Design Review Board
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.
The Board engages in a dialog 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.
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
Gary Cooper, Landscape Architect
Lori Singleton, Landscape Architect
William Kinley, Developer
Richard Mitchell, Architect, Chair
Geoffrey Perkins, Contractor, Vice Chair
Corry Buckwalter, Planner
John Kotarski, Public Art Commission Representative
Application Materials
Please email your complete application and design plans to [email protected]
Meetings and Deadlines
The Design Review Board meets at 3:00 pm second Wednesday of each month in the Council Chambers, as needed. Meetings are advertised 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.
Applications for a meeting are due by noon on the second Wednesday of the prior month. For example, applications for the June meeting are due by noon on the second Wednesday of May. Please email your complete application and design plans to [email protected]
2021 DRB Meeting Dates
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, all meetings will
be held via Zoom at 3:00 PM,
unless otherwise noted. Notices of electronic meetings will be posted no later than 18 hours before the meeting start.
- January 13, 2021, 3:00 PM
- February 10, 2021, 3:00 PM
- March 10, 2021, 3:00 PM
- April 14, 2021, 3:00 PM
- May 12, 2021, 3:00 PM
- June 9, 2021, 3:00 PM
- July 14, 2021, 3:00 PM
- August 12, 2021, 3:00 PM
- September 8, 2021, 3:00 PM
- October 13, 2021, 3:00 PM
- November 10, 2021, 3:00 PM
- December 8, 2021, 3:00 PM
The Design Review Board meeting schedule, agendas, and packets are available at the City of Ann Arbor's Legislative Information Center.
eComment Instructions for Electronically Held Meetings (PDF)Access the City's Meeting, Agenda, and Minutes Calendar. Scroll down the page to the Design Review Board meeting and click on the Agenda or Meeting Details links for the packet materials.
Click to access the City's Meeting, Agenda, and Minutes Calendar. Scroll down the page to the Design Review Board meeting and click on the Agenda or Meeting Details links for the packet materials.
