Traverse City planning commissioners will discuss the possibility of amending city ordinance tonight (Tuesday) to encourage the use of green or vegetated roofs in local developments.

Nate Griswold of Inhabitect - which has installed numerous such roofs in the area - will give a presentation on the benefits of their use. In a memo to commissioners this week, City Planning Director Russ Soyring notes that "a number of communities in the US recognize the public benefit of vegetated roofs and have taken steps to incentivize them by providing bonuses or allowances."

Soyring says the city could consider bestowing credits to reduce stormwater utility fees for developers that use green roofs, or provide height bonuses or impervious surface limit credits that would make buildings more profitable for owners. If commissioners are interested in pursuing such credits, Soyring says city staff will develop draft language for review that would amend the city ordinance.

Planning commissioners will also hear a presentation tonight from developer Mike Wills and architect Bob Cornwell on increasing building height restrictions in some commercial areas. Soyring notes that the zoning code requires commercial or mixed-used buildings to have a first floor that's a minimum of 15 feet, but limits overall building height to 45 feet - making it difficult to achieve a four-story building. Increasing the total maximum building height by a few feet "will allow for four-story buildings that can exhibit higher quality and more flexible interior spaces," according to Soyring.