Traverse City commissioners will tackle a packed agenda at their 7pm meeting tonight, including public hearings for two high-profile projects and a proposal to cover TART Trails snow plowing.

Federated and Safe Harbor Public Hearings
A five-story, mixed-use development at 124 West Front Street and a proposed emergency homeless shelter for 517 Wellington Street could both receive special land use permits tonight if commissioners green-light the projects.

Planning commissioners have already approved by a 8-1 margin Federated Properties' request to construct a 68' tall, 174,173 square-foot development on West Front Street near J&S Hamburg that will feature commercial space (including a potential ground-floor restaurant), 47 residential units and 70 basement parking spaces.

Safe Harbor of Grand Traverse's proposal to operate an emergency homeless shelter in a city-owned warehouse on Wellington Street was also approved by planning commissioners in a 5-3 vote last month. Tonight's city commission public hearings are the last step in the approval process for both projects.

If approved, Safe Harbor will still need to navigate lease negotiations with the city before occupying the building, include determining which party is responsible for paying for recently discovered mold and roof leakage issues. Commissioner Jim Carruthers has also requested the commission considering authorizing a letter stating the city is working with Safe Harbor on its occupancy of the building for the organization to use in its fundraising efforts.

TART Trails Plowing
TART Trails will present a proposal tonight for the city to help pay for an annual $42,800 contract to keep 12 miles of trails clear during the winter months. The organization has coordinated volunteer plowing of the trails since 2011 after the city reduced its clearings to less than one per week, maintaining the trails in 2011 with donated equipment and then city-provided equipment in 2012 and 2013.

But TART Executive Director Julie Clark says the arrangement was meant to be a “temporary solution rather than a duplication of services,” and that the uncertainty of equipment and volunteer availability has necessitated finding a “longer term” fix for keeping trails clear. TART is proposing the city, East Bay Township and Acme Township help fund a contract with an outside service provider, which TART has agreed to commit at least $6,000 toward.

Commissioners Gary Howe and Tim Werner have already expressed support for the project, writing in a memo to fellow commissioners that “it is time we enter a more durable model that recognizes city ownership and the associated responsibilities of its multi-use trail network.” Should a complete regional approach not be feasible this year – Acme Township denied its portion of the funding request last week, and East Bay Township will discuss the project tonight – Howe and Werner say they “still support city prioritization of funding and resources to provide reliable snow removal along the roughly eight miles of the city-owned trail network.” The city's estimated cost for the contract is $29,520.

Hickory Hills Vendor
The city-owned Hickory Hills Ski Area could get its first new concession operator in 16 years if commissioners approve a change in providers tonight. Following a bid review process, City Manager Jered Ottenwess is recommending commissioners contract with Sweetwater Sea – run by The River owner Mike Sutherland – for 2014-15. Though both Sweetwater Sea and the Pizza Wagon, which has offered concessions at the park for almost two decades, agreed to pay the city either $1500 or 10 percent of gross revenues, Ottenwess recommended Sweetwater because of the “variety in the proposed menu and the use of many local food products.” Sutherland has also told city staff he'd be willing to offer mountain bike and disc golf rentals in warmer months.