Midland · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in City of Midland public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
2026 Sidewalk Improvement Assessments (Bay City Road and Dublin Avenue)
The council is set to award Contract 13 under the 2026 Sidewalk Improvement Program, continuing the city's ongoing sidewalk construction and repair work.
MSHDA Housing Readiness Incentive Grant
The city won the maximum $50,000 state grant to rewrite the administrative sections of its zoning ordinance — the rules for PUDs, variances, site plans and appeals. It's the next step in a seven-part overhaul of the 2004 zoning code guided by the 2024 master plan. Parking, landscaping, and sign ordinance updates are already in the pipeline.
Affordable housing expansion at 3400 Isabella Street
The Affordable Housing Alliance is replacing its old bank-branch office with 10 below-market rental units — part of a bigger county push to renovate 69 units and build 60-70 new ones. The parking math only works if City Council passes the new parking rules in November, so there's some risk attached.
Transition from MERS to city-run retirement system
The city is weighing whether to end its agreement with the Municipal Employees' Retirement System, which affects retirement benefits for city employees. A MERS representative addressed the council before any decision.
Freedom of Information Act appeal
The council backed the city attorney's refusal to fully release records from two September FOIA requests. Residents seeking those records now have the appeal path exhausted at the local level.
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.
Valley Lift Station flood protection
The Valley Lift Station is a key piece of the sewer system, and the upgrade will protect it to the 500-year floodplain — funded largely through MEDC grant money.
Stormwater Improvement Projects Change Orders
The city is putting $1 million back into the Barstow Woods stormwater project, which was pulled from the budget during a 2025 amendment but still needs doing because of failing infrastructure. Fixing this helps prevent localized flooding problems.
Sale of Larkin Parking Deck
The city was set to sell its Larkin Parking Deck to Midland Main ST Investments LLC, but council wants to know more about what the structure is worth before signing off. Downtown parking could change hands if the deal moves forward.
Future fire station locations and count
The Council took a deep dive with fire leadership into how many stations the department may need going forward and where they should sit. Nothing was decided, but this study could shape response times and city spending on facilities for years to come.
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.
Tridge replacement planning
The nearly 50-year-old Tridge is nearing the end of its expected life, and the city wants $50,000 to start design work on a replacement. A public hearing is set for August 24.
Case Systems tax exemption and job retention
Case Systems, a long-standing Midland manufacturer, wants to add 51,945 square feet to its James Savage Road facility. A revised site plan will return May 12 after the applicant reworks elements near the western property line.
Diamond View Farms Phase IV subdivision
A 96-unit duplex development is coming to Waldo Avenue, and neighbors from Primrose are worried about privacy, density, and traffic at Diamond Drive and Waldo Avenue. A recent traffic study found the intersection doesn't meet signal warrants, but the city says it will keep monitoring.
Outdoor emergency warning siren replacement
The city's tornado and emergency sirens are being replaced with a new system from West Shore Services for about $383,538, paid from the fire budget. This is the system residents rely on for outdoor severe-weather warnings.
Industrial tax exemption for Midland Compounding
The council gave AptarGroup a 12-year tax break for its new Ridgewood Drive facility but denied the same deal to Rankinen & Associates on Schuette Road. Tax exemptions trade short-term property tax revenue for hoped-for job growth, and the split vote shows the council is scrutinizing each deal individually.
Child Care Shortage and the Wackerly Street Center
A new child care center serving up to 50 kids could fill a real gap in Midland's child care options, but two immediate neighbors worry about traffic and noise in their single-family neighborhood. The commission recommended approval; City Council makes the final call.
Poseyville Bridge erosion repair
Erosion under the Poseyville Bridge is creating hazardous trail conditions; the city plans a $260,398 fix with a $70,000 budget bump, pending a June 22 hearing.
Water Reclamation Emergency Electrical Repair
A main power line at the sewer plant failed, and the city paid $98,565 for emergency repairs to keep sanitary sewer service running — electrical redundancy matters when a constant power supply is required.
Redwood USA 170-unit apartment development
Midland's need for workforce housing came up during the approval of the 78-unit Fieldstone Reserve Apartments project. The Midland Business Alliance endorsed it, saying the community needs more housing options for workers.
905 E. Park Drive Property Disposition Reversed
A wave of neighbors turned out on both sides of whether the city should rescind plans to sell 905 E. Park Drive, a green space some call 'The Pointe.' The council put off any decision until April 27.
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.
New water and sewer rates
New 2026-27 water and sewer rates got first readings, including a $96.38 monthly opt-out charge for property owners who don't disconnect footing drain connections. Final adoption is expected April 27 — expect higher utility bills starting July 1.
Barstow Woods stormwater project funding
A $1 million budget amendment to restore funding for the Barstow Woods stormwater project goes to a public hearing March 23. The project was identified as a priority due to failing infrastructure.
Emerson and Wyman pump station flood mitigation
The city is spending about $70,000 more to fully engineer flood-proofing upgrades at the Wyman and Emerson pump stations, paid from 2020 flood disaster recovery funds.
2027-2032 Capital Improvement Plan
The city's six-year plan for infrastructure spending covers streets, sidewalks, parking lots, the golf course and city facilities. Commissioners questioned whether parking lots pay for themselves, how the DDA's big Business Route 10 commitment limits its future spending, and how the master plan drives priorities.
M-20 corridor improvement project funding
The city is committing about $5.05 million to the state's $38.4 million rebuild of M-20 between W. Main and Washington, including a path, decorative lighting, and water main work. The council amended the street fund budget and signed the cost-share deal.
Firefighter breathing apparatus replacement
A federal grant covers most of the $1.29 million cost of new self-contained breathing apparatus for Midland, Bay City, and Saginaw firefighters; the city's local match is only $34,642.53.