TRAVERSE CITY MASTER PLAN REWRITE

SHAPING OUR FUTURE

The City, with the participation of the community, will embark on the exciting process of rewriting its Master Plan. The City’s current Master Plan was adopted in 2009, and updated/amended in 2017.

A Master Plan is a community-driven policy document used by elected and appointed community leaders to guide land use decisions, including those related to transportation, development, recreation, economy, natural resources, and arts. Communities are required to update their Master Plan every five years, per the Michigan Planning Enabling Act (MPEA).

The Master Plan lays out “where we should go” informed by a combination of existing data, stakeholder input, community input (that’s you, our community!), and best practices related to how communities of sizes and locations like Traverse City can best position themselves for the type of future that is desired by our community.

The plan is not binding, but guides the Zoning Ordinance, which is local land use law. The plan

sets the vision; the Zoning Ordinance is one of the tools to make it happen.

PROJECT & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT TIMELINE

The Master Plan Leadership Team will host public meetings the first Thursday of each month at 4 pm at the Governmental Center.

Meeting Schedule

As the City develops a community engagement plan for the Master Plan Rewrite, look for pop-ups in various locations throughout the City, surveys, open houses, and more! We encourage you be a part of shaping our future!

SAFE HARBOR EXTENDED HOURS APPROVED

The Traverse City Police Department, Central Methodist Church, Jubilee House, Safe Harbor, the Traverse District Library, Goodwill Industries of Northern Michigan, The Coalition to End Homelessness, and other individuals and entities collaborated to address issues faced by those experiencing homelessness in the community. Emerging gaps in service during the daytime hours were recognized and a program has been developed to provide a year-round safe haven for those experiencing homelessness in our community during certain daytime hours. 

At their August 15, 2022 meeting, the City Commission approved Day Center Operations at Safe Harbor on Saturdays and Sundays from 8 am - 6 pm from October 15th to May 15th for individuals experiencing homelessness. 

INIDAN WOODS PARK IMPROVEMENT TO BEGIN

Improvements to Indian Woods neighborhood park are slated to begin on August 21st. Weather permitting, the project is  anticipated to be complete by mid-October.

The project will include new ADA-accessible playground equipment and an improved picnic area. Additionally, the neighborhood identified needing an improved connection between the upper and lower tiers of the park, which is included as a trail with with steps.  

The City received a Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund (MNRTF) grant for $50,000 with a General Fund Match of $50,000. Additional funds are from the Brown Bridge Trust Park Improvement Fund (BBTPIF) dollars to bring the total project funding to $210,868.

ADULT USE CANNABIS APPLICATIONS TO BE ACCEPTED

Adult Use Cannabis Retail applications were made available in June 2022 and will be accepted beginning August 22, 2022 at 8 am through August 26, 2022 at 5 pm.

The City Commission approved the adult use cannabis licensing and zoning ordinance and the scoring rubric on May 16, 2022. The maximum number of retail licenses allowed within the City will be 24. 

The amount of license applications will determine when licenses will be fully issued and executed. Due to an extensive and robust vetting procedure, if the amount of license applications exceeds the amount of licenses available, the City will be in a position to issue licenses by approximately August 2023. 

Frequently Asked Questions

BECOME A CITIZEN IN ACTION

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. 

• Arts Commission
• Board of Zoning Appeals
• Local Officers Compensation Commission
• Coast Guard City Committee
• Parks and Recreation
• Downtown Development Authority

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 Stream Meetings

IN THE COMMUNITY

Officer Lennox and Reserve Officer Silliman participating in the Traverse's City Bikes & Bras Fun Ride to benefit Reining Liberty Ranch for Veterans and Sophiea Safe Haven Sanctuary and Rescue.