Petoskey creates blueprints

Despite headlines of doom and gloom for Michigan’s economy, businesses in downtown Petoskey were recently surveyed and a majority said their sales volume was up from last years summer tourism season. It was part of a survey taken by the Petoskey Chamber of Commerce as downtown and community leaders start the process of taking a look at their community and
develop a “blueprint” for its future.

BLUEPRINT PETOSKEY
“It is a little confusing because the
City Planning Commission has started Blueprint Petoskey and the Chamber recently was awarded a State of Michigan Downtown Blueprint Grant,” said Amy Tweeten, Petoskey City Planner. “It all spells positive planning opportunities for Petoskey.”
Tweeten, along with the Planning
Commission recently launched Blueprint Petoskey by hosting a three-night charrette—community input sessions—that attracted 150 participants to start a two to three year process that will ultimately update the Petoskey’s zoning ordinances.
“The current zoning ordinance is 30 years old, and every time someone wants to build something, a variance must be issued,” said Tweeten. “This is not an ideal situation for
development.”

LOCAL SUPPORT
Downtown business owner Justin Rashid of American Spoon Food agrees. He is one of the stakeholders helping to spearhead the process.
“If we don’t update our zoning we won’t be able to send a consistent message to developers as to how we who live here want our community to look,” said Rashid. “The current system sends mixed and inconsistent messages and runs the risk of eliminating Petoskey’s uniqueness. We need to make it clear so when developers come forward they know what to expect.”

PHASE I
Tweeten said that phase one of the process—which took place two weeks ago—invited the public to come and give input on “how they want Petoskey to look.”
“This process paints a picture of how residents and business owners want Petoskey to look,” said Tweeten. “We are looking at design and physical character issues here and our consultants have input and will be back in a couple of weeks with renderings based on the input.”
Participants pointed to Petoskey’s current strengths as being the “waterfront,” downtown,” and maintaining the communitie’s “character.”
“Defining the character of the community is an important part of the process,” said Tweeten. “I haven’t had a chance to see everything that was said, but in general, participants identify with the historic downtown, open spaces, parks and Petoskey’s accessibility by foot as all essential elements of the Petoskey’s community character.”
While Petoskey Blueprint will focus on the physical it will serve as the basis for additional planning elements, including areas of economic development, transportation and affordable housing.
“We will bring in experts in these other areas as the process continues,” said Tweeten, who just arrived to Petoskey last year after working in Wisconsin as planner. “This will be a comprehensive plan for the city. There is an existing master plan that was done in conjunction with Emmett County in 1997; this will be an update but Petoskey specific. We will continue to work with the county but the city needs its own plan.”

COOL CITIES
Simultaneously the downtown business community is also in the process of addressing planning issues. The community was recently awarded a Michigan Cool Cities “Blueprint” grant that will update their
Hyett Palma Report (a downtown roadmap for marketing and retail recruitment). Becky Goodman, downtown coordinator for the Petoskey Regional Chamber, sees the grant as the next step for downtown.
“This is independent from Blueprint Petoskey, this grant from the state is specifically for downtown,” said Goodman. “Winning this grant will help us to take the next steps in downtown to improve ourselves. Things are good but they always can be better. This grant will help us answer the question where do we go from here?

SUMMER SUCCESS
Goodman surveyed downtown merchants last week to get their input on how the summer went.
“For the most part the response was positive,” said Goodman. “Most business owners said they exceeded their expectations this summer only a few expressed dissatisfaction. A majority of businesses reported volume was up.”
She also noted that that everyone agreed that things are “more competitive.”
“This is an important time for us as a business community,” said Goodman. “Planning for the future is important because it is competitive out there and we have to work to set Petoskey a part from other communities.”

THE FUTURE
So what will the immediate focus be?
“In 2007 we will launch our ‘most excellence service’ effort,” said Goodman. “We get great reviews on our service but we want to step it up.”
Rashid agrees and also sees maintaining Petoskey’s heritage and views as equally important to the community’s viability in the future.
“We don’t want to look like every other community along the I-75 corridor,” said Rashid. “Petoskey is unique. It has magnetic qualities that draw people here, such as the waterfront, the vistas and views, the walk-ability of the community and the unique shops. Our future depends on our embracing this.”
Rashid adds that he and other merchants realize one important thing about Petoskey.
“People don’t come to Petoskey because they have to, they come here because they want to,” said Rashid. “We are on a peninsula and not on the way to anywhere. Our success is based on relationship marketing. We are creating an experience that people want and can’t get anywhere else.”
For Rashid and other merchants it is music to their ears when customers say “something about buying it in Petoskey makes it more special.”
“We have to keep that magical feeling about this community,” said Rashid.
“We are fortunate to be in a position to plan for our future when things are pretty good here.”

YOUNGER PROFESSIONALS
One thing not being addressed that both Rashid and Goodman agree must be looked at is the recruitment and retaining of younger professionals.
“Exactly, unless you have a family owned business or are an entrepreneur the opportunities for the younger professional are few,” said Rashid. “My own family is an example of this. I have three children and one works with me the other two are living in Chicago. So, yes, we need to look at this as well.”
Goodman echoes.
“I know some of the larger cities in Michigan are creating programs to attract younger professionals,” said Goodman. “We don’t have anything like that here and I think the time is right for us to start something.”
Petoskey community leaders are excited about the city’s future and are still looking for input and participation.
To learn more about the Petoskey Blueprint contact Amy Tweeten at the City Planning office (231) 347-2500. For those interested in downtown Petoskey contact Becky Goodman at the Petoskey Regional Chamber (231) 347-4150. View On Our Website