Garfield Township trustees unanimously approved a rezoning request that will allow Culver Meadows Senior Living to build a new adult foster care facility for up to 20 adults and a childcare center for up to 12 children on property next to its current North West Silver Lake Road facility. Trustees also approved contracts for two American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) projects to move forward, including new sidewalk connections on South Airport and Barlow roads – connecting neighborhoods to the Boardman Lake Loop Trail – and new township website and branding services.

Culver Meadows
Township trustees approved rezoning just over five acres on North West Silver Lake Road from R-1 (one-family residential) to A (agricultural) to accommodate a planned expansion of Culver Meadows Senior Living.

The rezoning covers both the existing facility and vacant adjacent land (pictured, map). The existing facility was approved under a previous zoning ordinance that allowed adult foster care homes, but that ordinance has since been updated to mirror state restrictions on such facilities in residential districts. Rezoning means both properties will now conform with the zoning ordinance. As part of the application, owners Brad and Trina Jewett offered the condition that no other uses will be allowed on the site except adult foster care and childcare.

The Jewetts told township officials that Culver Meadows has a “waiting list that continues to grow” for its senior living services, including Alzheimer’s, dementia, and end-of-life care. The facility, which opened in 2010, has room to expand to accommodate up to 20 more seniors in the new adult foster care facility. The property is also proposed to host a new childcare center for up to 12 children – a service the Jewetts wrote is “vitally needed in our community.”

“Our thoughts with having the daycare would be a benefit to our employees, community, and the residents and their families,” the duo wrote. “It would also help our young children and their families connect with the residents we serve.” The proposed development would bring “20-25 additional employment opportunities” to the region, the Jewetts estimated.

Garfield Township is the fastest growing municipality in Grand Traverse County, which itself is one of the fastest growing counties in the state – putting an increasing demand on social support services. “You’re filling a much-needed void in the community with senior living and child care, as we know, so thank you,” Trustee Chris Barsheff told the Jewetts.

ARPA Projects
Garfield Township trustees approved moving forward with contracts for two American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) projects as part of approximately $1.8 million federal funding coming to the township. Trustees approved a plan in October for divvying up the ARPA funds among over a dozen township projects. Under federal guidelines, funds for projects must be committed and under contract by the end of 2024 and fully spent by the end of 2026.

Trustees approved a not-to-exceed contract of $95,250 with Gourdie-Fraser for engineering services for a trail extension project to connect nearby residential neighborhoods to the Boardman Lake Loop Trail. The project calls for constructing a six-foot-wide sidewalk extension along .3 miles of South Airport Road and .4 miles on Barlow Road up to Gladewood Lane (a future extension is also being considered for LaFranier Road up to the Grand Traverse County Health Department). About 2,500 new linear feet of sidewalk will be built – connecting to some intermittent areas of sidewalk that already exist – creating 3,300 total linear feet of connected sidewalk, Township Treasurer Chloe Macomber tells The Ticker.

Gourdie-Fraser noted in its proposal that some sections of the proposed route could require design tweaks in engineering. “Challenges for this project include the intersection crossing at South Airport Road with Barlow Road and LaFranier Road, acquiring easements, and curb cuts and existing developments along these roads,” the firm wrote. “Alternative connections, especially to the west, may be explored if the steep grade prevents a trail from feasibly being constructed there.”

In addition to ARPA funding – township trustees allocated $564,073 to the overall project – there could be additional funding opportunities available through the Michigan Department of Transportation and Safe Routes to School. “We do not anticipate going over our allocated budgeted amount because contingency was included in the original estimate for the project’s cost, but if the project does go over, the township does also have contingency ARPA money that could be used,” Macomber says.

Because of the ARPA deadline, township trustees will need to put the project out to bid following engineering and get a construction contract approved yet this year. The actual project work can take place beyond that, however. Construction is planned for spring 2025, according to Graham, who estimates the project will take three to four weeks to complete.

Township trustees also approved $40,135 across two contracts for branding and website services. The township will work with Civic Clarity (AccuNet) for website development and hosting services – a $10,335 contract – and New Moon Visions for branding services ($29,800). Those firms were among 35 proposals the township reviewed through a request-for-proposals (RFP) process. Trustees previously approved $50,000 in ARPA funding for the township website and branding update, leaving just under $10,000 for contingency costs that could also be reallocated to another project this year if not used.