Polling in Traverse City on City Proposals 1 and 2 Starting TODAY, Traverse City Housing and Homelessness Update at Aug. 19th City Commission Meeting, Charter Township of Garfield Planning Commission Passes Amendment to Increase Housing Density
Starting TODAY, a polling agency will contact Traverse City registered voters to participate in a poll on Traverse City Proposals 1 and 2. Recap of the August 19th presentation to the Traverse City Commission on collaborative efforts to combat homelessness in Traverse City. The Charter Township of Garfield Planning Commission has amended its Board of Trustees to increase housing density allowable by right.
1. Polling in Traverse City on City Proposals 1 and 2 Starting TODAY
Local issues polling services which Aspire North REALTORS® requested from the National Association of REALTORS and was approved will be starting this Monday, August 26th. This polling is being conducted on Traverse City Proposal 1 and 2. You can view the Traverse City Proposals listed in the July 1st GAD Top 3. If you are a registered voter in Traverse City or have friends who are registered in Traverse City, please consider participating in this poll and/or inviting your Traverse City friends to do so. Pollsters will be reaching out by phone and text to most Traverse City registered voters to get a strong sample size for the poll. This poll was requested to support Aspire North REALTORS® efforts as a part of the Traverse Together ballot committee to defeat Traverse City Proposals 1 and 2. If you have any questions about the polling or polling process, contact me at connor@aspirenorthrealtors.com or by phone at 231-944-8315.
2. Traverse City Housing and Homelessness Update at Aug. 19th City Commission Meeting
At the August 19th Traverse City Commission Meeting an update was provided on housing and homelessness initiatives with a focus on services provided to combat homelessness and provide affordable housing support. You can view this full update on the Traverse Area Community Media website. Timestamps are provided in this summary to view sections of the Traverse City update on housing and homelessness.
Dave Mengebier with the Grand Travere Regional Community Foundation and the Sakura Takano with Rotary Charities of Traverse City highlighted their efforts to facilitate stakeholder meetings of organizations working to improve the homelessness situation in Traverse City (minute 11:00 to 17:37). It was expressed that these stakeholders through these meetings established some intended end goals, including but not limited to establishing unanimously among stakeholders that “the Pines is not appropriate nor safe for people who must live there, for the providers and law enforcement.” (minute 17:37 to 21:43). Ashley Halladay-Schmandt, Director of Northwest Michigan Coalition to End Homelessness on their plan to end chronic homelessness and provide permanent supportive housing (minute 21:43 to 40:58). Ashley shared that in the 5-county region (Antrim, Benzie, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, and Leelanau) we have about 250 individuals experiencing homelessness at any given time and about 70 of these individuals are chronically homeless.
Chief Matt Richmond of the Traverse City Police Department then gave an update on public safety at the Pines (minute 40:58 to 49:09). Chief Matt shared that there are approximately 86 people currently residing in the Pines with another 30 individuals who frequent the Pines on an intermittent basis. He also shared there are 20 to 30 individuals who live in the Pines all year round, even when Safe Harbor is open in the winter months. Then Jennifer Holm, Police Social Worker Coordinator spoke on the Quick Response Team (QRT) to address mental and substance abuse crises that occur in Traverse City (minute 49:09 to 59:01). Jennifer shared they have had 170 individuals agree to become participants in the voluntary QRT program. The percentage of participants referred to the QRT who are experiencing homelessness is 88% and the percentage of QRT referrals from the Pines is roughly 50%. Jennifer shared they are looking to add another social worker to the QRT and to expand their services into Grand Traverse County. Dave summarized these presentations by expressing that there is clear consensus within our community for the need for a year-round emergency shelter (minutes 59:01 to 1:02:52).
3. Charter Township of Garfield Planning Commission Passes Amendment to Increase Housing Density Allowable By Right
At the Charter Township of Garfield Planning Commission Meeting on August 14th a public hearing for the potential adoption and recommendation to the Charter Township of Garfield Board of Trustees of a proposed amendment to the R-3 District (Multi-Family Residential District) in Charter Township of Garfield to allow triplexes and quadplexes as uses by right in the R-3 zoning district. There was no opposition offered to this amendment by township planning commissioners, or members of the public in attendance, and the amendment passed unanimously. This amendment will now go to the Charter Township of Garfield Board of Trustees for consideration of adoption to allow greater density of housing development by right in the R-3 zoning district. You can view the Charter Township of Garfield Planning Commission meeting on August 14th here (minutes 18:10 to 21:00).
