Midland · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in City of Midland public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Parking reconfiguration at 315 McDonald Street apartment building
The owners of a renovated eight-unit apartment building lost permission to use a neighbor's driveway and now need a new curb cut on MDOT-controlled E. Buttles Street plus redesigned parking. They say the delays and stormwater requirements are costly while they can't lease units without parking.
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.
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.
Cemetery Fee Ordinance Amendment
Midland Cemetery fees haven't changed in 24 years, and the cemetery only recovers about a quarter of its costs. The proposed increase is 20% for residents and 50% for non-residents, plus a new premium rate for winter or after-hours burials. Only about 770 plots remain — the cemetery is nearly full.
Dial-A-Ride Bus Purchase
A new light-duty cutaway bus is up for purchase to keep the Dial-A-Ride transit service running for riders who depend on it.
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.
Downtown Development Authority Lot D reconstruction
The downtown Lot D parking area and lift station drive will be repaved for about $133,000.
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.
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.
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.
Landfill equipment replacements
The city is buying four vehicles — a fire pickup, parks van, forestry lift truck and wastewater sludge hauler — for about $531,000 combined through state cooperative pricing.
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.
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.
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.
The Dean Apartments facility tour
The Planning Commission took a firsthand look at The Dean Apartments, touring four rental units and the community room. Site visits like this usually inform future housing or land-use decisions coming before the commission.
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.
Yard waste collection fee increases
Yard waste costs are going up: $70 a year for your first roll-out container, $35 for extra ones, and 80 cents per bag sticker. The silver lining — fees are waived in April, October and November.
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.
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.
Valley Drive Pump Station backup generator
The Valley Drive pump station is the city's backup drinking water supply during power outages. A new dedicated generator, backed by $600,000 in federal EPA money, will make sure water keeps flowing when the lights go out.
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.
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.
Countywide transit facility study
The city is spending up to $59,842 (mostly federal grant money) on a study of a joint transportation facility that would serve all of Midland County's Dial-A-Ride needs, including possible bus storage and maintenance sites.
Police Department fee increases
Several police service fees would climb under the proposed ordinance — notary service jumps from $2 to $10, breath tests from $5 to $10, and fingerprinting from $10 to $15. Final vote September 28.
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.
New credit union development at 4600 Bay City Road
Isabella Community Credit Union is building a 2,850-square-foot branch with drive-through near Costco. The big question was parking — they got permission for double the normally allowed spaces because they plan to double their staff. The site adds sidewalks, a bike rack, and underground stormwater detention.
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.
City Forest master plan
A resident submitted a petition over planned tree removal in her neighborhood, asking the council to reconsider the project.
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.
New auto repair garage on S. Saginaw Road
Zaremba Group got approval for a 6,607-square-foot auto repair garage, bringing a new commercial service business to the S. Saginaw corridor.
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.
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.
Police equipment and technology upgrades
The police department is getting three new patrol vehicles to replace aging, high-maintenance units, plus a $104,874 records management system that supports investigations and public transparency.
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.
Civic Arena fee increases
Ice time, skate rentals and drop-in programs at the Civic Arena are getting more expensive, with ice rental rates rising to $290 then $325 an hour. Hockey leagues and residents came to object, saying the higher costs could hit youth and amateur programs hard.
Drive-through restaurant on S. Saginaw Road
A new 4,408-square-foot commercial building with a drive-through restaurant is planned at 1815-1917 S. Saginaw Road, next to Popeye's and Jersey Mike's. Cross-access agreements with both neighbors are being worked out.
Sewer line dispute at 725 S. Saginaw Road
A damaged sanitary sewer line crossing the auto repair garage site has left businesses at 712 Cambridge Street without sewer service, and the property owners haven't reached an agreement on repairs. The city says it's a private dispute, but it's complicating the site plan review.
Midland Daily News brownfield plan cancelled
The 2020 brownfield redevelopment plan for the old Daily News building was scrapped at the developer's request, ending the associated redevelopment incentives.
Floodplain management and repetitive loss planning
Multiple neighbors cited flooding worries and asked for dredging; staff explained the 'problem sites' map tracks open-drain culvert debris and said woody debris removal along Sturgeon Creek is scheduled for later this year.
Jefferson Avenue reconstruction
The city hired engineers to design the rebuild of Jefferson Avenue between Wheeler and Wackerly streets, funded largely with federal aid.
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.
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.
Traffic volumes on Saginaw Road
Residents raised concerns about existing and future traffic; staff noted recent counts of about 16,000 vehicles per day on this stretch of Saginaw Road, with traffic under City jurisdiction.
Vacation of Maple Street
The city may give up a little-used portion of Maple Street so neighboring property owners, including a developer planning 16 apartments, can use the land — with a promised easement keeping park and street access. The City Council makes the final call.
Sugnet Road bridge replacement
Engineering work begins on replacing the W. Sugnet Road bridge over Sturgeon Creek, with Eng, Inc. hired for $210,267.50.
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.
Landfill wheel loader replacement
Landfill wheel loader #6-33 suffered a punctured oil pan and $64,924.41 in engine damage that isn't worth repairing, so a $345,000 budget amendment hearing was set for July 27 to buy a replacement.