The City of Ann Arbor Design Review Board was established on June 6, 2011 to foster excellence in the design of downtown Ann Arbor's built environment. It advises developers on how a project can meet the spirit and intent of the Ann Arbor Downtown Design Guidelines (pdf). The Board engages in a dialoge with potential applicants for any development that is: 

• in the D1 or D2 zoning district, or located within the DDA boundary zoned or proposed to be zoned PUD,
• and is not in a historic district,
• and proposes an increase in floor area,
• and is a site plan (for City Council approval, for Planning Commission approval, PUD, planned project or administrative amendment to an approved site plan that includes significant building facade changes). 

Any project meeting these criteria is required to meet with the Design Review Board as part of the normal site plan review process. Compliance with the Board's commentary is voluntary. Click here for the Design Review Board Calendar and Application (pdf).The Design Review Board consists of 7 members, including two landscape architects, two architects, one planner, one developer and one contractor. Each member is appointed by the Mayor and approved by City Council and serves a three-year term. 

Tamara Burns (architect), Chair

Paul Fontaine (planner)

Chester B. Hill (landscape architect)

Mary Jukuri (landscape architect)

William Kinley (developer)

Richard Mitchell (architect)

Geoffrey M. Perkins (contractor)

The Design Review Board meets on the third Wednesday of each month as needed. Meetings are advertised through the GovDelivery notification service, in the lobby of City Hall, and by mailings to residents and property owners within 500 feet of the proposed development site. Meetings are open to the general public, however, there is no public hearing or commentary period.

Design Review Board Reports