Traverse City Planning Commission recommends an amendment to allow increased density in R-2 District; Traverse City Planning Commission proposes decreases in allowed short-term rentals for new developments in Commercial and Development Districts; Introduction made to the Traverse City Planning Commission of the Special Land Use Permit for year-round operation of safe harbor.
This week the GAD Top 3 is focused on the Traverse City Planning Commission’s March 4th meeting where the issue of housing was front and center. In this meeting the Planning Commission held a public hearing and passed an amendment increasing allowable density in the R-2 Residential District from 2 dwelling units to 4 dwelling units, which will now be considered for enactment by the Traverse City Commission. The Traverse City Planning Commission also proposed some decreases in the allowable percentage of dwelling units used for short-term rentals in commercial and development districts.
1. Traverse City Planning Commission Recommends an Amendment to Traverse City Commission to Allow Increased Density in R-2 District
The first housing item discussed in the Traverse City (TC) Planning Commission Meeting on March 4th was a public hearing to re-consider a TC Planning Commission-initiated zoning text amendment to allow increased density in the R-2 Mixed Density Residential District to allow up to four dwelling units per parcel, an increase from the current limit of two dwelling units per parcel. As noted by Shawn Winter, TC Planning Director, this would not change any of the dimensional standards in the R-2 district, including maintaining the maximum number of structures that can be used for residential purposes at two, it would only change how a residential building may be divided on the inside of the building to accommodate additional allowed dwelling units. After much discussion and public comment, the TC Planning Commission recommended the text amendment to the Traverse City Commission for potential enactment. You can view the full discussion here (Planning Commission discussion from minute 3:10 to minute 22:00, Public Comment from minute 22:00 to minute 39:30, continued Planning Commission discussion from minute 39:30 to 1:09:30).
2. Traverse City Planning Commission Proposes Decreases in Allowed Short-Term Rentals for New Developments in Commercial and Development Districts
The next housing issue discussed by the Traverse City (TC) Planning Commission at their March 4th meeting was their continued discussion of short-term rental regulations. It was shared that Traverse City’s IT/GIS (Geographic Information System) department has updated their short-term rental map and dashboard identifying all licensed and operating vacation homes in Traverse City. The TC Planning Commission then invited Katy Bertodatto, the Vice-Chair of the Michigan Short-Term Rental Association (MiSTRA), to present her organization’s perspective on short-term rental regulations in Traverse City. Following a Q&A with Katy the TC Planning Commission then went through the percentage of dwelling units allowed as vacation homes by zoning district one by one and they recommended making the following decreases in the percentage of dwelling units allowed as vacation homes in zoning districts:
- C-3 from 100% to 35%
- C-4a and b from 100% to 50%
- C-4c from 100% to 25%
- D-1 from 100% to 25%
- D-3 from 100% to 50%
The Traverse City Planning Department is going to draft these changes for the TC Planning Commission’s consideration at their next Planning Commission meeting on Tuesday, March 18th, 6 pm at the Grand Traverse Governmental Center (400 Boardman Ave., Traverse City). If you would like to view the full discussion you can watch it here (from minute 1:33:02 to minute 2:40:55)
3. Introduction Made to the Traverse City Planning Commission of the Special Land Use Permit Made for Year-round Operation of Safe Harbor
Introduction of the Special Land Use Permit (SLUP) for Safe Harbor of Grand Traverse to operate a year-round emergency shelter was also made at the March 4th Traverse City (TC) Planning Commission Meeting. The Facility Manager, Brad Gerlach, of Safe Harbor of Grand Traverse was available to answer questions that TC Planning Commissioners had about site changes proposed for their new SLUP. If you would like to view the full discussion you can watch it here (from minute 2:49:16 to minute 3:04:07). The next step in this process will be a public hearing at the next TC Planning Commission meeting on Tuesday, March 18th, 6 pm at the Grand Traverse Governmental Center (400 Boardman Ave., Traverse City). At this public hearing, the TC Planning Commission will be able to make a recommendation on the Safe Harbor of Grand Traverse’s SLUP to the Traverse City Commission.
