Thursday, June 27, 2013
2 1 1The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com
Citizens raise concerns on
proposed zoig regulations
Residents fear:
Thursday, June 27, 2013
The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com
Where will Burke and Hardaway Jr. land?
change in nature
and character of
neighborhood
By AARON GUGGENHEIM
Managing News Editor
Over the past several years,
downtown Ann Arbor's cityscape
has been radically transformed
by the arrival of several luxury
high-rise apartments that cater to
University students.
However, the change is not
welcomed by all. Many local
residents have expressed their
dismay at these new buildings,
which have changed the appearance
of the downtown area.
Some of these residents had been
meeting on an advisory committee
since late 2009 until 2012 in an
attempt to maintain the character of
the city's residential neighborhoods,
specifically the areas close to the
University. They had focused their
attempts on reforming the high-
density residential code, 4RC, that
governs what buildings can be built
within the zone.
The existing code has been in
place since 1963 but has slowly
reformed based on a Central
Area Plan developed in the early
'90s that rezoned Ann Arbor
into five distinct zones. The plan
includes the 4RC zone around
the University, which is primarily
inhabited by students.
After extensive research, the
advisory committee recommended
to the planning commission that
the zoning regulations be rewritten
to limit lot combinations - the
practice of combining adjacent lots
to build a bigger unit - based on
square footage in order to reduce
changing neighborhood layouts.
There are no current restrictions on
this practice.
While the commission agreed
with almost all of the committee's
recommendations, they rejected the
call for lot limitations on the basis
that it should be left to the purview
of the planning commission case-
by-case. It also suggested the
creation of a new group-housing
zone in order to concentrate
rental housing in the 4RC zone by
420 Maynard St.
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MARLENELACASS
Nancy Leff, former member of zoning advisory committee, speaks at neighborhood meeting at Rose White Park on Sunda
EDITORIAL STAFF
Elliot Alpern
ealpe'"n"michiga" '"y" o
Managing Editor
allowing for more flexibility in the
zoning code that would encourage
landlords to build in those areas.
The recommendations of
the planning commission were
presented before the Ann Arbor
City Council at a meeting in early
April. These changes suggested
by the commission, if approved by
the council, would be written into
zoning code and applied in the next
year after additional commission
meetings as well as a consideration
of public opinion.
Ann Arbor resident Nancy
Leff, who served on the advisory
committee, is part of a group of
residents who disagree with the
commission's proposals and have
started to circulate a petition
opposing the revisions. Leff and
another residents met Sunday to
discuss their opposition and sign
petitions.
"One of the main goals of our
committee was to try to preserve
and protect and keep the existing
character and nature of the
neighborhoods," Leff said. "The
issue of lot combinations is key to
retaining the housing stock that
exists there."
She added that a lack of specific
zoning code on lot combinations
could have a serious impact on the
neighborhood.
"It opens the door (for houses)
that would potentially eliminate
the single family housing stock
and replace it with larger group
structures," Leff said. "That is
something our neighborhood
doesn't want to see happen."
She said if regulations were left
to the discretion of the commission
and City Council, residents would
lose input over what was built
within their neighborhoods.
"We want the zoning code to
clearly state what the regulations
are," Leff said. "Every time you
let one of these issues go to the
planning commission, there is no
control anymore. They can choose
to do whatever they want."
Jane Klingston, another
resident who opposes the
planning commission's
amendments, wrote in an e-mail
interview that the creation of a
student housing zone - despite
the fact that it is not intended to
"designate any type of specific
living arrangement within this
area" - could be harmful to
students.
"I find (it) discriminatory and
(it) could be problematic for the
quality of rental housing options
for students," Klingston wrote.
"(The code) could potentially lead
to unsafe substandard housing for
students in a city where public safety
response is already stretched."
James Kosteva, director of
community relations for the
University, wrote in an e-mail
interview that though the city and
the University often do talk about
land use and planning in order "to
understand each others interests,"
the University was hesitant to
weigh in on these potential changes
that could affect students who live
off campus.
"The University rarely gets
involved in local land development
and zoning decisions unless the
interests of the institution are
directly or dramatically impacted,"
Kostevawrote.
City planner Matt Kowalski,
whoserved as aprojectmanageron
the advisory committee, said the
disagreement between members
of the planning commission
and advisory committee could
be traced to a debate on how to
preserve the nature and character
of the 4RC neighborhoods.
"We are just looking at it from
two different ways," he said.
Kowalski said not limiting lot
combinations allowed for more
creative developments in the 4RC
zone and would still be subject
to approval from the commission
based on their effects.
"We didn't want to preclude
potentially advantageous projects
to the city and community by
banninglot combinations," he said.
In regards to the proposed group
housing zonings, Kowalski said the
new code would work to preserve
the nature of neighborhoods. The
changes would still require site
planning and adherence to zoning
code, similar to special exception
zoning rules such as those required
when building a fraternity residence.
"What we want to do is
incentivize these people (through
flexible zoning code) on the fringe
to revert some of these houses to
residential owner occupied," he
said, "and concentrate some rental
units in this core area (around the
University)."
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By DANIEL FELDMAN
DailySports Writer
With the NBA Draft fast
approaching on Thursday, The
Daily broke down the specula-
tion surrounding former Michi-
gan guards Trey Burke and Tim
Hardaway Jr.'s potential landing
spots leading up to the draft before
doingsome speculating of its own.
Trey Burke: While four teams
have presented themselves as the
likely landing spots for Burke, one
seems to present the best opportu-
nity in the long termfor Burke.
Phoenix Suns: The Suns are
coming off a dreadful season after
they traded franchise staple, Steve
Nash, to the Los Angeles Lakers.
Finishing 25-57 and in last place in
the Pacific division, the Suns need
any help they can get.
Given their circumstance, it
might make sense for the Suns to
take the best player available at
the fifth pick and start to fill needs
immediately. However, their best
current player is a guard in Goran
Dragic, who averaged 14.7 points
per game and 7.4 assists per game.
So, Burke going here might not
be the best for him or the Suns.
Sitting behind Dragic would slow
the growth of Burke and hurt his
chances of developing an imme-
diate role as a leader. At the same
time, the Suns need someone to
work with Dragic and and Burke
can't do much if he isn't on the
court.
New Orleans Pelicans: The
newly named Pelicans once had
a point guard that they thought
would lead them for a long dura-
tion of time: Chris Paul. The Los
Angeles Clipper and soon-to-be
free agent was a cornerstone of the
Pelicans - formerly the Hornets -
and led them to the playoffs three
times, while earning All-NBA
Team selections three times dur-
ing his career in New Orleans. The
6-foot guard is a player that Burke
has said he models his game after.
The former Wake Forest prod-
uct has made a career out of using
his strength and dribbling skills to
get the basket when he feels like it,
and being a lockdown defender of
the opposition's best player.
While Burke aspires to be that
player, does his game factor into
the Pelicans' future? It might.
While they have point guard
Greivis Vasquez and shooting
guard Eric Gordon, the possibility
to draft another guard to possibly
take the rein from Vasquez after
Austin Rivers blew his opportu-
nity last season is tempting
Overall, the Pelicans are more in
the need for a small forward who
could filla bigger need.
Sacramento Kings: After a
season-plus of suspense surround-
ing whether the Kings would be
moving to Seattle or staying put in
the capital of California, a deal was
finally reached for the Kings to
stay put and eventually get a new
arena in Sacramento.
While that issue i§ settled, the
issue regarding the Kings' roster
remains. Following a fourth-place
finish with a 28-54 record in the
Pacific division, Sacramento will
try to recover. Though the tal-
ent remains present with center
DeMarcus Cousins, his behavior
and maturity still remain an issue.
Even if he isn't traded, as rumors
have indicated, the Kings lack a
true leader and star.
In addition to the Cousins
debacle, former Rookie of the Year
and starting point guard Tyreke
Evans is a free agent and doubt
has formed if the Kings will resign
him.
With a seemingly blank page,
Burke seems like a perfect fit for
the rebuilding franchise. Though
the possibility of trading down
to acquire more picks and talent
exists, the idea of Burke landing
there seems very likely. His poten-
tial to start right away combined
with his craftiness and ability to
change speeds could be helpful in
the years to come.
Detroit Pistons: Burke has
called Ohio home for many years,
but could a move to the Pistons
finally cement him in Michigan?
It could very well be.
After acquiring Jose Calderon at
the trade deadline last season, the
Pistons were hoping to see what
remained of the former Toronto
Raptor point guard while he men-
tored the inexperienced Brandon
Knight. With his deal expiring
after the season, the question
remains whether resigning him is
logical with a clear rebuilding pro-
cess going on.
The Pistons have two building
blocks in Greg Monroe and Andre
Drummond controlling the paint
already. But current point guard
Brandon Knight struggled in his
assigned role, prompting a call for
him to move to shooting guard, so
the acquisition of a point guard
makes sense here too. Burke could
be the key in the Pistons lineup,
which has been lacking a true
point guard since it lost Chauncey
Billups in 2008.
The issue that remains with the
Pistons is if Burke will be available
at the eighth pick.
Tim Hardaway Jr.: As scout-
ing reports have said, Hardaway
is a wild card. He has the potential
to be a great shooting guard in the
league. What will be the biggest
thing for him is whether he's in the
right location.
Los Angeles Clippers: With
Chad Ford's most recent mock
draft predicting him to go 25th
to the Clippers, some thought has
to go into the thought they would
select him.
With Chauncey Billups more
likely than not retiring or signing
elsewhere, a hole has been created
at the shooting guard position.
While Los Angeles has former
Michigan player Jamal Crawford
- the last Wolverine to be a lottery
selection or first round pick - he is
seen more as a sixth man or instant
offense for the team.
The team also has Willie Green,
who only started games last sea-
son when Billups was hurt in the
beginning of the season.
All of other positions for the
Clippers are met at the starting
level, so shooting guard seems to
be a priority.
Indiana Pacers: With the 23rd
pick in the draft, the Pacers have
the ability to go in a couple dif-
ferent directions. Playing to their
advantage, they could look to add
another big man to complement
Roy Hibbert and Ian Mahinmi.
Though starting power forward
David West is a free agent, early
indications have pointed to him
re-signing. If he is locked up and it
appears he will be, the Pacers will
need to look into reintroducing
small forward Danny Granger into
the lineup. With Paul George hold-
ing his former starting job down,
Granger could see minutes at the
four as the Pacers could go small,
so long as one of their bigs in Hib-
bert or Mahinmi is on the floor.
Where the Pacers can improve
is shooting guard. The team will
have back the blossoming Lance
Stephenson, who brought his game
to a new level in the playoffs on
both ends of the court. It appears
likely that he will retain the start-
ing position, but insurance behind
him will be needed. With just Ger-
ald Green behind him, another
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option at the two seems like a need.
Enter Hardaway Jr.
San Antonio Spurs: During
the NBA Finals, a once unknown
shooting guard Danny Green set
the world on fire, hitting an NBA
Finals record 27 3-pointers.
Originally drafted by the Cava-
liers, Green was released and then
signed by the Spurs before getting
cut again. Green would eventu-
ally be re-signed by the Spurs and
extended before the start of last
season.
Green found his role with the
Spurs and shined when it mattered
the most. While it may not be bad
for Hardaway Jr. to be drafted by
a team he can have a more promi-
nent role on, the best spot for him
is a team where he can be the third
to fourth scoring option.
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