Midland City Council Meeting - November 24, 2025

The Midland City Council held a regular meeting on November 24, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. The council approved consent agenda items, conducted two public hearings on a structural inspection of the Tridge and a major zoning modernization update (Task 2), and voted to refer two zoning matters to the Planning Commission. All votes were unanimous (5-0).

Consent Calendar

• Approved all consent agenda items by a 5-0 vote. No items were removed for separate discussion.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No public comments were made during the public hearing for the Tridge inspection or the zoning amendment. No general public comments were offered during the public comment period.

Discussion Items

Tridge Structural Inspection (Public Hearing)

• Karen Murphy, City staff, presented: The Tridge (a city landmark) requires restaining of its arches and repair of visible wood rot on deck support members, as the protective coating has a 5–7 year lifespan. A $28,500 proposal from Western Wood Structures (Oregon) for a thorough inspection was received. The city has an endowed maintenance fund at the Midland Area Community Foundation to cover major expenses; accessing these funds requires amending the General Fund Parks budget by $30,000 (including incidentals). The inspection report is expected in winter 2025-26, with repair work planned for 2026 (staff corrected a typo from "2027"). Council members expressed support, calling it a good investment.

Zoning Modernization – Task 2 (Public Hearing) – Ordinance Amendment No. 169

• Mr. Kane (Planning) presented: This is part of a multi-phase update to the city's zoning ordinance (last comprehensively updated in 2004) to align with the 2024 Master Plan (Midland City Modern). Task 1 (use regulations) was adopted in March 2025. Task 2 focuses on dimensional standards (lot size, setbacks, building height, density). Key proposed changes:
  • Remove both-side setback requirement in most residential districts (found to serve no public purpose and hindered home expansions).
  • Streamline RA4 district by applying single-family dimensional standards to two-family dwellings, allowing more housing flexibility (e.g., on 7,200 sq ft lots). Responding to a council question, Mr. Kane noted the change responds to a housing gap identified in community studies.
  • Allow small-lot residential development in residential B, B2, and office-service districts (minimum 20-foot lot width, 2,400 sq ft area) to enable fee-simple ownership (vs. condominiums) and reduce infrastructure costs. Examples illustrated compatibility with existing Midland development patterns.
  • Eliminate front yard setbacks in mixed-use districts (neighborhood, community, regional centers) to permit more walkable development akin to downtown; this is a minimum, not a requirement.
  • Simplify table footnotes (consolidate from 4 to 3), expand height exceptions for places of worship, and make other minor clarifications.
  • The Planning Commission recommended approval 6-0 after several meetings and a “stress test” of sample developments.
• Council questions addressed parking standards (to be addressed in Task 4), relationship with state MI Home program (staff noted alignment in spirit but lack of quantified targets), and interactions with existing overlay districts (e.g., Center City, Downtown Northside overlay maintain their specific setbacks).
• Council members praised the work and the stress-test approach.

New Business: Referral to Planning Commission on Bed-and-Breakfast and Short-Term Rental Regulations

• Councilman Solder raised concerns about the current definition of “bed and breakfast” in the zoning code, specifically that it does not require owner occupancy, which he believes is important for property stewardship and neighborhood character. He also noted that short-term rentals (e.g., Airbnb) are a separate but related issue. Discussion clarified that B&B and short-term rentals are distinct; the council had previously discussed short-term rental regulation but had not acted. Councilman Brown Wilhelm and Councilman Solder supported reviewing both topics separately.
• A motion was made and seconded to request the Planning Commission to review both bed-and-breakfast standards and short-term rental regulations and bring back recommendations. The motion passed 5-0 without a specific timeline.

Key Outcomes

• Approved (5-0) resolution to amend the FY2026 General Fund Parks budget by $30,000, accepting funds from the Tridge Endowed Maintenance Fund (Midland Area Community Foundation) for a structural inspection of the Tridge.
• Approved (5-0) resolution repealing Article 26 and adopting new Article 12 of the zoning ordinance (Task 2), updating dimensional regulations to implement the Master Plan.
• Referred to the Planning Commission a review of bed-and-breakfast and short-term rental regulations, with instructions to bring back recommendations.
• Announcements: Ribbon cutting for Posyville Preserve/Founders Crossing walkway on December 2 at 4:30 p.m., followed by Christmas tree lighting and courthouse lighting events.