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January 19, 2006
Bay shore's fate ponderedPublic can share ideas tonightTRAVERSE CITY - Lois Boekestein thinks the city's waterfront would be perfect for a plaza, a place to ice-skate in the winter and a summer spot to meet up under fountains."It would also be very beautiful, almost very Norman Rockwell-ish," she said. The city resident would like much of the remainder of the 13,000 feet of West Grand Traverse Bay shoreline to remain open. A 7 p.m. meeting today at the Great Lakes Campus gives residents a chance to define the bayfront's future. Planning sessions with Michigan State University's design program began in June. Public opinion has varied from leaving the city's bayfront undeveloped open space to building attractions to draw people to the area, said city planner Russ Soyring. One vision leaves sweeping views of the bay, the other could provide amenities such as bistros, an amphitheater or a farmers market. Some, like Boekestein, think a good plan could do both. "I really think there is possibilities that both could really happen," said Soyring. Cecil McNally, bayfront planning committee chairman, thinks the bayfront could be designed to include "pockets" where activity flourishes. Other areas could be left open, he said. "There is no reason why you can't almost do a variety of things," McNally said. The design students developed several bayfront plans, which residents can critique tonight. Those comments will be used to develop a scheme for the waterfront, to be finished by June. MSU's Warren Rauhe said students may come up with more than one final concept based on the input and the level of consensus among citizens. Once the students present their final design, the city will hire professionals to produce more detailed designs and engineering plans. Michigan's Coastal Management Program awarded the city $45,000, its largest grant of the year, for the planning process. Program chief Cathie Ballard praised Traverse City's effort to involve the public. "This is probably one of my favorite projects..., it just had so many wonderful components to it," she said. The state was impressed by the scope of the project and the length of shoreline involved - mostly along the Grandview Parkway. Ballard said the state could consider funding some of the future construction and implementation of the plan in later years. The city previously secured a $25,000 grant from Rotary Charities of Traverse City to assist with the planning.
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