The City of Ann Arbor’s Citizen Participation Ordinance (CPO) was
designed to ensure that developers seeking approval of certain types of
construction or rezoning projects inform neighboring residents and other
interested citizens of their proposed plans. The CPO was adopted by
City Council to give citizens an early opportunity to learn about,
understand and comment on development proposals. The requirements are
meant to provide opportunities for citizens to be involved in the
development of their neighborhood and community.
For
more information about the Citizen Participation Ordinance
requirements, please contact Planning Services at (734) 794-6265 or planning@a2gov.org. Code of the City of Ann Title V Chapter 55 Section 5:110
ARTICLE XII. CITIZEN PARTICIPATION
5:110. Citizen Participation for Petitions that Require Public Hearings
(1) Intent. The intent of this section is: 1) to ensure that petitioners seeking approval of planned projects, planned unit development zoning district, and amendments to the zoning map and other petitions that require public hearings pursue early and effective citizen participation in conjunction with their proposed developments, giving citizens an early opportunity to learn about, understand and comment upon proposals, and providing an opportunity for citizens to be involved in the development of their neighborhood and community; 2) to provide clear expectations and formal guidance for petitioners to gather citizen comments regarding their proposals so that they may respond and attempt to mitigate any real or perceived impacts their proposed development may have on the community; and 3) to facilitate ongoing communications between petitioners and interested or potentially affected citizens throughout the application review process. (2) Citizen Participation Requirements for Planned Projects, Planned Unit Development Zoning Districts, Amendments to the Zoning Map, and Major Projects. For purposes of this section, a major project is a proposed project that may require additional citizen participation depending on the scope, nature or any unique or unusual characteristics as determined by the Planning and Development Services Unit Manager. Before the Planning and Development Services Unit may accept a petition for a new or amended planned project, a new or amended planned unit development zoning district, or amendments to the zoning map, the following requirements shall be completed by the petitioner:
(a) Preliminary Meeting with the Planning and Development Services
Unit. The petitioner shall meet with the Planning and Development
Services Unit to review the requirements set forth in this Section.
(b) Required Notice. The petitioner shall mail written information about
citizen participation to all property owners, addresses and
registered neighborhood groups within 1,000 feet of the proposed
petition site, as well as the Planning and Development Services
Unit, at least 10 business days prior to the date of the Citizen
Participation Meeting. Addresses shall be provided by the Planning
and Development Services Unit. An electronic copy of the
information must also be provided to the Planning and
Development Services Unit at least 10 business days prior to the
date of the Citizen Participation Meeting to be forwarded to other
interested citizens registered with the Planning and Development
Services Unit. At a minimum, the written information shall include
all of the following in a format provided by the Planning and
Development Services Unit:
1. A statement explaining the citizen participation requirements,
including explanation of why and to whom such information
is being sent, the opportunities for participation, and how the
information gathered through the citizen participation
process will be used by the petitioner.
2. A statement that a petition is being prepared for submittal
along with a written description of the proposal and a
conceptual sketch of the development and site plan.
3. The petitioner’s schedule for citizen participation meetings,
the anticipated petition submittal date and the anticipated
City review and approval schedule.
4. The date, time, and location of the meetings.
5. How those sent notices will be provided an opportunity to
discuss the application with the petitioner and express any
concerns, issues, or problems they may have with the
(c) Citizen Participation Meeting. The petitioner shall hold at least one
citizen participation meeting at least 10 business days prior to the
established petition submittal deadline. The meeting shall be
organized and held in accordance with the Citizen Participation
Meeting Guidelines provided by the Planning and Development
(d) Final Citizen Participation Report. The petitioner shall provide a
written report in a format provided by the Planning and
Development Services Unit on the results of its citizen participation
activities along with the required petition. At a minimum, the report
shall include all of the following information in a format provided by
the Planning and Development Services Unit:
1. Detailed description of the petitioner’s efforts used to involve
citizens, including: dates and locations of all meetings; and
copies of all written materials prepared and provided to the
public, including letters, meeting notices, emails, newsletters
2. A written statement of the number of citizens sent notices by
mail, email or other, the number of citizens attending
meetings, and copies of attendance or sign-in sheets of
3. A written summary of comments, concerns, issues, and
problems expressed by citizen participants; a statement of
how the petitioner has addressed or intends to address
these concerns, issues or problems, or why a concern, issue
or problem cannot or will not be addressed.
(3) Citizen Participation Requirements for Other Projects. For any other type of petition that requires a public hearing under this chapter, but is not specified in Section 5:110(2), the following requirements shall be completed by the petitioner:
(a) Required Notice. The petitioner shall mail written information about
citizen participation to all property owners, addresses and
registered neighborhood groups within 500 feet of the proposed
petition site, as well as the Planning and Development Services
Unit, within 5 business days of acceptance of the petition by the
Planning and Development Services Unit. Addresses shall be
provided by the Planning and Development Services Unit. An
electronic copy of the information must also be provided to the
Planning and Development Services Unit within 5 business days of
acceptance of the petition to be forwarded to other interested
citizens registered with the Planning and Development Services
Unit. At a minimum, the written information shall include all of the
following in a format provided by the Planning and Development
1. A notice that a petition has been submitted with a written
description of the proposal and a conceptual sketch of the
development and site plan.
2. How those sent notices will be provided an opportunity to
discuss the application with the petitioner and express any
concerns, issues, or problems they may have with the
(b) Citizen Participation Report. The petitioner shall provide the
Planning and Development Services Unit with written
documentation of any meetings or discussions that are held with
citizens at least 10 business days prior to the planning commission
public hearing on the petition.
The files attached below are the full ordinance as passed by Council on September 8, 2008 and the Citizens Participation Ordinance Guide. |
 Updating...
Ċ Ann Arbor Neighborhoods, Jan 10, 2013, 2:42 PM
Ċ Ann Arbor Neighborhoods, Jan 10, 2013, 2:42 PM
|