The Traverse City Downtown Development Authority (DDA) board voted yesterday to authorize an agreement with Traverse City Light & Power (TCL&P) to install WiFi downtown and approved a recommendation to the TC Commission on allowing downtown restaurants to expand their dining space with sidewalk cafes.

The agreement with TCL&P means the city will finally move ahead with a long-discussed project http://www.traverseticker.com/story/free-downtown-traverse-city-wifi-finally-coming to introduce free WiFi throughout downtown Traverse City and the Open Space. TCL&P Executive Director Tim Arends estimated the system could be up and running as soon as early August.

At the request of an ad hoc committee of the TC Commission that is studying the issue, the DDA board also voted on a recommendation regarding a potential ordinance to allow downtown restaurant owners to offer expanded outside dining space through cafes constructed on sidewalks and/or platform cafes constructed on parking spots in front of the businesses during the summer season.

The board approved the following recommendations:

* That downtown restaurant owners be allowed to construct sidewalk cafes, platform cafes or both, with a required 6' clearance where they coexist to allow for continued pedestrian access.

* That temporary barriers, tables and chairs be removed from constructed cafe spaces at the end of each day.

* That the approval of neighboring businesses *not* be required for restaurant owners to construct such cafes. (Previous city discussions had raised the possibility of requiring such permission.)

The ad hoc committee of the TC Commission will now consider the DDA's recommendation, along with input from other user groups, to draft a final ordinance that will be sent to the TC Commission for approval in the coming weeks.