Downtown Development Authority Meeting - 2026-07-30

Detailed briefing

Downtown Development Authority — July 30, 2026 ATTENDEES: Presenters Tim Knutson and Kristy Sommers, landscape architects with Beck and Arader; DDA and city representatives; and members of the public. • The consulting team presented preliminary preferred concepts for three areas: the Bay Street waterfront district, the Main/State central downtown district and the Third Street neighborhood district. The presentation repeatedly emphasized that this is still a master plan, not a final design or construction authorization. No vote was taken and no plan was approved. • Proposed pedestrian measures included curb extensions, new or revised crosswalks, possible four-way stops and a realignment of a waterfront parking-lot driveway with Spring Street. The Bay Street concept also showed a wider sidewalk and bicycle parking for up to 20 bikes that would use five current parking spaces. The consultant estimated that the concepts could affect roughly 10 to 15 spaces overall, while noting that some current spaces are within 20 feet of crosswalks and do not comply with the Michigan Vehicle Code. • Public opposition centered on curb extensions and parking loss. Speakers questioned whether fire trucks, delivery semitrailers and permitted boat transports could navigate proposed corners. Others cited winter snow accumulation, pickup and drop-off needs for older residents, bicycle movement and the importance of retaining parking. The transcript does not show a completed emergency-vehicle analysis or a legal answer about liability if curb extensions are not installed. • Landscape and infrastructure proposals included evenly spaced canopy trees, underground root chambers, automatic irrigation, underground holiday-light wiring, parking-lot screening and possible burial of a Third Street utility line. Speakers asked that maintenance, snow removal, water views and the survival of new trees be considered. Some participants supported more trees, improved Spring Street access and screening of parked cars. • Lighting concepts would retain globe-style fixtures in the central downtown area while exploring shielded, dark-sky-compatible replacements and shepherd’s-hook fixtures along parts of Bay and Third streets. One merchant opposed additional spending on streetlights. Sidewalk snowmelt was described as outside the project scope, although conceptual costs from a comparable northern Michigan project may be provided. • A new online survey was announced for approximately two weeks at downtownharborspringsstreetscape.org. It asks users to select the individual improvements they support; leaving an item unchecked indicates no support. City representatives also directed residents to subscribe to city website emails. Requests for mailed outreach or inserts were discussed, but no mailing commitment was made. Worth watching: 1. Whether curb extensions remain after the survey and DDA review. 2. Verification of emergency, delivery, boat-transport and winter snow-clearance requirements. 3. MDOT’s pending opinion on a requested four-way stop at Main and State. Upcoming: Survey feedback will return to the DDA, and the consultants said the concepts will be revised according to community responses and DDA guidance; no next meeting date was stated. Why it matters: The plan could guide decades of downtown sidewalk, tree, lighting, parking and pedestrian investments, but the scope and design remain unsettled.

No open public follow-ups are linked to this meeting yet.