Traverse City commissioners will tackle a packed agenda tonight (Monday) that includes several road projects – including approving plans to redesign a section of Division Street this year and install the first city roundabout at Parsons and Airport Access roads – as well two affordable housing projects and possible changes to the city’s vacation rental rules. Commissioners will also consider several recreation-related items, including supporting putting a Recreational Authority millage on the ballot this fall and applying for grant funding for upgrades to Boon Street Park and Union Street Dam Park.

Road Projects
Commissioners will vote tonight to approve an agreement for the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) to complete a $1.1 million redesign of Division Street between Tenth and Griffin streets later this year. Work will include adding a northbound left turn lane at Eleventh Street leading into The Village at Grand Traverse Commons (pictured), a pedestrian refuge island at Eleventh Street, a landscaped median with pedestrian islands from Eleventh Street to Griffin Street, and new sidewalk on the east side of Division between Eleventh and Fourteenth streets. The city’s responsibility for the project will include installing an irrigation system to maintain the landscaped median and possibly adding lighting enhancements, as well as owning and maintaining the new sidewalk. Work will reduce traffic flow to one lane in either direction at times on Division when the project starts, with an official start date not yet announced.

Commissioners will also be asked tonight to approve the preliminary design for a new roundabout to be installed at the intersection of Parsons and Airport Access roads – replacing the existing traffic signal with the first roundabout to be built within city limits. Planning commissioners already approved the project as being consistent with the city’s master plan in March. MDOT will provide $540,000 in grant funding through its Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) for the project, while Traverse City is required to contribute a $60,000 match, plus engineering and surveying costs. According to city staff, the redesign will offer significant improvements for pedestrian and cycling safety and reduce idling traffic at the intersection.

After a recent project to line a sanitary sewer pipe on East Front Street came in $44,549 under budget, city staff are recommending using the cost savings to line a failing storm drain under Madison Street. Staff are asking commissioners tonight to approve a $30,100 contract with Corby Energy Services to install a liner on the 24-inch corroded pipe, which will help prevent constant road repair projects – such as pothole patching – being caused on Madison by the failing drain.

Rentals/Housing
Commissioners could vote tonight to change the city’s rules for short-term vacation rentals in two commercial zones: the C-1 (office service) and C-2 (neighborhood center) districts. The two zones are typically located in neighborhood areas just outside the city core, such as along Woodmere Avenue, parts of Garfield Avenue, south Union Street, Fourteenth Street, north Eighth Street, the far ends of East and West Front Street, and Randolph Street. While planning commissioners hoped to completely eliminate short-term rentals in C-1 and C-2, city commissioners have modified the proposal to say that developers with two or more units on a property can use either one unit or 25 percent of units – whichever is greater, depending on the building size – as vacation rentals as long as the remaining units are long-term rentals. That modified version of the proposal is what commissioners will vote on tonight. The new rules will only apply to new developments in C-1 and C-2 going forward, with existing licensed vacation rentals in those districts grandfathered in.

Commissioners will also take action tonight connected to two affordable housing projects. First, commissioners will consider scheduling an August 3 vote to rezone property at 1028 Carver Street to allow a new multi-family development from Homestretch to be built on the site. Planning commissioners already unanimously supported the rezoning request, which will allow Homestretch to build up to 10 affordable rental units on the property, with rents likely ranging from $675 to $875 per month. City commissioners will also vote tonight to officially transfer ownership of Orchardview Townhomes from the city to the Traverse City Housing Commission, which operates the affordable housing complex. A memo from City Attorney Lauren Trible-Laucht indicates that Orchardview was always intended to be transferred to the Housing Commission, but that transaction never formally occurred – making it difficult for the Housing Commission to apply for ongoing funding for the development.

Recreation
Commissioners will be asked tonight to support putting a millage request from the Joint Recreational Authority on the ballot in November. The Rec Authority is a joint body of the City of Traverse City and Garfield Township formed in 2004 when voters agreed to voted to acquire and maintain the Barns Park, Hickory Meadows, and a small parcel near the Open Space for $6.5 million. The millage that funds the maintenance of those properties expires in 2024, and the Rec Authority wants to go to voters this year to seek its renewal. The millage can only be on the ballot this year, 2022, or 2024; Rec Authority board members say securing an early approval would allow the board to apply for grants that might otherwise be rejected if the Authority’s future is uncertain past 2024. The Rec Authority has also said it has a chance to acquire an additional natural area next to Hickory Hills this year, and that a millage renewal would allow the Authority to move forward with the acquisition.

Commissioners tonight will vote to approve a $16,480 contract with Gosling Czubak to update the city’s five-year recreation plan – a requirement for the city to be eligible for state park grants – and also vote to approve applying for Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund grants for two city parks. Those include a $50,000 grant application for park playground equipment and upgrades at Boon Street Park, with a $50,000 match to be provided by the city through the Brown Bridge Trust Parks Improvement Fund. The city also plans to apply for a $300,000 grant for Union Street Dam Park improvements as part of the FishPass project, including a kayak ramp, gangway, launch, and portage rail, a boardwalk, fishing access infrastructure, and site amenities. Another $340,000 in outside matching dollars are expected to be provided for the project through FishPass funding sources if the grant application is successful.