This property on Ellsworth Road is now a part of Ann Arbor and will be developed into townhouses once it gains approval from the city.
Ben Freed | AnnArbor.com
Ann Arbor has annexed a “tax island” in preparation for a new townhouse development to be known as “The Summit” at 2081 E. Ellsworth Road, east of Stone School Road on the city's south side.
The city has been slowly annexing the 583 properties within city limits known as “township islands” in which residents pay taxes to the township they “live in” rather than to the city of Ann Arbor. These taxes often end up being significantly less than the taxes charged to Ann Arbor residents with similar property values because townships typically provide fewer services.
The property at 2081 E. Ellsworth Road is currently vacant and is being developed by Florida-based company Growwwwlee, LLC. The company has submitted plans to the city for a 24-unit town-house style development to city planners, along with a request for a rezoning of the property to a Residential-3 (R3) zoning that has been approved by the City Council.
Before the city staff could review site plans, Ann Arbor had to annex the property from Pittsfield Township so that it can be connected to city utilities. Both the city and township had to sign off on the annexation.
“The plan is currently going through the review process with city staff,” planner Matt Kowalski said.
“Then they go back and make revisions. We go back and forth until all issues are addressed and then it goes to the Planning Commission for approval.”
The earliest date for the proposal to go to the Planning Commission is Oct. 16, Kowalski said. If the commission recommends the site plans for approval, City Council would then have to sign off on both the zoning and site plan. Such approval likely wouldn't come before December, he said.
Ben Freed covers business for AnnArbor.com. Reach him at 734-623-2528 or email him at benfreed@annarbor.com. Follow him on twitter @BFreedinA2