Ann Arbor City Council has unanimously approved a task force report with recommendations on what to do with the city's North Main Huron River Corridor. WEMU's Andrew Cluley has more.
The Council has approved the North Main Huron River Corridor task-force report, and asked City Administrator Steve Powers to work on implementing proposals as feasible.
Council had asked the task force to come up with plans for city owned property at 721 North Main, possible uses of property along the river owned by DTE Energy and ways to improve connections for pedestrians and bicyclists.
Kerrytown resident David Santacroce served as chair of the task force. Santacroce adds that he thinks there is a better chance these recommendations will be acted on than similar reports from the late 80's and early 90's. He believes the city should start working on plans to improve non-motorized transit options now in connection with the Michigan Department of Transportation which plans to do road work on North Main in several years.
He says another recommendation would have the planning commission study changing properties between Main Street and the river to riverside zoning from manufacturing in an effort to promote more active use of these properties.
The report also calls on a variety of non-motorized transit improvements that Santacroce says will need to be done in cooperation with the Michigan Department of Transportation. Similar studies were conducted on this corridor in 1988 and 1993 with little follow up, but Santacroce is hopeful the greater pedestrian use of the area will lead to more action on this report.
