TRAVERSE CITY — A housing study project and the establishment of a community development department top the upcoming to-do list.
Grand Traverse County commissioners meet at 9 a.m. Wednesday for updates addressing the region’s ongoing housing issues and the designated funding approved by commissioners last year to expand the county’s community development services.
Maxwell Cameron, the county’s community development coordinator, is expected to join the board for the discussions.
Last year, commissioners designated funding to support two additional full-time employees associated with expanding development services within the county, according to a memo submitted by Cameron.
McKenna Associates and subconsultant Placecraft are anticipated to highlight goals on the department, which include identifying community needs, coordinating the department’s role within the county’s internal planning, providing development recommendations and a staffing plan.
McKenna Associates’ Jim McManus, a principal planner with the firm, will present key findings based on stakeholder interviews. According to Cameron, the project team has identified specific ways the county can build on community development goals that benefit the northwestern Michigan region and align with the county’s strategic plan.
Commissioners will also discuss a new housing study project that will include a presentation by urban planning consultant firm CommunityScale and its principal Jeff Sauser.
County commissioners approved a request for proposals process in February for the study, which is expected to provide metrics on key components of the county’s housing market. The scope of the project is expected to include data analysis of the current market with households earning between 60- and 120-percent of the area median income.
Sauser will inform the board on his firm’s preliminary work plan, including the proposed scope, methodology, timeline for when the study may be completed and ways to approach public engagement.
The discussion with the firm is a request commissioners made when they agreed to move forward with the newest study in an effort to provide input and review the plan. The newest housing study is one of four conducted on Grand Traverse County housing needs over the past 20 years.
According to the consultant’s proposed timeline, the housing study could be ready for board review by the end of the summer.
The board will meet at 9 a.m. Wednesday in the second-floor Commission Chambers at the Governmental Center.