Grand Traverse Commons Joint City of Traverse City/Garfield Township Planning Commission

Grand Traverse Commons Joint City of Traverse City/Garfield Township Planning Commission 5:15 pm Wednesday, July 15, 2026 Garfield Township Hall 3848 Veterans Drive, Traverse City MI 49684 Posted and Published: Friday, July 10, 2026 3:14 PM The City of Traverse City does not discriminate on the basis of disability in the admission to, access to, treatment in, or employment in, its programs or activities. City Manager's Office, 400 Boardman Avenue, Traverse City, Michigan 49684, phone 231- 922-4440, TDD/TTY 231-922-4412, VRS 231-421-7008, has been designated to coordinate compliance with the non-discrimination requirements contained in Section 35.107 of the Department of Justice regulations. Information concerning the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the rights provided thereunder, are available from the ADA Coordinator. If you are planning to attend and you have a disability requiring any special assistance at the meeting and/or if you have any concerns, please immediately notify the ADA Coordinator. The City of Traverse City is committed to a dialog that is constructive, respectful and civil. We ask that all individuals interacting verbally or in writing with the Commission honor these values. Grand Traverse Commons Joint Planning Commission: c/o Shawn Winter, City Planning Director (231) 922-4778 Web: www.traversecitymi.gov 400 Boardman Avenue Traverse City, MI 49684 Page 1 of 5  Welcome to the meeting! Agenda Any interested person or group may address the Committee on any agenda item when recognized by the presiding officer or upon request of any member. Also, any interested person or group may address the Committee on any matter of City concern not on the Agenda during the agenda item designated Public Comment. The comment of any member of the public or any special interest group may be limited in time. Such limitation shall not be less than three minutes unless otherwise explained by the presiding officer, subject to appeal by the Committee. Page (a) CALL TO ORDER (b) ROLL CALL (c) APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA (d) ANNOUNCEMENTS (e) APPROVAL OF MINUTES (1) Approval of the January 28, 2026 draft meeting minutes 3-5 Grand Traverse Commons Joint City of Traverse City/Garfield Township Planning Commission - 28 Jan 2026 - Minutes - Pdf (f) TOPICS FOR DISCUSSION AND CONSIDERATION (1) Commons Infrastructure Additional Evaluation – Verbal Update (2) Grand Traverse Commons Master Plan Update - Verbal Update (3) Grand Traverse Commons Natural Area Accessible Trail (4) Red Drive - Verbal Update (g) PUBLIC COMMENT (h) ADJOURNMENT Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram - CityofTC - www.traversecitymi.gov Page 2 of 5  Minutes of the Grand Traverse Commons Joint City of Traverse City/Garfield Township Planning Commission Regular Meeting Wednesday, January 28, 2026 A regular meeting of the Grand Traverse Commons Joint Planning Commission of the City of Traverse City was called to order at the 2nd Floor Committee Room, Governmental Center, 400 Boardman Avenue, Traverse City, Michigan, at 5:15 p.m. (a) CALL TO ORDER (1) Chair Treadwell called the January 28, 2025 Joint Planning Commission special meeting to order at 5:15 p.m. at the Garfield Township Hall. (b) ROLL CALL (1) Present: Molly Agostinelli, Anna Dituri, John Racine, Amy Robbins (Secretary), and Mitch Treadwell (Chair) Absent and Excused: Winnie Simpson Staff Present: Township Planning Director John Sych and City Planning Director Shawn Winter (c) APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA (1) Motion by Agostinelli, seconded by Dituri for Approval of the Agenda. Motion passed unanimously. (d) ANNOUNCEMENTS (1) None. (e) APPROVAL OF MINUTES (1) November 19, 2025 Meeting Minutes Motion by Dituri, seconded by Robbins for Approval of the November 19, 2025 Minutes. Motion passed unanimously. (f) TOPICS FOR DISCUSSION AND CONSIDERATION (1) Election of Officers Motion by Racine, seconded by Robbins to nominate Treadwell for Chair. Motion passed unanimously. Motion by Racine, seconded by Dituri to close nominations for Chair. Motion passed unanimously. Page 1 of 3 Page 3 of 5  Planning Commission voted unanimously Treadwell for Chair. Motion by Racine, seconded by Agostinelli to nominate Robbins for Secretary. Motion passed unanimously. Motion by Racine, seconded by Dituri to close nominations for Secretary. Motion passed unanimously. Planning Commission voted unanimously Robbins for Secretary. (2) Public Hearing for Development Regulations Amendment Sych reviewed the draft text amendment to Section 9.03 and the draft Development Envelope map amendment to accommodate sheds at the Community Garden in the Historic Barns Park in the Recreation and Cultivation District (C-1). The draft amendment information was provided in Garfield Township Planning Department Report No. 2026-15. Sych noted an omission of the word “not” in the stated amendment and that the proposed text should read: Section 9.03 General Design Standards F. Accessory Buildings. Accessory buildings shall be constructed using materials and features similar to the principal building and shall be constructed within the designated building Development Envelope. Seasonal hoop houses, open-air recreation-based structures such as pavilions, temporary structures under 200 square feet, are exempt from this requirement. Up to six (6) sheds are permitted outside the Development Envelope provided a combined total floor area shall not exceed 600 square feet. Treadwell opened the Public Hearing. There was no comment. Treadwell closed the Public Hearing. Agostinelli questioned if the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) reviews the sheds. Matt Cowall, Executive Director of the Traverse City and Garfield Township Recreational Authority, was present and indicated that yes, SHPO does review all structures in the Historic Barns Park, including sheds, particularly in relationship to the view shed of the two historic barns. There was general agreement on the draft Development Envelope map amendment with one slight adjustment on the north side by straightening the boundary. Motion by Robbins, seconded by Agostinelli TO RECOMMEND TO the City of Traverse City Commission and the Charter Township of Garfield Board that the proposed amendment to Article 9 of the Grand Traverse Commons Development Regulations BE APPROVED. Page 2 of 3 Page 4 of 5  (3) Commons Infrastructure Additional Evaluation - Verbal Update Sych provided an update on the Additional Commons Infrastructure Assessment. Based on a December 2025 progress meeting of the City and Township engineers and staff, the Additional Assessment is expected to be completed by February. While the Joint Planning Commission was previously interested in receiving an update presentation on the Additional Assessment, Staff recommended that a presentation be scheduled for the April regular meeting of the Joint Planning Commission so that fully complete Assessment can be provided. (4) Discussion on DRAFT recommended approach for the Grand Traverse Commons Master Plan update Winter presented a recommended approach for updating the Commons Master Plan which was adopted 2010. The approach is to conduct a community engagement process given that there has been a significant increase in ownership and redevelopment at the Commons. Commissioners were generally receptive to the approach. Commissioners were interested in knowing the ownership of the Commons. Also, the new plan would have a “magazine” format so its accessible to public along with a more expanded supplement that would have all the data and background information. This update was provided for information only. No action was taken. (g) PUBLIC COMMENT (1) None. (h) ADJOURNMENT (1) The meeting was adjourned at 5:55 p.m. Sarah Lutz, City Clerk The next meeting of the Joint Planning Commission meeting will be on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, at 5:15 p.m. at the Governmental Center, 400 Boardman Avenue, Traverse City, Michigan. Page 3 of 3 Page 5 of 5