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Site Planning for the new Ann Arbor High School:
Sierra Club calls for sensitivity to environmental features
In June of this year, voters in the Ann Arbor school district approved a millage that allows, among other
things, the construction of a new high school.
The Huron Valley Group of the Sierra Club did not take a
position either in support of or in opposition to this millage. However, we are concerned about the
environmental impact of the planned high school at the proposed site on Maple Road.
The site includes
environmentally sensitive areas, including a pond, wetlands, and woodlands. Site plan decisions
will determine the extent to which these features are preserved.
Moreover, the Board of Education is operating under a tight time frame in order to meet its objective of opening the new school
in 2007, and there is concern that this may lead to shortchanging the opportunity for public input into
the decision making process.
To express these concerns, we have sent letters and emails to the the Superintendent of Schools and to
the seven members of the Board of Education, and we have met with school and city representatives.
Letter - September 9, 2004
Email - October 6, 2004
Email - April 25, 2005
Sierra Club Huron Valley Group, Mackinac Chapter
2300 Brockman Blvd.
Ann Arbor, MI 48104
September 9, 2004
Dr. George Fornero, Superintendent of Schools
2555 S. State St.
Ann Arbor MI 48104
Dear Dr. Fornero:
I am writing on behalf of 3800 Sierra Club members in the Ann Arbor area to express our concern about the
process by which decisions will be made with respect to the site plan for the new high school.
As you are well aware, the intended location of the new high school has important environmental
features that could easily be endangered or destroyed if proper attention and priority are not
given to their preservation. As you also are well aware, the preservation of our environmental
resources is a high priority, not just to members of the Sierra Club and other conservation-oriented
groups, but to a large majority of the citizens in this area. Moreover, we place high priority on
instilling respect for the environment in our children, and believe that it is important for our
schools to reinforce that respect not only through classes and activities, but also by setting a
stellar example of environmental sensitivity in practice.
For this reason, we urge four things: First, that the public be fully involved in the process of
making decisions about the site plan for the new high school. Second, that comprehensive information
about the site and its sensitive environmental features be made freely available to the public. These
sensitive environmental features include the pond, the wetland areas, and woodlands, especially the
oak/hickory woodlot. Third, that the fullest possible protection be provided to these sensitive
environmental features. And finally, that there be a full disclosure of the basis for all site plan
decisions that have relevance to the preservation of these sensitive environmental features.
The Sierra Club is committed to monitoring the development of the site plan with respect to the four
items outlined above. We look forward to the development of a high school site of which we can all be
proud.
Yours truly,
Bill Rodgers
Co-Chair, Conservation Team
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Followup email, October 6, 2004
Subject: Preservation of sensitive environmental features of proposed
site for the new high school
Dear Superintendent Fornero and Trustees of the Board of Education:
This e-mail is a follow-up to a letter that I wrote on behalf of the
3800
Sierra Club members in the Ann Arbor area and that I mailed to each
of you
on September 9; and to comments that I made during the public
commentary
period at the Board meeting on September 22. In the letter and in my
remarks, I urged that, if you decide to build the new high school at
the
proposed site on Maple Road, steps be taken to preserve sensitive
environmental features of that site. I have not gotten any direct
response to my letters or comments, but I was disappointed to observe
that
the revised site plan, as presented to the Board on September 22,
actually
went in the opposite direction by reducing the amount of the
oak/hickory
woodlot that would be preserved.
We have, however, heard reassurances from some of you that you place
high
priority on preserving as much as possible of the sensitive
environmental
features of the site. If you are indeed serious about this, then I
urge
that you consider taking a tangible step to preserve these features
in
perpetuity. Otherwise, I fear that, whatever your intentions, a
future
board will violate your stated intentions by allowing development to
encroach further onto the woodlots or wetlands.
Specifically, the Sierra Club urges that you take one of the
following
steps with respect to the oak/hickory woodlot in the north central
part of
the site; the sugar maple woodlot in the southeast corner of the lot;
the
wetlands in the southwest and south central parts of the site; and
the
relocated frog pond: either 1) transfer ownership of these portions
of
the site to the Ann Arbor Park system with the stipulation that they
be
permanently preserved; or 2) place a conservation easement on these
portions of the site.
Both of these options would assure the public that the Ann Arbor
public
schools are committed to preserving at least a portion of the site
from
development. They would also assure the preservation of natural
areas
that would be valuable as study sites for biology and ecology classes
as
well as a favorite place for students and teachers to find an oasis
of
tranquility.
Speaking unofficially as a member of the Ann Arbor Park Advisory
Commission, I would welcome the opportunity for a discussion of these
options that would include Superintendent Fornero, members of the
school
board, and members of PAC. For this reason, I am cc'ing members of
PAC on
this message.
Sincerely,
Bill Rodgers
Co-Chair, Conservation Team, Huron Valley Group of the Sierra Club
2300 Brockman Blvd.
Ann Arbor, MI 48104
734-769-0163
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Followup email, April 25, 2005
Subject: Sierra Club's concerns about the new high school site
Dear Superintendent Fornero and Trustees of the Board of Education:
I am writing you on behalf of the 3800 Sierra Club members in the Ann
Arbor
area to express our concern about how you are handling the possible
loss of
high quality natural features at the site for the new high school.
I wrote to you last fall to urge that you take action that would insure
the
permanent preservation of woodlots, wetlands, and a pond at the site.
In
January of this year I met with a group that included Randy Trent, Bill
Browning, and Karla Henderson. At that meeting I was given assurances
that
the School District is committed to following sound environmental
principles
at this site as it is at all school sites. However, I was told that
the
steps I had urged (conservation easements or giving the environmentally
sensitive areas to the Ann Arbor park system) would not be considered.
This is disappointing. I hope you will reconsider your decision so
that the
environmental values you have espoused are put into practical action.
The recent discovery of an endangered species on the new high school
site
adds to our concerns about your development plans. It is my
understanding
that during an amphibian rescue operation conducted by David Mifsud, a
herpetologist with the Natural Area Preservation group employed by the
City
of Ann Arbor, and volunteer citizens, among the animals collected were
the
Ambystoma texanum (Smallmouth salamander), a species that is on the
Endangered Species list for the State of Michigan. This species was
found
in the area of the "frog pond" - a seasonal pond that is considered by
herpetologists to be a high quality breeding site for amphibians.
Unfortunately, a large proportion of such ponds that formerly existed
in
Michigan have been lost to developments and other disturbances. Your
present plan calls for destruction of the frog pond and the
construction of
another pond at a different location. However, the weak track record
for
such efforts indicates that success is very much in doubt. For
example, my
understanding is that only part of the life cycle of amphibians is
spent in
water - the rest of the year the Ambystoma texanum lives underground,
perhaps at some distance from the pond. Would enough of the habitat
surrounding the frog pond be successfully replicated at the site of the
new
pond? Would the animals be able to find their way to the new pond?
In any event, this project will require utmost care, a considerable
amount
of time before the new pond has a realistic chance to become a suitable
habitat, and many years of monitoring.
The identification of an endangered species is of deep concern to the
Sierra
Club, not just because this particular species might be lost at this
site,
but also because this discovery is an indicator that the pond and its
surrounding area are likely to be rich wildlife habitats containing
many
valuable species. The Sierra Club would like to see an assessment by
an
independent expert - one not selected by AAPS - who would be
commissioned to
examine the overall site, and the area around the frog pond in
particular,
to determine if other endangered species have been missed in your
previous
effort to assess the site.
Replacing a high quality aquatic habitat such as the frog pond with an
artificial pond in a new location typically results in a lower quality
habitat, and in the loss of biological diversity. Most such artificial
wetlands and ponds fail, regardless of the goodwill or intent or
investment.
It is a far better practice to preserve significant and fragile natural
features like the frog pond than to try to re-create them.
The Sierra Club requests that you do three things so that you are
acting
responsibly regarding the natural features of the high school site:
* First, we request that you reverse your decision not to protect the
most environmentally sensitive portions of the site by placing
conservation
easements on them, or through donating them to the Ann Arbor parks
system.
* Second, we request that you publicly release the complete details of
your plan to mitigate the loss of wildlife habitat and wetlands so that
it
can be independently determined whether this plan meets science-based
standards.
* Third, we request that you commission an independent assessment of
the biological and ecological significance of the site as a whole, with
special focus on the frog pond area. If our concerns are confirmed,
the
Sierra Club believes you should reconfigure your site plan so that the
pond
and the other environmentally sensitive areas are adequately
safeguarded.
The Sierra Club believes that you owe these three actions to the
citizens of
Ann Arbor, to the plant and animal species found in the area, and most
of
all to the students who will, one way or the other, be taught an
important
lesson about their environment, and the value placed on that
environment by
their schools.
Sincerely,
Bill Rodgers
Co-Chair, Conservation Team,
Huron Valley Group of the Sierra Club
2300 Brockman Blvd.
Ann Arbor, MI 48104
734-769-0163
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