning I Department's explanación that higher plan review fees I would not solve their manpower problem because the I money would go to the general fund and not to the I Planning Department budget, although surely that new I revenue would go to benefit somebody, and they might I remember that the squeaky wheel gets the grease. ! Our suggestion tonight is much simpler and much more I easily and promptly carried out. Include the public I information sections in the ordinance, and we believe that I additional manpower will not be needed. It is because I there is no formal legal structure for public information E and review in the ordinance as it reads now that many people are anxious and feel, rightly or wrongly, that they I must sit on the doorstep of City Hall, or something disastrous will happen before they know it. If a precise I mandatory process were established, you would : edly fínd that many of the aroused citizens would go home, satisfïed that they had defended the democratie process, and ready to leave the daily work of admmistration up to others. Those few who were left would be the ones most closely concerned, and they would come to the hearings, having known well in advance when they would take place, well-informed and well-prepared to give valuable testimony. In the end, when there is the acceptance of a general master plan for Ann Arbor, which would be a guide to the staff in planning, to the Commission in setting policy, and to the public in forming expectations, perhaps everyone will know so well and agree so generally on the nature of the future development of Ann Arbor that the Planning Commission and staff will feel positively lonely in this large room and will think back fondly to the Gold Old Days, when City Hall Council Chambers on Tuesday night was the action place to be.