Backyard chickens, urban gardening to be revisited during Ypsilanti Township's master plan revision
Ecorse Road, Washtenaw Avenue and Whittaker Road are the main commercial corridors in Ypsilanti Township — but township planning officials are envisioning much more bustling commercial thoroughfares.
Those four corridors are the main focus of a revisit to Ypsilanti Township’s master plan, which state law require be reviewed and updated every five years.
“This is strictly just a review and an update,” said Ypsilanti Township Planning Director Joe Lawson, adding that the last master plan was completed in 2007. “We have new census numbers so we have to take that into account. We’ve had a change in the economic climate in this area, and that has warranted another look at the plan to see where we need to go for future development.”
Ecorse Road is one commercial corridor officals are hoping to improve.
Tom Perkins | For AnnArbor.com
The revision is being done with Royal Oak-based LSL Planning. One of the central tasks is rezoning the town center district that runs through the Whittaker Road-Huron Street corridor. The town center zoning as is extends all the way from Interstate 94 to Textile Road.
Town center zoning calls for mixed-use and dense commercial use. Lawson said town center zoning will remain in place from Interstate 94 through Huron River Drive, but eventually should filter into lighter commercial use further south.
Lawson explained that the town center district likely was too large and reducing it could free up opportunities for other development.
The ReImagine Washtenaw goals and objectives figure into the master plan as well. The project is attempting to transition the corridor from auto-orientated development to development that encourages people to walk or ride their bicycles. Planners are envisioning mixed-use development with commercial businesses on the first floor, and offices or residential spaces above them.
“We want to make them more diverse and fulfilling corridors,” Lawson said. “Right now they’re pretty auto-oriented and have been that way for many, many years. It’s time to look and re-evaluate and say ‘What else can we do?’”
The backyard chicken and urban farming/hoophouse issue promises to be a hot topic. Already a Facebook page dedicated to pushing for an ordinance allowing backyard chickens has sprung up.
Residents are invited to several public input sessions where they can address more emotional zoning issues raised — such as the backyard chickens and urban gardening. Interested residents attend from 4:30 and 6 p.m. on Monday at the Ypsilanti Township Hall. Many of those ideas will also be incorporated into the East Michigan Avenue corridor and Grove corridor, Lawson said.
Lawson said there is nothing in the master plan that gives him the ability to develop a zoning ordinance allowing backyard chickens or regulate backyard farming.
“Once we’re finished with the master plan process, it gives me backing to propose zoning amendments that would allow backyard chickens,” he said. “Once this master plans is complete, we can move forward with that if that’s what population wishes me to move forward on.”
Another focus area is along the southeast corner of Ford Lake where the Federal Aviation Administration prohibits dense residential along the lakefront. Lawson said that area would lend itself to restaurant or some other public gathering space Ford Lake generally lacks at the moment.
“We don’t have a lot of commercial areas on the lake,” Lawson said. “I think that would be a good start. We can see if we cant get the current property owner or future developer to do something.”
Comments
Citywatch
Mon, May 20, 2013 : 9:58 p.m.
Please coordinate appropriately with the Ypsilanti CITY master planning process. They are related and should not be done in isolation.
treetowncartel
Mon, May 20, 2013 : 4:46 p.m.
The sidewalks going in along these thouroughfares are to close to the roads.Kids just learning to ride bikes shouldn't be that close to traffic, and it isn't nice for walking in general to have cars whizzing a few feet away 45+ mph. Not to mention, in the winter when it snows they become impassable because the plows throw the snow from the road on them.
lumberg48108
Mon, May 20, 2013 : 4:16 p.m.
Is connecting the township to itself part of the discussion? Can we make Harris Road connect from Ecorse through Michigan Avenue? Can we get exits onto Michigan Avenue from Ford Blvd? Can we end the current state of having streets dead-end instead of connecting to other areas? Ypsi Township (and Ypsi proper) can never be vibrant if the citizens cannot get one one side of town to the other easily. Because of the above mentioned limitations (and others) it is easier for many residents to ignore parts of Ypsi and go to Canton or Ann Arbor. If this is not part of the discussion, it should be.
mpope
Mon, May 20, 2013 : 2:33 p.m.
i guess it's not fair to denounce yesteryear ordinances by contemporary perspectives, but it's remarkable that 'emotional' issues like food gardens and back yard hens are issues at all. a friend of mine is spearheading a growing movement in Toledo called "Grow Food, Not Lawns." it makes a lot of sense. Lawns require space seed water sun in order to grow. the perfectionist lawn-owner will also use chemicals (of varying degrees of toxicity) to keep the weeds down. the lawn then requires maintenance in order to meet local ordinances. in other words, all the resources that go into creating the lawn and the outcome is: cut it. repeatedly. in order to meet local ordinances. grow it only to cut it. the cut grass is then bagged up and curbed, sometimes composted. or used as mulch. for what? gardens. redirect all this resource for food production and only then does this resource use make sense. and backyard chickens? families with a yard should be allowed to own one laying hen per person in the household plus 3 or 4 f to supplement the flock. roosters are soup as soon as they crow (plus a month for growing.) hen owners would agree to be responsible for keeping their hens penned (or yarded) and closed up at night. (once a hen owner loses a few to raccoons or neighbor dogs s/he gets serious about securing the hen house.) for most of 23 years as homeowners in dundee, i grew food gardens and raised laying hens (the chickens violated a non-enforced city ordinance.) we're renting now in ypsilanti. i like this town a lot, but when it comes time, i won't buy a home anywhere i can't have a few laying hens and a front yard food garden.
1982 Brew Crew
Mon, May 20, 2013 : 12:37 p.m.
Joe, if you are reading this: can you please address what might be an "urban legand" that there is a deed or zoing restriction prevening a marina/bar/restaurant from operating anywhere on Ford Lake?
Tom Perkins
Mon, May 20, 2013 : 3:45 p.m.
@ 1982 Brew Crew The following is a response from Joe Lawson: I am not aware of any deed or zoning restriction that prohibits a restaurant/bar from locating on Ford Lake. Currently there is little land with a commercial designation that would let itself to a restaurant on the lake but that is something we are very seriously looking at with http://www.annarbor.com/news/ypsilanti/redevelopment-of-commercial-corridor-backyard-chickens-and-lakefornt-commercial-development-part-of/#this master plan update. As for a marina, again there isn't anything that prohibits a marina but there are regulations that must be followed and approvals gained from FERC prior to any final Twp approvals.
Gramma
Mon, May 20, 2013 : 12:19 p.m.
This is an opportunity to be forward looking. What will people's lifestyles be like in the future? What will be sustainable? The planet cannot withstand endless commercialization and destruction of natural areas. Southeast Michigan once had necessary wetlands, most of which have been lost in the past 50 years. There is less crime in areas where there is much greenery and many people are moving around on foot or bicycles. Huge buildings and parking lots mean severe rain runoff and flooding. Backyard chickens and noncommercial urban gardens provide food available locally, reducing greenhouse gases. We cannot afford to continue as a consumer society.
beardown
Mon, May 20, 2013 : 7:47 p.m.
Green businesses are fine. But putting restrictions that may cause a business to locate elsewhere to save money are not. And urban farming and backyard chickens also come with issues. Salmonella and other diseases are quite common in areas where backyard chickens are prevalent due either to issues with the owners taking care of their chickens (not cleaning up) or not understanding how to handle the eggs (like that you don't clean them). There are benefits to a consumer society. Like employment.
Gramma
Mon, May 20, 2013 : 1:54 p.m.
Not nearly as much as 18 wheelers, ships bringing apples from Chile, etc.
Usual Suspect
Mon, May 20, 2013 : 1:34 p.m.
Chickens *produce* greenhouse gasses, as does the cooking of eggs.