Legal and Regulatory Framework Outline for the Barns and Surrounding Property
City of Traverse City -- Charter Township of Garfield Recreational Authority
(A pdf of the full document is - here or a Microsoft Word Document is - here)

The City of Traverse City -- Charter Township of Garfield Recreational Authority purchased the historic barns and surrounding property totaling approximately 54 acres in 2005 with the proceeds from a millage approved by the voters of the City and Township in November 2004.

The Authority has initiated a public input process to create a community vision for the property. As part of that process, the Authority established a series of “Givens” that must be met by any future use.

The givens, in part, identify the legal and regulatory framework for that future use. The following is a quick reference to the legal and regulatory framework.

Givens

• The Barns and surrounding property shall remain in public use
• The Grand Traverse Commons District Plan and the Recreational Authority Act, which may be amended, must be followed.
• State and Federal historic standards must be followed.

Development Principles
As part of the public input process, a series of development principles were developed and agreed to at the first session and confirmed at the second session. These development principles include:

• Provide for mixed use
• Minimize disruption to the integrity, natural features, and topography of the property
• Maintain the current allocation of developed and open space: Focus higher intensity uses in the area of the current buildings and preserving the open space and natural features of the site.
• Connections to adjacent uses
• Respect the historical significance of the site and property
• Improvements to the buildings and operations of the site should utilize sustainable technologies

Legal and Regulatory Framework
There are four primary legal or regulatory edicts that govern the use of the Barns and property.

1. State and Federal Historic Standards
2. Recreational Authority Act
3. Grand Traverse Commons District Plan
4. Recreational Authority Bond and Millage Ballot Proposal

The following is a summary of each of these edicts as they relate to the Barns property future use.

State and Federal Historic Standards
While the application of state and federal historic standards represents a significant level of effort, the principles of these standards include:

• Re-creating the building site should be an integral aspect of project work.
• Exterior and interior features are addressed in general, always emphasizing the need for an accurate depiction.

Recreational Authority Act:
The Recreational Authority Act (Act 321, P.A 2000) enables two or more municipalities to join together and form a joint recreational authority.  The City of Traverse City and the Charter Township of Garfield joined to form the joint Recreational Authority in 2002.

The Act stipulates the allowable uses on property owned by the Authority

• Public
• Allows for many uses
• City -- Garfield Rec Authority By-Laws do not provide for a public swimming pool.

Grand Traverse Commons District Plan

• Development principles

1. Maintain site historical character
2. Reuse of existing structures
3. Minimal impact of new development
4. Compatibility with adjacent land uses
5. Economically viable

• District Plan Application of Development Principles

1. Rehabilitation of the significant historical structures, include the Barns;
2. Development of a continuous open space/trail system which connects all outdoor spaces with minimum interruption from vehicular traffic.
3. Concentration of new development to areas that have had building or development which has changed the original character of the site;
4. Preservation of over 300 acres of conservation area beyond the area preserved as the front lawn
5. Conservation of open space and natural areas that are open to the community, and are protected from segmentation

• Subarea 6 Recreational Activity Center

• Trail System access
• Group outdoor assembly
• Outdoor recreational support
• Low intensity administrative offices
• Acquiring, maintaining and improving public parks.
• Subarea 7
• Uses

1. Passive Recreation
2. Trail Network
3. Interpretive Facilities
4. Educational Activites
5. Community Gardens
6. Picnic Areas

• Development

1. Parking and Trail Head Facilities
2. Trail Network
3. Road Systems converted to trail use

Ballot Measure

• Bond Issue
• Purchase and improve land
• Preserve open space and scenic views of the Bay and protect wildlife habitat and natural areas.
• Millage Proposal
• Maintain natural areas, wildlife habitat, public parks, and open space.
• Acquiring, maintaining and improving public parks.

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