Midland · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in City of Midland public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Rezoning of Prairie Creek Drive and Laughton Drive properties
Two single-family residential properties could be rezoned to agricultural under Zoning Petition 674. Neighbors would get a chance to comment at the public hearing before any decision.
Rezoning of Tittabawassee River Road properties
Three residential parcels were shifted to agricultural zoning, locking in their low-intensity use. The property owner supported the change and no one objected at the hearings.
4705 Bay City Road rezone and parking code rewrite
Hearings were set for November 23 on rezoning part of 4705 Bay City Road to Regional Center zoning and on a full overhaul of the city's parking and loading rules.
Overhaul of city parking requirements
A study found Midland parking lots average only 43% full at peak, meaning developers have been required to build far more parking than needed. The new rules would cut minimums, allow shared parking and infill flexibility, and add bike parking and pedestrian safety standards citywide.
Bay City Road corridor rezoning
Jason Orvosh wants to rezone 3020 Bay City Road so an existing house-and-shop combo can become a walkable neighborhood business like a coffee shop or corner store, while the house is rented out separately.
Agricultural zoning petitions in floodway and west-end areas
Two rare agricultural rezoning requests came before council: one to let a retiring owner develop wildlife habitat on 26 acres near Prairie Creek Drive, and one letting a riverfront owner keep 4-H livestock despite floodway restrictions. Both passed 5-0 as consistent with the master plan.
Rezoning petitions 674 and 675
Two petitions would let property owners legally keep farm animals and cultivate land inside city limits, since city rules bar farm animals outside agricultural zones. One neighbor worried about wetlands, tree removal, and future zoning escalation.
Arc of Midland social service agency at 5114 Jefferson Avenue
The Arc of Midland wanted to operate a social service agency at 5114 Jefferson Avenue, which needs a conditional use permit under the city's zoning rules. Neighbors got a say at a public hearing before the council signed off.
Saginaw Road rezoning opposition
Lots 33 & 34 of Bookness Addition just changed from single-family residential zoning to Neighborhood Center zoning, opening the door to small-scale commercial and mixed uses. Adopted on final reading after a public hearing.
Fall ordinance update schedule
Parking ordinance changes are coming in September and sign ordinance changes in October or November — worth watching if you own property or a business downtown.
The Arc of Midland facility on Jefferson Avenue
The Arc of Midland wants to move into the former daycare at 5114 Jefferson Avenue to serve people with intellectual and developmental disabilities — no clients would live there, and hours would be 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Some neighbors raised concerns about traffic, lighting, and whether it fits a single-family neighborhood; the commission unanimously forwarded it to City Council.
Rezoning of 3100 and 3120 N. Saginaw Road
Property on N. Saginaw Road could shift from office-service to neighborhood-center zoning, allowing a wider mix of neighborhood commercial uses. A public hearing is set for August 24.
Zoning modernization program
The city is steadily rewriting its zoning rules — landscaping/screening standards are nearly ready for introduction, consultants are working on parking standards (report expected late July) and a sign ordinance update.
Regulation of Short-Term Rentals and Bed-and-Breakfasts
Midland is starting to figure out how to regulate short-term rentals like Airbnb. Currently they're treated like long-term rentals, and the city may define them and set zone-based rules — local operators came out to say the rentals serve a real community need.
State Zoning Preemption Opposition
Midland joined cities pushing back against Michigan housing bills that would override local zoning, urging legislators to work with municipalities instead.
7900 Eastman Ave rezoning for multi-family housing
The council gave final approval to rezone a parcel on Eastman Avenue from township zoning to RB Multiple Family Residential — opening the door for apartment-style development along a major corridor.
Rezoning of 7900 Eastman Avenue
A proposed rezoning of 7900 Eastman Avenue to allow multiple-family residential development will get a public hearing on March 23. The Planning Commission has already recommended approval.
Contractor's yard conditional use permit at 3500 Isabella Street
Brian Musgrove got final council approval for a contractor's yard on Isabella Street after the Planning Commission recommended it. Nobody spoke at the hearing.
Rezoning of 1605 Bookness Street
A petition to rezone 1605 Bookness Street from single-family residential to Neighborhood Center zoning got its first reading; the real public hearing is March 2.