DTE & TCLP UTILITY RELOCATION PROJECT

ANTICIPATED TO BEGIN JANUARY 2025

M-72 will be closed just west of the M-22 intersection in Elmwood Township for approximately four weeks beginning in January 2025 as utility companies DTE and Traverse City Light & Power have their underground utilities relocated beneath the roadway. In addition, Bay Street will be closed between M-72 and Ramsdell. During the closure, M-72 traffic will be detoured on county roads and City streets.

The work is being done in preparation for MDOT’ project to rebuild M-72 and M-22 from west of Division Street to Cherry Bend Road, which includes a new roundabout at the M-72/M-22 intersection, currently scheduled to begin in mid-April 2025.

Traffic Restrictions

• During this work, M-72 will be closed from the M-72/M-22 intersection in Elmwood Township to just east of Incochee Woods Drive. M-72 will be closed to through-traffic from Gray Road to Incochee Woods Drive.
• M-22 will remain open between US-31/M-37 (Division Street) and Cherry Bend Road.
• Bay Street will be closed from M-72 to US-31/M-37 (Division Street), and also at the intersections with Ramsdell Road, Monroe Street, Elmwood Avenue, Spruce Street, Cedar Street, and Wayne Street. Ramsdell Road, Monroe Street, and Madison Street will be closed to through-traffic.
• East Carter Road will be closed to through-traffic from M-72 to M-22.
• Barney Road will be closed to through-traffic from Gray Road to Cedar Run Road, and Harris Road will be closed to through-traffic from Cedar Run Road to Barney Road.
• East Lincoln Road will be closed to through-traffic from Bugai Road to Cherry Bend Road.

The utility companies and contractor are developing plans for pedestrian and bicycle detours during the work for any needed closures.

DTE and MDOT will provide updates on their respective projects at the January 6, 2025, City Commission meeting. Project updates and start date for the utility relocation project will be published on the City's website when available.

CDBG FUNDS TO SUPPORT HOUSING ORGANIZATIONS

CONSIDERATION TO ALLOCATE FUNDS

The City continues its efforts in addressing housing and community development needs through the federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program. As a recently designated CDBG entitlement community, the City gained access to annual funding aimed at improving housing, community infrastructure, and services for low-to-moderate income individuals.



To guide the use of these funds, the City adopted a Five-Year Consolidated Plan, a strategic document required by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). This plan outlines priorities and goals for addressing housing and community development needs from Program Year (PY) 2024/2025 through PY2028/2029. For the first year, the City anticipates receiving $365,323 in CDBG funding.

The Consolidated Plan identifies critical community priorities, including:

1. Housing Needs: Enhancing rental assistance programs, accessible and affordable housing, and aging-in-place initiatives.
2. Unhoused Populations: Supporting homeless shelters, providing prevention services, and upgrading shelter facilities.
3. Program Administration: Ensuring effective management and compliance with HUD requirements.

Funding Allocations for 2024/2025

A Request for Proposals (RFP) was issued on November 21, 2024, inviting eligible nonprofit organizations within City limits to apply for funding. At their January 6, 2024 meeting, the City Commission will consider authorizing contracts for the following recommended allocations:

• Goodwill Northern Michigan: $69,725 for HVAC and bike racks at East Bay Flats.
• Northwest Michigan Supportive Housing: $65,787 for boiler, water heater, and roof replacements at the Three Mile Road four-plex.
• Central United Methodist Church Outreach Program: $10,000 for technology needs (16-bay phone charging lockers and a refrigerator), plus $50,000 for staffing costs, including the director, kitchen, janitorial, and security personnel.
• Safe Harbor of Grand Traverse, Inc.: $99,941 for parking lot paving, dining furniture, and a generator.

Next Steps

If approved, the sub-recipients will submit requests for drawdown payments based on the terms of their agreements, which must align with all HUD requirements. These investments align with the City’s goals of addressing housing needs, supporting unhoused populations, and ensuring efficient program management. The City’s commitment to leveraging federal resources ensures that CDBG funds are utilized effectively.

CHRISTMAS TREE DROP OFF SITE

The Christmas Tree drop off site is available and open for City residents. Please be sure that trees are free of all decorations, tinsel, etc. so they can be properly mulched and reused in nature. The drop off site closes on January 31st. Trees may be dropped off at the boat launch parking lot in Hull Park.

Fun Fact: Trees are chipped and used for trail surfacing in City parks and the Brown Bridge Quiet area, mulching material, and erosion control.

HICKORY HILLS UPDATE

Hickory Hills Ski Area has yet to open for the season, but the forecast brings good news. With temperatures dropping, they are ideal for snowmaking activities. Warmer temperatures have impacted the Meadows side nordic skiing, leaving most trails with minimal or no snow coverage. With lower temperatures this week, snowmaking efforts will continue on the Hills side.

Stay tuned for updates as the team works to welcome you soon!

PLANNING COMMISSION GOALS

REVIEW FOR 2025 AND BEYOND

The Planning Commission will review priorities for the upcoming year at its January 7, 2025 meeting, building on progress made over the past year to implement the Master Plan, address housing challenges, and refine ordinances to support sustainable growth and community needs.

Planning Commission Goals

Master Plan and Mobility Action Plan

• Completed adoption in 2024.
• Guides decision-making and identifies objectives for 2025.

Expand Housing Opportunities

• Continue implementing strategies from the Master Plan.
• Key priorities: Allow triplexes, quadplexes, and ADUs in R-2 zones.
• Evaluate zoning districts and permitted uses.
• Establish a Development Zone along Fourteenth Street.

Develop Riparian Buffer Ordinance

• Draft ordinance targeted for Planning Commission review by March 2025.
• Refine Short-Term Rental Ordinance
• Establish appropriate caps for vacation rentals in commercial zones.

Targeted Zoning Amendments

• Potential 2025 goals include: Add EV-ready infrastructure requirements.
• Rezone key areas (e.g., S. Union Street, West Front Street).
• Address drive-thru and auto-centric zoning standards.

Heavy Lift Zoning Amendments (2025-26)

• Long-term, resource-intensive goals: Develop building design standards for commercial properties.
• Create overlay districts for legacy redevelopment sites.
• Expand housing options with pre-approved designs for multi-unit homes in R-2 zones.
• Community and Economic Hubs
• Identify locations for hubs to serve neighborhood needs.



Planning staff will propose a month-by-month timeline and strategies to accomplish these goals in 2025 and beyond.

SEASONAL SNOW REMOVAL

PRIORITIZATION & HOW YOU CAN HELP

The City's Streets Division is responsible for plowing public streets and alleys. Safety routes are prioritized—these are the main roads and critical areas that need to stay open for emergency access. The MDOT trunklines and emergency routes receive first priority for clearing snow in the morning and are continually plowed throughout the day if snow continues to accumulate. City crews then move on to major and local streets, and finally alleys.

Keep Your Sidewalk Accessible for Everyone

During winter, the City reminds residents and business owners that they are responsible by ordinance for the removal of any snow and ice that accumulates on the sidewalks immediately adjacent to their property. The City also encourages residents to help neighbors and relatives who have difficulty removing snow from their sidewalks.

City Sidewalk Snow Plowing

The City provides a supplemental snow plowing program for sidewalks. Sidewalks are prioritized near routes to schools and to provide access to City buildings. The City starts with sidewalks along main roadways and safety routes, then moves into residential areas when time and staffing allow.

Downtown Sidewalk Snow Removal

If snow accumulates over 3 inches overnight, the City's contractor clears the sidewalks of snow early in the morning in the Downtown commercial area. This process is conducted only in the early morning hours when sidewalks are clear of pedestrians. Sidewalks are not cleared by the contractor throughout the day. If snow continues to accumulate throughout the day after being cleared in the morning, property owners are responsible for shoveling their storefront sidewalks as needed.

Snow Removal Reminder for Residents, Businesses, and Contractors

When clearing snow with a shovel, plow, or snowblower, please avoid pushing or placing snow into the street or alley. This creates unnecessary snow piles, increases the workload for City crews, and can result in large accumulations being pushed into other areas, potentially causing safety hazards. Instead, snow should be placed on the tree lawn, your personal property, or, for those in the Downtown area, around street trees.

Let’s work together to keep our community walkable, welcoming, and safe for everyone this winter!

Are you interested in serving the City of Traverse City? Serving on a board or commission can be a rewarding experience that allows you to make a difference in our community. Boards and Commissions are responsible for making key decisions and providing direction to the City and City Commission.

Interested in Becoming Involved?

The City is seeking residents to volunteer for the following Boards and Commissions. 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 about the appointment process through the City Commission Policy on Appointments and Committees. The following Boards and Commissions are seeking applicants.

• Board of Tax Review 
• Brown Bridge Advisory Committee
• Election Commission
• GT County Brownfield Redevelopment Authority
• Housing Commission
• Human Rights Commission
• Local Officers Compensation

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, the 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