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Posted on Thu, Aug 8, 2013 : 5:58 a.m.

Rezoning for duplex on Packard Road denied by Ann Arbor Planning Commission

By Ryan J. Stanton

The Ann Arbor Planning Commission recommended denial of a property owner's request Wednesday night to rezone land at 3325 Packard Road for construction of a new duplex.

Chairman Kirk Westphal and other commissioners said they're obligated to uphold the city's master plan and they couldn't support "spot zoning" a single parcel.

"It's very difficult to justify spot zoning," said Sabra Briere, who serves on both the Planning Commission and the City Council.

3325_Packard.jpg

City of Ann Arbor

The 0.27-acre site is located on the north side of Packard between Platt Road and US-23, at the northwest corner of Fernwood Avenue in the Darlington subdivision.

The property owner asked that the vacant lot, where a fire destroyed a single-family house in April 2012, be rezoned from R1C single-family dwelling to R2A two-family dwelling.

The commission followed the city staff's recommendation by voting to deny the request.

City Planner Jill Thacher said the proposed land uses permitted under R2A zoning would not be consistent with the city's master plan, which recommends single-family detached homes for that particular block of Packard, as well as other blocks to the east, north and west.

Land use in the area to the east, north and west of the site is almost entirely single-family residential, Thacher stated in a report to the commission.

Phillip Weaver of Bradenton, Fla., is listed as the property owner. Scott Betzoldt of Ann Arbor-based Midwestern Consulting is listed as the petitioner for the project.

They proposed a single duplex residence with a detached two-car garage to replace the single-family home that burned.

Commissioner Wendy Woods said she could appreciate that the petitioner was stuck "between a rock and a hard place" but she couldn't support the rezoning.

It was suggested that the city could take a fresh look at the overall zoning for that area of Packard at some point in the future to see what land uses might be most appropriate.

Ryan J. Stanton covers government and politics for AnnArbor.com. Reach him at ryanstanton@annarbor.com or 734-623-2529. You also can follow him on Twitter or subscribe to AnnArbor.com's email newsletters.

Comments

goodforyou

Thu, Aug 8, 2013 : 4:08 p.m.

I live very close to the lot and for once I am happy with the out come Ann Arbor has made. The lawn was about 27" before Ann Arbor notified him to cut the grass. How would he keep up the duplex when he didn't keep the house up when he is living in Fla. This neighbor hood needs to stay a single family.

Nicholas Urfe

Thu, Aug 8, 2013 : 1:23 p.m.

This is a good decision that supports the integrity of a good neighborhood. Just because the residents in that area must tolerate the Packard and highway noise does not mean they should be forced to accept sprawl. The city needs to go further and force owners of blighted and unmaintained properties along Packard to maintain them.

Ross

Thu, Aug 8, 2013 : 6:07 p.m.

A duplex consolidates housing. It is the opposite of "sprawl".

linuxtuxguy

Thu, Aug 8, 2013 : 12:45 p.m.

I've been looking at that lot ever since the fire, and thinking how I would put a multi-unit dwelling there if I owned the land. There are multi-unit dwellings across the street on both sides, and it fits with the character of the area. Such a shame that isn't going to work out for the owner! Yes, there is too much traffic on Fernwood, but I don't think residents are the problem.

lorayn54

Thu, Aug 8, 2013 : 1:39 p.m.

lots of people still cut through that neighborhood because of traffic on washtenaw. This traffic will only get worse as they develop washtenaw more without finding ways to deal with the traffic. I don't think a duplex (2 family) vs single family home will make a huge difference on traffic.

Ross

Thu, Aug 8, 2013 : 12:43 p.m.

This seems stupid to me. Just look at the satellite image in the article. Directly across Packard is a whole slew of apartment buildings. Just down packard are all the attached village condos. The main frontage is on packard, a duplex seems perfectly applicable here.

Howzitchick

Thu, Aug 8, 2013 : 11:49 a.m.

Nothing sad at all! As a resident of Fernwood & friends of the direct neighbors, a duplex would have increased the traffic on an already busy corner plus most of the property abuts Fernwood, not Packard, although it has a Packard address. The garage would most likely be located on Fernwood. The previous house was a dump with some shady stuff going on - lots of people & cars. The owner only started cutting the grass as his hearing neared. Darlington is a family neighborhood, and should not be a renters paradise. Best decision for the neighborhood!

ez12c

Thu, Aug 8, 2013 : 6:16 p.m.

Should knock all those dumpy houses down and make Fernwood even a little more vacant- remember, each existing house adds overwhelmingly to the traffic there.

Linda Peck

Thu, Aug 8, 2013 : 11:26 a.m.

I wonder if this is zoning backlash.

missmisery

Thu, Aug 8, 2013 : 11:22 a.m.

This is sad.