Ann Arbor OKs rezoning for 24-unit Summit Townhomes

Ann Arbor's Planning Commission voted 6-1 Tuesday night in favor of a proposal to annex a 3.3-acre parcel at 2081 E. Ellsworth Road from Pittsfield Township into the city limits and zone it to allow a proposed multi-family development called Summit Townhomes.

The vote came with Erica Briggs dissenting and Commissioners Eric Mahler and Wendy Woods absent.

But following the advice of the city's planning staff, the commission postponed voting on a conceptual area plan for the 24-unit project until the developer can address staff questions, including concerns regarding the extensive grading that would be required.

Leonard Michaels of Ohio-based CIW Engineering appeared on behalf of the developer, Shawn Barrow of Orlando-based GROWWWWLEE LLC.

City Planner Matt Kowalski said there's a vacant single-family house and a detached garage on the site, both of which would be removed for the new development.

The proposed layout shows four two-story buildings varying in size from 80 to 160 feet long, with an attached one-car garage for each residential unit.

Residents of the nearby Forest Hills Cooperative — a 306-unit, federally subsidized housing complex built in the early 1970s — came to speak against the project, saying the area already is overly dense, lacks amenities like parks and has traffic problems.

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.