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New High School Concerns & Input

Listed below are all the questions and concerns that we have received to date. Ann Arbor Public Schools is in the process of meeting with traffic engineers and site planners to address the concerns. A written response will be mailed as soon as possible to all citizens who our on the mailing list, and answers will be posted on this web site as soon as possible. If you are not sure if you are a member of the mailing list, or would like to be added, please contact Jackie Ziemba at 997-1879 or email her at ziemba@aaps.k12.mi.us.

General | Traffic | Light | Noise | Environmental

General

  1. What are the attendance boundaries for the new high school?
  2. How large/high will the stadium be?
  3. Where is the athletic field planned to be located on the property?
  4. Why isn't the school being built in the SE side of town where the population growth has continued to expand?
  5. Is there a need for a third high school based on projections?
  6. Why has the use of large open area of land at other existing high schools not been considered for the expansion?
  7. There was no democratic process used to decide on this site. Why not have the 9th grade school at the Pioneer site?
  8. How many acres are needed for a school?
  9. 10 year projections on enrollment were wrong 15 years ago.
  10. It would be a vital piece of information to let people know that less than 65% of the total site will be used for building purposes.
  11. Is there any plan to change the zoning in the area to accommodate businesses?

Traffic

Vehicle Traffic

  1. Off ramps are dangerous.
  2. Critical to have an analysis done before the school is built.
  3. PM traffic is just as important as AM traffic.
  4. Problem with Walnut Ridge – the ramps are already inadequate.
  5. Man killed changing tire – too many accidents.
  6. Traffic signals at on and off ramps as the ramps are very dangerous.
  7. Maple being a two-lane road is inadequate.  Will it be widened? What about under the bridge?                           
  8. The current speed on the Maple is 45 mph.  Will the speed limit be lowered to accommodate a school zone?
  9. Ensure safety for students and community.
  10. Is there anything in the traffic study that would potentially make the project unfeasible? Does the school board maintain that all problems with M14 are resolvable?
  11. What access will be from the southeast quadrant of site?
  12. M14 is and unsafe road and it is also unsafe at M14 and Maple.
  13. Traffic will be choked both ways on Maple.
  14. Go with m14 exit ramp direct access.
  15. Why only one egress?
  16. Can the site be accessed off of Newport?
  17. Create a traffic pattern so not to eliminate everyone on Maple at the same time.
  18. Construction/repavement is to begin on Maple.  Why, if Maple is to be widened?
  19. Has consideration been given to improving the interchange at M-14 and North Main Street? Add exits from eastbound M14 onto Southbound North Main street.
  20. Please be aware of all possible cut-throughs in the nearby neighborhoods.  See what can be done to reduce the incentive for people to cut thru to get to the high school.
  21. Would Maple Road become a school zone? Thus decreasing the speed limit to 25 mph?
  22. If U turns continue by the telecommunications tower, this would cause a safety issue?

Pedestrian Traffic

  1. Pedestrians and bikers are in danger if no traffic signals are placed at the intersections of the on and off ramps.
  2. What are the plans for walking/biking students?
  3. Add pedestrian overpass over M14.

Light

  1. Put sports facility away from neighborhoods to minimize light pollution.
  2. Where will the lights be directed?
  3. Can you assure us that the lights will be shielded?
  4. What will be done to limit the  "light" pollution?  Install sodium vapor lights?

Noise

  1. What kind of buffer zone is planned to accommodate the noise from traffic and football games?
  2. Please put band practice close to M14 to minimize noise pollution.
  3. With the increased traffic and the decreased trees, noise will be a disruption.

Environmental

  1. How will the grounds for the new high school be maintained?  There is lack of ground maintenance at other schools.
  2. What are the water table changes? Areas around site are on wells and septic.
  3. Protect the old oak forest.
  4. Too much grading is needed, as the ground is not flat enough.
  5. What will happen to the wetlands and wildlife?
  6. What will happen to the nature study/Environmental program for the school children?
  7. Cannot replace the destruction of the greenbelt and mature woods.
  8. What studies will be done to ensure the construction will not affect the well water quality?
  9. How will the paving of the large area increase the water run-off?
  10. Large water run-off in heavy rains on Wayside Drive—How will this affect it?
  11. Leave the neighborhoods shielded with as many trees, fields other natural resources as possible.
  12. Will frog pond be reserved?
  13. Try to maintain the trees and vegetation along Maple Road and preserve as much as possible.