Connected Communities Complete Streets Coalition Notes from Wednesday, December 7th, 2011 This meeting was for

informational purposes and to get updates on some regional and statewide projects:

Suttons Bay: Rise Rasch (MDOT) and Andy Knott (Watershed Center) gave a brief summary of the Suttons Bay M-22 project to be built in 2013. The project will include ancillary trail, water quality improvements, center-raised medians for more convenient pedestrian crossings and accommodation for people on bicycle both on street and on a trail. Keys to its success expressed were shared vision and planning, and good champions keeping project on task. For more information on the project visit the Village of Suttons Bay website http://www.leelanau.cc/suttonsbayvill.asp or view the plans Front Street plans at http://www.scribd.com/doc/75123757/SB-Front-Street-Corridor-Final-Plan

Elmwood Marina: Kim Pontius (Grand Vision Core) provided an update on how the Elmwood Marina project is taking a systems approach and looking at the 1.3 mile corridor as vital piece to making this area a destination as opposed to a place to simply drive through. In addition to marina improvements, the project is looking to calm motorized traffic, provide complete access for all modes, including better access from the TART Trail to businesses and the waterfront.

Acme: Bob Carstens (Acme) briefed the group on the Meijer project along M-72 that is moving forward and includes multi-modal planning within the Village center. Future planning will be required to link the wider area to the development for people traveling by means other than motor vehicles.

Michigans Complete Streets Advisory Council: Megan Olds (Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy) who was appointed to the States Complete Streets Advisory Council, gave an overview of their task. The Advisory Council is tasked with creating and recommending policy to the State's Transportation Committee who in turn informs MDOT on statewide policies, including Complete Streets. The diverse committee (Megan represents the environmental wing) has drafted a vision statement and will spend 2012 drafting policies. More information, including a schedule of meetings, is at http://www.michigan.gov/mdot/0,1607,7-1519623_31969_57564---,00.html (The next meeting is January 25th in Lansing, car-pooling can happen.) The vision statement for the council was passed in November. It reads: Complete Streets Advisory Council Vision A transportation network that is accessible, interconnected, and multimodal and that safely and efficiently moves goods and people of all ages and abilities A process that empowers partnerships to plan, fund, design, construct, maintain and operate complete streets that respect context and community values Outcomes that will improve economic prosperity, equity, and environmental quality

Traverse City Corridor Improvement Plan: Russ Soyring (TC City Planner) updated the group on the $100,000 HUD Sustainable Communities Grant the City and the County received last year. It will be used to develop revitalization plans for 8th St. (Union to Fair Streets), E. Front St. (Railroad to Fair), W. Front St. (From the Boardman River to the City limits), 14th St., and Garfield Ave. This isnt a transportation study; it is an economic vitalization project that focuses on the impact the built environment has on business opportunities & residential quality of life issues. These corridors all struggle to maintain property values, rents have been going down and there is a high turnover of businesses. The key corridor, meant to be a model for the others, will be the 8th St. corridor. There will be a public meeting on January 12th at 7pm at the Traverse City Area District Library. The City website will have updates as available. The subcommittee is being led by the Citys Planning Commission with the following participants:.

Amended Corridor Steering Committee

Jody Bergman, City Commission City Commissioner 110 Boughey Street Traverse City, MI 49684 jbergman@comstockconstruction.com 231.946.4911 (w) Cecil McNally, City Planning Commissioner 911 S Union Street Traverse City, MI 49684 execdir@goodwillnmi.org 231.995.7710 (w) Fred Wilmeth, Citizen At Large Former Planning Commission Chairperson 1046 Washington Street Traverse City, MI 49686 fwilmeth@sbcglobal.net 231.920.9215 (w) Elizabeth Whalen, Neighborhoods Boardman Neighborhood Assoc. (President) 442 Webster Street Traverse City, MI 49686 elizwhel@chartermi.net 231.929.0437 Meagan Luce, Real Estate/TAAR Century 21/Northland TAAR 852 S. Garfield Ave. Traverse City, MI 49686 meaganluce@charter.net 2318838440 (w) Doug Deyoung, Business/chamber Traverse Area Chamber of Commerce (Vice President) 202 E. Grandview Pkwy Traverse City, MI 49684 deyoung@tcchamber.org 231.995.7109 (w) John Dancer, Business/Architect Cornerstone Architects (Principal) 122 Union, Ste. 200 Traverse City, MI 49684 jdancer@cornerstonearch.com 231.947.2177 (w) Julie Clark, Pedestrian/Trails TART Trails (Executive Dir.) 415 S. Union St. Traverse City, MI 49684 julie@traversetrails.org 231.941.4300 (w) Steve Constantin, DDA/City Housing DDA Boardmember 223 Midtown Traverse City, MI 49684 Steve.constantin@gmail.com 2319950447 Jim Moore, Disability / Grand Vision Northern Michigan Disability Network (President) 333 East State Street Traverse City, MI 49684 jim@disabilitynetwork.net