The Traverse City Planning Commission has delayed reviewing a special land use permit (SLUP) application by Safe Harbor of Grand Traverse to use a city-owned warehouse on Wellington Street as an emergency homeless shelter in order to seek legal input from the city attorney on the proposal.

Planning Commission Chairperson John Serratelli, who approves the commission's agendas, declined to approve an agenda for September 3 that included the Safe Harbor application. Instead, Serratelli submitted a list of questions to City Attorney Lauren Trible-Laucht he believes should be addressed "prior to approval of the SLUP and Management Plan for 517 Wellington." Seratelli's list of questions includes:

* Are there any precedents/implications for consideration of a SLUP of an applicant for a property that is currently occupied by another tenant?
* Are there any precedents/implications for consideration of a SLUP for a property which is not officially conveyed to the applicant at time of consideration?
* If the building in question remains city-owned, but operated by a non-profit, is it still public property?
* What are implications to the city (liability) for difficulties (health emergencies, accidents, harassment, violence, etc.) experienced on the property?
* Should the Management Plan include detail of appropriate liability insurance, as well as detail of training protocols for all volunteers that may be required by the insurance?

In an email to City Manager Jered Ottenwess and Mayor Michael Estes, Serratelli also said he believes "it is counterproductive to proceed with SLUP consideration and public hearings until/unless there is a commitment by the City Commission to address disposal of this property to Safe Harbor rather than another interested party or potential buyer...proceeding with the SLUP without a decision on the disposal of a currently occupied building may set a precedent the city does not want to establish."

With the delay, Safe Harbor's application is now tentatively scheduled for the planning commission's September 16 meeting, which could be established as a special meeting (rather than a typical study session) and include action to schedule a possible public hearing for October 21.

Meanwhile, Ottenwess told city commissioners he anticipates receiving a formal proposal from NorthStar Soccer, Inc. to also use the building at 517 Wellington, in this case for a community sports center. A review of that alternate proposal - along with discussion on the overall process of disposing of the Wellington building - is scheduled for the city commission's September 8 meeting.