Five private properties in Ann Arbor could be in line to receive financing help from the city for energy efficiency upgrades ranging from new LED lights to solar roof shingles.
The Ann Arbor City Council is expected to vote on a resolution Monday night, Feb. 4, to authorize up to $1 million in bonds through the city's Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) program.
The PACE program, which the city launched last year, is designed to help businesses finance the costs of energy efficiency improvements and renewable energy systems.
Through the PACE program, qualifying property owners are able to borrow money for energy efficiency projects ranging from $10,000 to $350,000 and then pay back the loans through special assessments added onto their tax bills for up to 10 years.
The development and implementation of the PACE program was funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy.
Documents provided to the City Council by City Treasurer Matt Horning indicate the following five applications for projects totaling $543,000 are pending for participation in the program:
- Arrowwood Hills Co-Op, 2566 Arrowwood Trail — solar shingles on one apartment building, exterior lighting upgrade to LED, and the following for the clubhouse: new HVAC equipment, insulation, occupancy sensors and lighting upgrade ($133,440)
- Big Boy, 3611 Plymouth Road — HVAC upgrade, lighting upgrade, cooking equipment replacement with energy efficient equipment, controls ($97,969)
- Bivouac, 336 S. State St. — Interior lighting upgrade ($15,988)
- Goodyear Building, 118-124 S. Main St. — HVAC replacement (boilers and air conditioning units), lighting upgrade ($230,000)
- Kerrytown Shops, 403 N. Fifth Ave. — Lighting upgrades in tenant areas and common areas ($65,600)
Ed Shaffran of Ann Arbor-based Shaffran Companies wants to add a fourth and fifth story to the Goodyear Building on the west side of Main Street between Washington and Huron.
The council meets at 7 p.m. on the second floor of city hall, 301 E. Huron St.
In addition to voting on the PACE bonds, the council will consider rezoning property along Ellsworth Road to allow a 24-unit townhouse project to move forward.
The city's Planning Commission already voted 7-0 in January in favor of the site plan for the proposed Summit Townhomes development at 2081 E. Ellsworth Road.
Now that the property has been officially annexed into the city from Pittsfield Township, the next step in the process is the rezoning. The council also needs to approve the site plan.
City Planner Matt Kowalski said the site plan is scheduled to come to council for approval on Feb. 19, but it could be delayed if the project hasn't yet received necessary approvals from the Washtenaw County Water Resources Commissioner's Office by then.
The council's meeting packet also includes a copy of the Downtown Development Authority's audit for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2012, a color-coded map showing tentative road construction projects planned for 2013, and a report on projects funded by the city's street millage in 2012.
Ryan J. Stanton covers government and politics for AnnArbor.com. Reach him at ryanstanton@annarbor.com or 734-623-2529. You also can follow him on Twitter or subscribe to AnnArbor.com's email newsletters.