TRAVERSE CITY -- A long-planned overhaul of Traverse City's bayfront kicks off this week, and the public will have multiple chances to provide input.
The city recently contracted with local engineering firm URS Inc. to develop plans for land along West Grand Traverse Bay. Citizens are encouraged to turn out and help designers craft an appealing and practical bayfront plan.
"I think the fingerprints of our residents need to be on these designs," city Planner Russ Soyring said. "If it's well-loved by our residents, then our visitors will love it too."
Sessions will take place in the vacant storefront at the City Opera House on East Front Street. Designers and city officials will meet with interested parties, and the public can participate as designers sketch out a series of plans from noon to 7 p.m. on Wednesday and 11:00 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday.
Designs will then be on display at a public open house from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. Thursday. After that, design teams will spend the month of April fusing ideas into a single design, developing preliminary engineering plans and ironing out cost estimates.
If all goes according to plan -- and if the city secures funding -- crews could break ground on a bayfront redesign next year. Various government bodies must approve a final plan, and Soyring said city commissioners want one in hand by late June.
This week's efforts follow the extensive "Your Bay, Your Say" process of a few years ago. That work didn't result in actual engineering plans, Soyring said, something officials need to undertake a construction project.
"Instead of seeing the big picture or just the broad concepts, we're getting down to the detail," he said. "We've decided we're going to buy a bike, now we're going to decide if it's going to be a road bike, mountain bike, is it going to be for the whole family to use ..."
City officials hope the public takes the invitation for input seriously.
"I think this is precisely the kind of thing that public input is important for," Commissioner Mike Gillman said.
Some of the key initiatives called for in the "Your Bay" process included construction of new rest rooms and children's play equipment, beach and trail improvements, increased boater access, a possible amphitheater and more.
Residents also wanted the bayfront to be much more accessible to pedestrians.
A bayfront overhaul could cost millions of dollars, and officials could seek various local, state, federal and foundation grants for the work.
If voters approve, officials also could tap the Brown Bridge Trust Fund for the project.
The trust -- from royalties on gas and oil wells located near the city-owned Brown Bridge Pond -- totals about $12 million with an average of $550,000 in interest every year.
Bayfront planning schedule
All events to take place at the vacant storefront in the City Opera House. All are open to the public.
Tuesday:
8 a.m. - 7 p.m. Meetings with community stakeholder groups
Wednesday:
8 a.m. - 10 a.m. Meeting with steering committee
10 a.m. - Noon Local designer input session
Noon - 7 p.m. Design team work session
Thursday:
8 a.m. - 10 a.m. Meeting with steering committee
11 a.m. - 2 p.m. Design team work session
5:30 p.m. - 8 p.m. Open house
