Forum: Train doesn't belong on bayfront

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T. Michael Jackson

November 27, 2011

By T. Michael Jackson ---- The Record Eagle Mon Feb 13, 2012, 11:33 AM EST

In 2005 the Your Bay, Your Say process was started and several of us were involved from the very beginning. Over the years thousands of people participated in the process that evolved into the Bayfront Planning Process.

Through charettes, public meetings, and hundreds of hours of discussion the plans moved forward. Those plans included many long-term strategic beautification plans for the bayfront. The designers and the public realized the train was just not appropriate for a world-class waterfront. And those plans -- sans train -- were reviewed by the public at numerous venues.

In fact, a tented booth was in place during the 2010 Cherry Festival at the entrance to the festival open area, staffed during the entire length of the festival, and open for all to see and make comments. Of all the processes this city has encountered, this was one of the most transparent.

I was the last chairman of the Bayfront Planning Process, and on July 19, 2010, I presented the plans to the City Commission for them to accept and begin the process of implementation. To reiterate, these plans did not include the train.

And then, as funds began to be solicited for phase one of the implementation process a small (again -- remember the thousands who participated in the multiyear planning process) group of people came forward and suggested the train should be retained -- long after design concepts were completed.

The City Commission at the time bowed to this group with no verification of how many were city residents nor how many had been involved with the prior planning.

The commission rejected the recommendation of the Parks and Recreation Department and directed the designers to "go back and include the train."

Now comes the Planning Commission with recommendations -- just like the Bayfront Plan -- that the train is not appropriate for the Bayfront.

It's time for the City Commission to take the bold step to move the Bayfront Plan forward -- just as they should have before. There is much to do on the bayfront -- and the funds should be used for long-term beautification -- not to subsidize a train that no longer belongs there. The city should not be in the amusement business.

There may well be a place for the train. Those who are so adamant about it should come up with a plan for where it should be and a private funding plan to make that a reality.

Traverse City must take the bold step to bring to fruition the Bayfront Plan that was developed -- a plan that will make the bayfront -- and thus the city -- a world-class venue for years and years to come.

About the author: T. Michael Jackson was involved with the Bayfront planning process since its inception in 2005 as a member of the Your Bay, Your Say steering committee; he replaced Cecil McNally as the chair of the Bayfront Planning Committee in 2009.

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