Great Lake Bulletin Winter 1997

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Traverse City, Petoskey Question New Highways

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Proposals to build expensive new highways in Traverse City and Petoskey are running into strong opposition from citizens, local government officials, and civic organizations, who are advocating alternatives to ease traffic congestion.
At the moment, county road commissions and the Michigan Department of Transportation are pressing forward with a $250 million beltway in Traverse City, and another $64 million bypass in Petoskey. Transportation engineers say the new roads are necessary. Some business leaders in both cities argue that the highways are a logical response to increasing traffic, and will boost economic development.
However, critics are questioning the expense, and usefulness, of the highways. They contend that building new roads to accomodate traffic is like loosening one's belt to deal with obesity. Nowhere in America, they note, have more roads solved a city's traffic problems. Instead, they cause sprawl, lead eventually to worse congestion, and produce severe economic dislocation as public investment, new business centers, and housing are directed to the far edges of existing communities.
• In Petoskey, city council members, as well as the supervisors in Bear Creek and Resort townships, are urging MDOT to consider alternatives to the new highway, which would run east of the city, and carve four lanes through northern Michigan's most thriving dairy farms. Local leaders, farmers, and citizens are promoting the modernization and maintenance of existing roads as an effective solution to traffic in the area.
• In Traverse City, the Coalition for Sensible Growth, a citizens' group, is opposing the county road commission's plan to build a new bridge across the Boardman River.Noting that the bridge is an essential component of the proposed bypass, the coalition organizes public meetings to explore alternatives that would cost less, and preserve neighborhoods and the natural river corridor.
In addition, Marsha Smith, executive director of the Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation, is working with representatives of the planning, business, road building, and environmental communities to establish a modern transportation plan for the Grand Traverse region. The forums will continue through the winter of 1997.
The Institute is involved in both Petoskey and Traverse City, by conducting research on alternative transportation plans, and by urging officials to take a comprehensive cost/benefit approach to the highway proposals.u
For more information: Coalition for Sensible Growth, P.O. Box 4627, Traverse City, MI 49685; Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation, 115 Park Street, Traverse City, MI 49684, 616-935-4066.

Township Rejects Hazardous Pipeline - Result of Citizen Involvement

The Filer Township Board of Commissioners has voted unanimously to withdraw permission for a pipeline that would have transported hazardous hydrogen sulfide gas through a residential neighborhood.
The board of Manistee County's most prosperous and fastest growing township said it reversed the approval granted two years ago because Basin Pipeline, the builder and owner, had "unilaterally and materially changed" its plans for the project without the township's approval.
A spokesman for Basin Pipeline, which is based in Manistee, said that no decision has yet been made about how the company will respond.
In 1994, Basin Pipeline received township approval for a pipeline that would transport natural gas from a single well at the Manistee Country Club. The pipeline was to be constructed in the right of way of several residential streets.
A few weeks later, Basin Pipeline announced it was changing its plans. The company wanted to use the new line to gather gas from two more wells in the area, one of which contains exceptionally high concentrations of poisonous hydrogen sulfide gas. The company also said it would build a processing plant in a residential district to treat the so-called "sour gas."
Asserting that the transport of poisonous gas is a threat to safety and property values, home owners mobi- lized to block the project. They also called on the Institute, which provided assistance with research and public education.

Early last year, at the urging of citizens, the township Board voted to deny approval for the processing plant after determining that Filer's zoning prohibits such an industrial installation in a neighborhood. Basin Pipeline filed suit, but Judge James Batzer of Manistee Circuit Court ruled in the township's favor.
Citizens then urged the township to conduct a safety study of the proposed pipeline. The research, by Environmental Solutions of Traverse City,found that an accidental pipeline leak could pose significant risks to nearby residents.
On the basis of this study, the citizens then successfully appealed to the township to rescind its approval for construction of the pipeline.
Marjorie Johnson, Secretary of the Filer Township Planning Commission, said most residents believe local officials made the right decision. "Nobody wants a sour gas pipeline here," she said. "It's just too dangerous."u



		Traverse City, Petoskey Question New Highways
		Traverse City, Petoskey Question New Highways
		Proposals to build expensive new highways in Traverse City and Petoskey are running into strong opposition from citizens, local government officials, and civic organizations, who are advocating alternatives to ease traffic congestion. At the moment, county road commissions and the Michigan Department of Transportation are pressing forward with a $250 million beltway in Traverse City, and another $64 million bypass in Petoskey. Transportation engineers say the new roads are necessary. Some business leaders in both cities argue that the highways are a logical response to increasing traffic, and will boost economic development. However, critics are questioning the expense, and usefulness, of the highways. They contend that building new roads to accomodate traffic is like loosening one's belt to deal with obesity. Nowhere in America, they note, have more roads solved a city's traffic problems. Instead, they cause sprawl, lead eventually to worse congestion, and produce severe economic dislocation as public investment, new business centers, and housing are directed to the far edges of existing communities. • In Petoskey, city council members, as well as the supervisors in Bear Creek and Resort townships, are urging MDOT to consider alternatives to the new highway, which would run east of the city, and carve four lanes through northern Michigan's most thriving dairy farms. Local leaders, farmers, and citizens are promoting the modernization and maintenance of existing roads as an effective solution to traffic in the area. • In Traverse City, the Coalition for Sensible Growth, a citizens' group, is opposing the county road commission's plan to build a new bridge across the Boardman River.Noting that the bridge is an essential component of the proposed bypass, the coalition organizes public meetings to explore alternatives that would cost less, and preserve neighborhoods and the natural river corridor. In addition, Marsha Smith, executive director of the Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation, is working with representatives of the planning, business, road building, and environmental communities to establish a modern transportation plan for the Grand Traverse region. The forums will continue through the winter of 1997. The Institute is involved in both Petoskey and Traverse City, by conducting research on alternative transportation plans, and by urging officials to take a comprehensive cost/benefit approach to the highway proposals.u For more information: Coalition for Sensible Growth, P.O. Box 4627, Traverse City, MI 49685; Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation, 115 Park Street, Traverse City, MI 49684, 616-935-4066. Township Rejects Hazardous Pipeline - Result of Citizen Involvement The Filer Township Board of Commissioners has voted unanimously to withdraw permission for a pipeline that would have transported hazardous hydrogen sulfide gas through a residential neighborhood. The board of Manistee County's most prosperous and fastest growing township said it reversed the approval granted two years ago because Basin Pipeline, the builder and owner, had "unilaterally and materially changed" its plans for the project without the township's approval. A spokesman for Basin Pipeline, which is based in Manistee, said that no decision has yet been made about how the company will respond. In 1994, Basin Pipeline received township approval for a pipeline that would transport natural gas from a single well at the Manistee Country Club. The pipeline was to be constructed in the right of way of several residential streets. A few weeks later, Basin Pipeline announced it was changing its plans. The company wanted to use the new line to gather gas from two more wells in the area, one of which contains exceptionally high concentrations of poisonous hydrogen sulfide gas. The company also said it would build a processing plant in a residential district to treat the so-called "sour gas." Asserting that the transport of poisonous gas is a threat to safety and property values, home owners mobi- lized to block the project. They also called on the Institute, which provided assistance with research and public education. Early last year, at the urging of citizens, the township Board voted to deny approval for the processing plant after determining that Filer's zoning prohibits such an industrial installation in a neighborhood. Basin Pipeline filed suit, but Judge James Batzer of Manistee Circuit Court ruled in the township's favor. Citizens then urged the township to conduct a safety study of the proposed pipeline. The research, by Environmental Solutions of Traverse City,found that an accidental pipeline leak could pose significant risks to nearby residents. On the basis of this study, the citizens then successfully appealed to the township to rescind its approval for construction of the pipeline. Marjorie Johnson, Secretary of the Filer Township Planning Commission, said most residents believe local officials made the right decision. "Nobody wants a sour gas pipeline here," she said. "It's just too dangerous."u