Recently the Ann Arbor City Council voted to limit downtown building heights, limiting central downtown buildings to 180 feet (15 or 16 stories). This is the first constraint on building height evoked since the 1963 floor area ratio (FAR) concept. This is simply the amount of constructed space relative to lot size The vote will be reviewed in June and the decision comes on the heels of an approval stamp for the new Ann Arbor zoning plan, A2D2 (Ann Arbor Discovering Downtown). All this stems from the idea of promoting greater density in the downtown area while maintaining a sense of character in the community.
Council members made about six major changes to the zoning plan. Those looking for taller buildings with graduated towers did not get their wish – with height caps the buildings will not be able to graduate to shapely smaller tops. The idea was to let more sunlight onto the streets than a blocky facade would allow.
The council also eliminated a proposed zoning rule restricting the type of business allowed at street level. Offices or banks were to be excluded on primary streets to create livelier pedestrian interaction. This did not pass.
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