Envisioning Traverse City's Future Part 4: Investing in Environmentally Friendly Infrastructure to Protect Our Natural Beauty
Traverse City is defined by its natural splendor - our old-growth, tree-lined streets, the Boardman River winding through downtown, the serenity of Boardman Lake, and, of course, our iconic views of Grand Traverse Bay. These aren’t just features of a postcard - they’re part of our daily lives and why so many of us choose to call this place home.
As we wrap up this four-part series on the opportunity created by the expiration of TIF 97, I want to talk about how we can make smart, lasting investments in infrastructure that protects this natural beauty, enhances livability, and saves us money in the long run.
Stormwater: A Hidden Challenge with Real Consequences
Our city’s stormwater system is aging, and it’s showing. A major storm in 2020 overwhelmed the sewer system, sending over 54,000 gallons of sewage into the Boardman River near Front and Union Streets [1].
In neighborhoods like Traverse Heights, including where I live on Santo Street, we often see flooding in alleys and streets after heavy rain. There’s little to no stormwater infrastructure in place in some neighborhoods, and that water doesn’t just disappear - it seeps into the ground or, worse, washes untreated into Boardman Lake or the Bay.
Our current system can't always keep up with today’s weather, let alone tomorrow’s. But there’s a smarter, more natural solution—and it starts with rethinking how we design our streets and public spaces.
What’s a Bioswale - and Why Should We Want More of Them?
If you’ve never heard of a bioswale, you’re not alone - but you’ve probably seen one and not realized it.
A bioswale is a shallow, landscaped channel that collects and filters stormwater runoff. Instead of rainwater rushing off roads and into storm drains - carrying pollutants like oil, salt, and debris - it flows into these green spaces where native plants, rock beds, and soil naturally soak it in and clean it up.
Think of it as a rain garden with a mission.
And here’s the best part: they can be beautiful. Designed well, bioswales look like vibrant curbside gardens filled with pollinator-friendly flowers, grasses, and stones. They’ve been used in cities like Ann Arbor and Elk Rapids not just to manage runoff but to enhance neighborhood charm, calm traffic, and support local ecosystems [2].
In Traverse City, we could integrate bioswales into new street projects, parking lots (like the lot near the new Fish Pass), or anywhere we’re already tearing up pavement. These green solutions don’t just solve problems - they add value.
The Economic Case for Green Infrastructure
Beyond the environmental benefits, green infrastructure is simply financially smart. Studies show it can be 5–30% cheaper to install and maintain over time than traditional “gray” infrastructure [3].
For example, bioswales reduce pressure on sewer systems, which means fewer backups, less flooding, and lower maintenance costs.
And let’s talk numbers (side note: I’ve been told in TC, these numbers are a bit low - so let’s double them since everything costs more up north):
A sidewalk installation typically runs between $6 and $12 per square foot, or around $15,000–$25,000 per block (or $50,000 if we’re being very conservative in budgeting), depending on site conditions [4] .
A curb bump-out to slow cars and create space for stormwater capture or plantings? About $13,000 per corner [5].
By planning these improvements smartly - and prioritizing them in our city’s Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) - we make ourselves eligible for state and federal matching grants. The CIP is the city’s roadmap for big projects over five years. If we want to attract outside funding, it starts by putting the right priorities on the map.
Other Cities Are Doing It… and We Can Too
We’re not the only community tackling this challenge. Grand Rapids, a city with a larger population but similar values, implemented a full green infrastructure program: bioswales, green roofs, permeable pavement, and more. They’ve seen cleaner water, less flooding, and improved neighborhoods as a result [6].
Closer to home, Elk Rapids installed a bioswale that now filters over 1.27 million gallons of runoff per year, keeping pollution out of Grand Traverse Bay [2]. These examples prove that mid-sized cities - and even small towns - can lead on sustainability.
Why I Care
I care about this because I believe Traverse City’s natural beauty is not just something to admire - it's something to protect, preserve, and pass down. The towering trees, the winding river, the clear waters of the Bay - these aren’t just backdrops for postcards. They’re a shared legacy, and the decisions we make today will determine whether future generations get to enjoy them the way we do.
As someone who’s worked in business and led multi-million-dollar teams, I also see this through the lens of financial responsibility. Investing in environmentally friendly infrastructure like bioswales and green corridors isn’t just good stewardship of our natural resources - it’s smart fiscal policy. These projects reduce long-term maintenance costs, protect valuable public assets, and help us avoid more expensive emergency fixes down the road.
This is about sustainability in every sense of the word - environmental and economic. It’s about building systems that work better, last longer, and cost less over time. When we get it right, we don’t just solve today’s problems—we lighten the tax burden for tomorrow’s residents while leaving the city better than we found it.
That’s the kind of Traverse City I want to help shape. One that’s as thoughtful about its future as it is proud of its past.
Let’s Build It Together
This isn’t just about infrastructure. It’s about leadership. It’s about showing up, asking the right questions, and inviting more people to the table.
I’ve been attending the Complete Streets Ad Hoc Committee meetings (second Wednesday of every month, 10 a.m., Governmental Center) because these are the rooms where we start planning for the Traverse City we want to see. I’d love to see you there, too.
If you’ve been following this series, thank you. And if you're reading this and thinking, "You know, Lance should run for City Commission…”—well, stay tuned. I care deeply about this place, and I’m committed to doing the work.
Let’s make Traverse City a model for how small cities can lead with vision, values, and community.
Sources & Further Reading
FixMIState – Stormwater Overflow in Traverse City
https://fixmistate.org/traverse-city-high-water-causing-swamped-sewers/Grand Traverse Bay Watershed – Elk Rapids Bioswale Project
https://gtbay.org/our-projects/green-infrastructure-in-elk-rapids/EPA – Green Infrastructure: Operation and Maintenance Costs
https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2015-04/documents/green_infrastructure-om_report.pdfLawnStarter – Sidewalk Installation Costs
https://www.lawnstarter.com/blog/cost/concrete-sidewalk-price/PEDSAFE – Curb Extensions (Bump-Outs)
https://pedbikesafe.org/PEDSAFE/countermeasures_detail.cfm?CM_NUM=5Michigan Sea Grant – Green Infrastructure in Grand Rapids
https://www.michiganseagrant.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Green-Infrastructure-Final-IA-Report.pdf
