Planning commission recommends South Wagner rezoning to enable two duplexes by Ann Arbor Community Land Trust

The Ann Arbor City Planning Commission voted unanimously to recommend that the mayor and city council rezone 225 and 235 South Wagner Road from R1D (single-family) to R2A (two-family), advancing the Ann Arbor Community Land Trust’s plan to enable two duplexes on the parcels.

The vote followed a petitioner presentation, a staff report recommending approval, and public comment both for and against the rezoning. "These are the people who work in Ann Arbor — nurses, teachers, librarians, lab techs — who can no longer afford to live in town," the petitioner said, describing the land trust’s mission to preserve long-term affordable homeownership in perpetuity.

Staff stressed that the item before the commission was a rezoning only, not a site plan or building permit. Planner Milling Cochran noted the city’s Comprehensive Plan 2050 designates the parcels for residential future land use and that R2A zoning supports the density sought. The petitioner described the duplex footprints as roughly 1,100 square feet total per building and said each duplex would include a garage and an outdoor parking space.

Neighbors who spoke at the public hearing objected to aspects of the proposal. "I disagree with the opinion that this is going to be a low-impact site for neighbors," said Brian Alvarez, who lives on South Wagner Road; he raised concerns about lot size, parking, transparency of land transactions and the effects of a housing TIF. Another nearby resident questioned runoff mitigation, construction plans and how multiple units would fit on the small lots.

Commissioners pressed the petitioner and staff for technical clarifications. Staff said zoning occupancy rules would limit occupancy to a maximum of four unrelated people per dwelling unit. The petitioner and supporters emphasized that the land trust model is intended to keep homes affordable long term, with the land trust retaining ownership of the land while buyers purchase the buildings.

After deliberation — in which commissioners noted site constraints, setbacks and the comprehensive-plan policy supporting missing-middle housing — Commissioner Hammerschmidt moved and Commissioner Disch seconded the recommendation that council approve the rezoning. The planning commission’s roll call was unanimous, and the recommendation will advance to city council for two readings.

Next steps: the commission’s recommendation is advisory; final approval would be decided by city council in subsequent public hearings.