City Planners Approve Expansion Of Arborland

The Ann Arbor City Planning Commission gave its stamp of approval Tuesday night to the improvement and expansión of Arborland Shopping Center. The commission recommended for approval the zoning of 1.4 acres, recently annexed from Pittsfield Township, the area plan and the amended site plan submitted by the shopping centers planners, Atwell-Hicks. The expansión, if approved by City Council, will total 35.44 acres including the 1.4 from the township. Arborland intends to enclose the shopping center mail, expand Montogomery Wards, construct a separate building for a Ward's automotive department, landscape the parking area and expand the east parking lot. Allen Suggitt of Atwell-Hicks told the commission that the Arborland planners want to put in more landscaping than required by the city code and that special approval would have to be obtained from the Zoning Board of Appeals. He told the commission the planners . hoped to put in 60,000 feet of landscaping while only 28,000 is required. Commissioner Robert Potts asked for a description of the landscaping. He was told it would include mounds 60-to-80 feet wide along Washtenaw, containing fir and pine trees. Long islands, of landscaping, serving to direct traffic as well as beautify the interior parking lots would also be installed. There would be 100 islands altogether, larger than the present islands. "It will créate better traffic flow and better visual impact," he said. Commissioner Ethel Lewis questioned the expansión of the east parking lot. "No matter what the time of year, whether it is Christmas season or bargain days, I never see the lot Ml to Washtenaw," she said. "When I heard there were going to be improveméhts; r assumecHt youlu cift , down the size of the parking área. Now we are getting an additional piece. Is this amount of parking required. Is it over the amount required?" Suggitt told her that présently there are 2,354 parking spaces but that with the enlarging of the traffic islands, the number with the expansión of the east lot, would be cut to 1,925. "The city required 1,824 spaces but we will probably lose more when they put in the loading area for the buses (Ann Arbor Transportation Authority buses for the run between Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti)," he said. In another action the commission, with no comment, approved a site plan for rebuilding the Oíd Germán Restaurant which was destroyed last spring by fire. The plan includes the addition of a kitchen and a third story addition on the Ashley Street side of the building. The two top floprs would contain one twobedroom apartment and eight efficiency apartments. After much discussion concerning the possible future expansión of State Road in front of the Briarwood Hilton Hotel, the commission approved the hotel's amended site plan subject to two contingenties which also were amended. John McMullen, owner of the Hilton, asked the planning commission to waive one of the contingencies which called for dedication of 100 f eet f rom the center of the road tö the city. McMullen said that would force him to rip out part of his parking lot at a cost of $15,000 to $20,000, based on a proposed road plan for 1990. "That is totally unnecessary at this time," he said. "I am expanding my facility to meet state and county health department requirements, not to increase the seating in the restaurant or the facilities in the hotel. The additional easement is needed, according to the 1990' plan. To spend the additional money at this time and remove existing facilities at this time when they are not neèded is unnecessary." Lewis asked why McMullen had to give up his land at this time if it wasn't needed. She asked if he could dedicate the land but leave it in its present state until j the time, if and when, it is needed. "If at a later time, we find it is not needed, could we dedicate the land back?" she asked. I Potts asked why the dedication was needed. Planning director Martin Overhiser told him it was for the purpose of conformance, with the surrounding property, between Eisenhower Parkwayj -fadl-taaifetateW " "What are the esthetics?" Potts asked. "So it will be even all the way down the I street or because of traffic?" "It is okay now, but as additional I development occurs, additional traffic I lanes will be needed," Overhiser 1 sponded. "We are trying to set it aside I for the time when it will be needed. Commissioner Frederick Herrmann I proposed an amendment, approved by I the commission, stating that the land, 1 though dedicated, could remain in its I present state (as a parking lot), until such time as the city needs the land for construction'. The other contingency, also amended, calis for required parking setback varïance be approved by the zoning board of appeals and that an agreement be negotiated between the city and McMullen to aÜow continued parking in the lot whieh extends 21 feet into the present right of way easement. Near the close of the meeting, Cmsr. Carol Jones said she had heard several Ann Arbor residents voice their disapproval of the proposed ?25 million amusement park in Pittsfield Township. She asked if the Planning Department could make a study and apprise the commission of action taken in the township on the park. Commissioner John Laird agreed, asking that the commission be given a timetable for the process the park developers, Funtime Inc. of Ohio would have to go through before an ultímate decisión would be made and at that time take "a strong stand." The commission approved a motion directing the Planning Department to obtain all information on the park and keep the commission up to date on what is occurring..