Safe Harbor Housing, Sidewalks Top City Agenda

Traverse City commissioners will tackle a busy agenda Monday that includes potential future affordable housing near Safe Harbor’s planned emergency homeless shelter on Wellington Street and new sidewalks for the shelter. Commissioners will also consider approving a proposed new Coast Guard monument for downtown Traverse City and issuing a resolution of support encouraging gender-neutral restrooms throughout the city.

Safe Harbor
Commissioners will consider approving a letter of understanding with Safe Harbor Monday that will allow for the future development of affordable housing at 519 Franklin Street, a parcel adjacent to Safe Harbor’s planned new emergency homeless shelter at 517 Wellington Street (pictured).

Traverse City officials agreed to include the Franklin Street parcel as part of the sale of the Wellington Street property to Safe Harbor in 2016. The Franklin Street parcel was included with the understanding it could be used in the future to develop affordable housing, but that nothing could happen on the site until a letter of understanding outlining development terms was approved by both commissioners and Safe Harbor.

The draft letter of understanding scheduled for approval Monday states that “as soon as Safe Harbor has completed its preparations to host homeless clients at 517 (Wellington) and can direct its attention to the adjacent lot, it shall diligently attempt to identify a third party with expertise in supported and affordable housing to serve as a partner in the development of 519 Franklin.” Safe Harbor will partner with a nonprofit to bring housing to the site, with city commissioners having final approval over the development partner.

“The idea is to utilize almost as much (of the property) as we can for a blend of workforce and affordable housing,” Safe Harbor Board Chair Peter Starkel tells The Ticker. “If you’re looking at a concept, it would be similar to (Goodwill’s) Carson Square, except that project is all supportive housing. Ours would likely have some units open to the public, a percentage that would be earmarked for workforce housing.”

Starkel says he’s uncertain on a timeline for housing development at the site, as Safe Harbor’s primary focus is finishing and opening the new shelter, which is set to begin operating in November. But Starkel says Safe Harbor has already begun discussions with local and state officials as well as developers in search of housing partners.

“Our goal is still to go for effective-zero homelessness, and the big thing holding us back is available (housing) inventory,” says Starkel. “That’s part of the goal of this project: to create new inventory and set some of that aside for those in that situation. But the other part of it is a perpetual revenue steam. Shelters don’t make money, so we’ll either have to constantly fundraise or find mechanisms like this to generate income that will go right back into operating the shelter.”

In addition to approving the letter of understanding, commissioners Monday will also discuss whether the city or Safe Harbor is responsible for constructing new sidewalk down Wellington Street leading to Eighth Street. While the sidewalk connection is a condition of Safe Harbor’s special land use permit, the SLUP doesn’t specify who will bear the costs for its construction. City Manager Marty Colburn wrote in a memo to commissioners that “when a SLUP is approved with conditions, the applicant is responsible for ensuring that the conditions of the SLUP are met” – meaning Safe Harbor must pay the sidewalk costs. But some commissioners have noted the city has a multi-million dollar sidewalk infill project on the table, and that the Wellington sidewalk connection could be included as part of that project.

“We’re one of the first developments in the city’s history being asked to put in infrastructure that isn’t directly in front of our building,” says Starkel, who estimates sidewalk construction costs at $11,500. “It would be a huge windfall for us if (the city) would do it, because otherwise we would have to go out and find those funds.”

Coast Guard Monument
A new Coast Guard monument could soon be installed at Mini Park at the intersection of Grandview Parkway and East Front Street in downtown Traverse City pending commission approval Monday.

The Traverse City Coast Guard City Committee hopes to install a 12-foot tall, freestanding statue of a stylized helicopter silhouette in the park surrounded by signage, lighting and landscaping. The monument, estimated at $60,000, will be 100 percent funded by private donations and grants. The project has earned the support of city staff as well as the city’s arts commission, art selection panel and parks and recreation commission, leaving the city commission as the final approval step.

Resolution Of Support For Gender-Neutral Restrooms
The Human Rights Commission is asking city commissioners to pass two resolutions of support Monday that would encourage the use of accessible and gender-neutral bathrooms throughout city businesses and schools.

The first proposed resolution of support states that the city of Traverse City “encourages any business or entity that provides public restrooms to offer at least one private and gender-neutral restroom for each pair of restrooms designated for use by males or females.” The second resolution of support encourages Traverse City Area Public Schools (TCAPS) to implement the Michigan State Board of Education’s Statement and Guidance on Safe and Supportive Learning Environments for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Questioning (LGBTQ) students.

Human Rights commissioners noted in their own support of the resolutions that they heard from members of the community who shared “personal stories of discrimination, embarrassment, humiliation and physical ailments from lack of available gender-neutral, private and safe restrooms and changing areas.” Human Rights Commission Chair Taylor Nash encouraged city commissioners to adopt the resolutions to better accommodate all residents and visitors to the area. “The outpouring of experiences and support that were shared…emphasized the need to develop policies ensuring equality, equity, and inclusivity in Traverse City and TCAPS,” Nash wrote.

Commissioners Monday...
Will also approve a final draft of the city's proposed 2017-18 budget; consider entering closed session to meet with the city's newly hired outside counsel in the Proposal 3 lawsuit; consider approving liquor licenses for Harvest and State Street Marketplace; and consider issuing a resolution of opposition to legislation eliminating the ability of local units of government to regulate short-term rentals.