Traverse City commissioners agreed 4-2 last night to schedule a public hearing for November 17 for a special land use permit application submitted by Safe Harbor of Grand Traverse to operate an emergency homeless shelter at 517 Wellington Street. Prior to the hearing, however, commissioners will hold a special study session next Monday (October 27) to discuss the possibility of hiring a professional mediator to facilitate discussions between Safe Harbor representatives, city commissioners and Boardman Neighborhood residents opposed to the project in an attempt to reach a compromise on the controversial proposal.

Mayor Michael Estes and Commissioner Barbara Budros voted against scheduling Safe Harbor's public hearing, saying the proposal needs to be pulled and studied further before moving forward. "I'm all in favor of taking a break and backing up (a step)," said Budros. "I think the zoning ordinance amendment (regulating emergency homeless shelters) is flawed...the planning commission (needs) to take another look at this." Estes said the project "has been the most controversial issue I've seen before the commission...exceeding even the Federated (parking deck)." He added: "I would hope mediation would help calm this. I really think a time-out is necessary to get people in agreement and to stop fighting with each other."

Commissioners will consider whether to pursue professional mediation on Safe Harbor's proposal next Monday at 7pm at the Governmental Center.