MASTER PLAN REWRITE UPDATE

NEIGHBORHOOD LISTENING SESSIONS & SURVEY OVERVIEW

This past spring, the City conducted 9 listening sessions with every official and unofficial geographic neighborhood in the City, to understand what residents hope to preserve, enhance, or transform in their neighborhood. A summary of the overall responses are below.

In total, 702 people participated. 124 people participated in an in-person listening session, 34 people participated in the virtual listening sessions, and 544 people took the online survey. Participants were asked to provide their ideas regarding what should be preserved, enhanced, and transformed in Traverse City neighborhoods, as defined below:

• Preserve: What elements of your neighborhood do you hope remain the same as they are today, even if/as conditions change around them?
• Enhance: What elements of your neighborhood do you hope are improved in the future?
• Transform: What elements of your neighborhood do you hope are transformed in the future, meaning totally reimagined and/or rebuilt?

What would participants like to preserve in Traverse City neighborhoods overall?

• Trees and tree-lined streets
• Walkability and bikeability
• Historic buildings, homes, and streets
• Quiet and peaceful neighborhoods
• Parks and green spaces
• Limiting short-term rentals like Airbnb
• Neighborhood schools
• Low housing density
• Pedestrian-friendly lighting
• Access to water and beaches

What would participants like to enhance in Traverse City neighborhoods overall?

• Availability of local businesses, such as grocery stores and specialty shops
• Public art installations
• Safe and convenient crossings for pedestrians and cyclists
• More appealing bus stops with shelters and lighting
• Upgraded park amenities, such as playground equipment and pickleball courts
• More trees and plantings in the street lawn
• More ADUs (Accessory Dwelling Units) that are proportionate to the scale of homes
• Better street lighting and maintenance of roads and curbs
• Beautification of deteriorated properties and corridors
• More homeless care and shelter options
• More stop signs to control traffic flow 

What would participants like to transform in Traverse City neighborhoods overall?

• Access to affordable housing, childcare, and school
• More sidewalks and pedestrian crossings
• Traffic calming measures, such as narrowing streets and adding 4-way stops
• Buried utility lines
• Resurfacing and improving roads
• Improved drainage and stormwater management
• Improved neighbor relations with City of Traverse City

SIDEWALK AND STREET CLOSURES

As summer is under way, a number of construction projects are being planned and coordinated throughout the City. Major projects currently include the Cass and Union Street Bridge Rehabilitation Projects, and the Madison and Jefferson Reconstruction Project.

In addition to major infrastructure projects, the City conducts on-going maintenance and provides information on road closures related to private construction.

The City's website features a number of interactive maps, including street and sidewalk closures. The Road Closure Map features the most current full closures, traffic restrictions, and City authorized events within public spaces.

The webpage at the link features the map and the most current Public Service Announcements issued involving short-term and long-term street and/or sidewalk closures.

TART IMPROVEMENT & EXTENSION PROJECT UPDATE

At their June 19, 2023 meeting, the City Commission approved providing a letter of support for TART Trails to submit a grant application seeking $500,000 in funding from the Michigan Economic Development Corporations RAP 2.0 Program for extension of the TART Bayfront Trail east from the Murchie Bridge through the Senior Center. The City Commission also authorized the allocation of $421,449 from the fund balance of the General Fund, contingent upon successfully being awarded the above-mentioned grant.

The Traverse Area Recreation Trail (TART) Improvement and Extension project is located between West End Beach and the intersection of Peninsula and Eastern Avenue. After a variety of input sessions in connection with the TART Improvement & Extension Project, the City received 60% of the designs. Final design are anticipated in August 2023, including final cost estimates.

DTE GAS INFRASTRUCTURE UPGRADES

PROJECT INFORMATION AND LOCATIONS

As you may have experienced, DTE Energy crews and contractors have been working to upgrade gas infrastructure to ensure safe and reliable service in several areas throughout the City. The work will continue throughout the summer. Following is what to expect.

• For customers in the project areas, work will start by upgrading the pipes that run along the easement in front of your property and to your home or business with more efficient, longer-lasting materials
• Next, DTE will move any indoor gas meter outside so they can inspect and service it without having to enter your home or business.
• An approved DTE contractor may ask to come inside your property to inspect your sewer line and confirm its location. This step helps ensure that the work doesn’t interfere with existing underground infrastructure
• Work will be conducted between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., Monday through Saturday.
• Road closures will be minimal. However, temporary sidewalk closures and disruptions in parking may occur

Sidewalks

While the DTE project progresses, sidewalks have been removed throughout the project locations. The City has a requirement with DTE that sidewalks will be replaced. In the meantime, temporary sidewalks with asphalt have been installed in various locations. However, all sidewalks will be required upon completion of the project to be replaced as they were constructed, in concrete.

Are you interested in serving the beautiful City of Traverse City? Our community spirit of involvement is a great source of beautification for our community on all fronts. We hope this information is of assistance as you contemplate the donation of your experiential resources.  

Interested in Becoming Involved?

The City is seeking volunteers for the following Boards and Committees. Please feel free to contact the City Clerk's Office with any questions at (231) 922-4480 or by email at tcclerk@traversecitymi.gov to learn more on the appointment process through the City Commission Policy on Appointments and Committees. 

• Local Officers Compensation Commission
• Human Rights Commission
• Board of Zoning Appeals
• Board of Review
• Coast Guard City
• Planning Commission

Nominating Packets for City Commission Available

Nominating packets for those who wish to run for the Office of Mayor or Office of City Commissioner are available from the City Clerk’s Office, first floor, Governmental Center, 400 Boardman Avenue, Traverse City, Michigan. 

Offices Available

• Mayor, two-year term ending November 10, 2025
• 3 City Commissioners, four-year term ending November 8, 2027

Learn More

Attend Meetings and/or Subscribe to Meeting Packets

Attending meetings or following the work of your fellow community members who sit on various boards and commissions is the best way to stay in the know on the policies and initiatives that are being developed to shape our future. 

Subscribe to Meeting Agendas

Watch Streamed Meetings

City Commission, Planning Commission, Downtown Development Authority, and TC Light & Power meetings are all live streamed. Visit the link below to watch live or view the recordings at a later time.

Watch Streamed Meetings

DEPUTY CLERK OF THE YEAR AWARD

CONGRATS TO THE DEPUTY CITY CLERK

The Deputy City Clerk for the City of Traverse City, Sarah Lutz, has been awarded the 2023 Deputy Clerk of the Year Award from the Michigan Association of Municipal Clerks!

The Deputy Clerk of the Year Award is designed to honor one city, township or village clerk across the State of Michigan who demonstrates the professional and personal qualities representing the best of the profession. The award is presented to clerks that demonstrate a record of contributing to the improvement of their community and the respect of community leaders, whom are active in county, state, and national associations, and have a greater than average performance in their position.

Pictured L to R: Michigan Deputy Secretary of State Aghogho Edevbie, Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, Deputy City Clerk Sarah Lutz, City Clerk Benjamin Marentette, and MAMC President Adam DeWitt.