City of Traverse City

The meeting commenced following an ad hoc session. Key discussions included updates from the City Manager regarding the city's first Strategy in Motion event and the availability of the 2025 performance report. Announcements also covered the Hickory Hills Nordic State High School Championship and upcoming events. Furthermore, the city solicited nominations for the Coast Guard Committee's Guardian Award and the Human Rights Commission's humanitarian awards. A call for creative, low-cost, high-impact ideas for the strategic action plan was also made. The consent calendar involved approvals for meeting minutes, purchase orders for fuel and snow plowing/hauling services in the downtown district (with an amendment for increased snowfall), professional legal services for cable franchise negotiation, and collaboration agreements for film and art projects. Specific items pulled from the consent calendar included the release of interest in abandoned underground elements at Fish Pass and Central United Methodist Church, the introduction of a rightaway ordinance, and the adoption of the resolution deficit elimination plan.

The meeting commenced with a land acknowledgement recognizing the Ottawa and Chipoa peoples. A correction was made to the minutes of the February 3rd, 2026 regular meeting regarding a commissioner's title. The primary business included a public hearing on an application by Empire Sunset Investments to rezone properties at 523, 525, and 551 Mson Avenue from C2A to C2. The applicant presented their vision for a mixed-use development, emphasizing consistency with the master plan and incorporating neighborhood concerns through permanent restrictions on specific uses and limiting operating hours to 10 p.m. Discussions also touched upon building massing related to the proposed C2 zoning and stormwater management guidelines.

This document outlines Pillar 5 of a strategic plan, focusing on comprehensive sustainability initiatives for Traverse City and the surrounding region. Key objectives include creating a regional sustainability plan with tangible targets and performance dashboards, researching and applying best practices from leading communities, and encouraging businesses and local organizations to adopt sustainable practices. The plan also aims to implement innovative initiatives such as piloting electrification projects, collaborating with utility operators for public education, exploring industrial symbiosis and circular economy approaches, and executing the West Bay Lakeshore Stabilization project. Furthermore, it prioritizes protecting freshwater resources through riparian buffers and advanced stormwater management.

This strategic plan focuses on enhancing community vitality and supporting workforce participation through targeted initiatives in housing and childcare. The plan addresses two primary objectives: expanding year-round residential occupancy in core neighborhoods and increasing the availability of childcare options. Strategies for housing include developing diverse residential planning tools, adjusting short-term rental policies, advocating for long-term housing, and exploring innovative models like a Community Land Trust. Childcare initiatives involve re-establishing summer programs, piloting new models, streamlining zoning regulations, and exploring funding through a county-wide millage and start-up subsidies.

This strategic document outlines Traverse City's objectives for enhancing regional collaboration, resource management, and community engagement. It details collaborative approaches for stormwater permitting and management (MS4 Program), joint planning for governmental and law enforcement facilities with Grand Traverse County, and active participation in key regional groups. The plan also emphasizes fostering a collaborative mindset, strengthening the public-facing voice of city leadership, and convening leadership groups to address regional issues including housing, childcare, transportation, and long-term environmental sustainability.