News & Events

December 5, 2022 Update

On Wednesday, December 14 from 4:30 PM - 7:30 PM, members from the Planning Department will be posted in the concourse of the Midland Civic Arena, 405 Fast Ice Drive, to collect public input for the Midland City Modern Master Plan process. Midland High takes on Bay City Western High School in ice hockey at the Civic Arena beginning at 7 p.m.

Residents are invited to visit before the game or take a break from the first period of action to talk about their vision for the future of Midland over the next 30 years. This is a perfect opportunity for anyone who lives, works, shops, or visits the Bay City Road corridor to be a part of the Master Plan update! There will be no formal presentations, set agendas, or materials to review: just an opportunity to talk with staff about the future of Midland. Look for the City Modern logo and start a conversation!

On Friday, January 20 from 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM, City staff will be holding a Pop-Up Planning Studio in the Trailside Activity Center located at Senior Services of Midland County, 4700 Dublin Ave. Members from the Planning Department will be providing a brief presentation, informal discussion, and Q&A. Residents are invited to stop by for a conversation and engage in discussion while enjoying lunch. Lunch is available onsite with registration by 9:00 am that day, or you may bring your own lunch. Come out and share your vision of the next mid-century!

October 24, 2022 Update

The City of Midland Planning Department is hosting a Pop-Up Planning Studio at Coffee Chaos on Wednesday, November 9 from 6:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. Please stop by for a cup of coffee and a chat about the future of Midland!

October 13, 2022 Update

The City of Midland is seeking public input for the Midland City Modern Master Plan process – and we’re coming to a local establishment near you!

On Wednesday, October 19, members from the Planning Department and other City staff will visit the following locations in Downtown Midland:

WhichCraft Taproom, 124 Ashman Street – 4:30 – 6:30 p.m.

Three Bridges Distillery, 240 E. Main Street – 7:00 – 9 p.m.

Residents are invited to stop by these locations for a conversation, engage in a discussion while enjoying a beverage or meal, or tag along with staff as they move between venues. There will be no formal presentations, set agendas, or materials to review at these events: just an opportunity to talk with staff about the future of Midland.

Similar events are planned in November at Coffee Chaos, 6201 Jefferson Avenue, and at other establishments in the coming months. More information on these events will be announced when details are available.

“The key to a successful, inclusive Master Plan that is representative of the entire community’s future vision is public input.” said Director of Planning and Community Development, Jacob Kain. “By visiting popular community gathering spaces such as local watering holes, coffee shops, and social amenities, we can meet people where they are and have meaningful two-way conversations.”

The City’s Master Plan serves as the City’s official policy guide and strategy for community improvements and development over the next 30 years. Master plans help maintain a consistent vision in cities while directing redevelopment and change, increasing livability and neighborhoods, and transforming it into a more sustainable, innovative, accessible, attractive, and economically vibrant community.

September 28, 2022 Update

At the September 27, 2022 City Planning Commission meeting, staff and the Commission finalized the schedule for completing the City Modern Master Plan update. A draft work plan was received and filed by the Commission. The proposed work plan is premised on four key objectives:

Ensuring ongoing, authentic collaboration with the community and key stakeholders through a visible, accessible, and engaging process.
Building on current and past planning initiatives and public engagement.
Leveraging outside resources to provide greater depth and breadth to the plan.
Creating momentum for plan implementation.

The draft work plan, in its entirety, can be found here. The next steps for the Planning Commission will be to prepare draft goals, objectives, and strategies so that specific public input on those elements can be obtained. This work will begin at a special meeting on October 25, 2022 at 6 p.m. in Council Chambers.

July 11, 2022 Update

On Thursday, July 7, 2022, at 6:00 pm, a joint meeting between the City Council and Planning Commission to hear a final presentation on the value-per-acre analysis conducted by Urban3. This final presentation and final report of the economic analysis given by Urban3 is part of the Midland City Modern comprehensive master planning project. This work has calculated the economically productive capacity of individual properties throughout the city based on taxable value per acre and other financial considerations. As a local government that relies heavily on local tax rates to fund many of our services, this analysis is helpful to understand how balanced the City’s model is when considering the current development of land. It also includes areas of opportunity where higher return on investment (ROI) can be achieved by the City when it comes to different kinds of new development.

The recording of the final presentation can be viewed here.

The final report can be viewed here.

September 9, 2021 Update

On Thursday, September 16, 2021, at 5:30 pm, the City of Midland will host a Midland Moves event along the Bay City Road corridor. This event is part of the Midland City Modern comprehensive master planning project. The City invites Community members to join City staff for a ride along the Bay City Road Corridor. This event will have multiple stops along the corridor, where participants will exit the vehicle and discuss parts of the corridor. Participants will have an opportunity to engage in conversations about healthy neighborhoods, walkability, accessibility, and neighborhood livability. Flyer available here.

August 25, 2021 Update

1) A summary of the Neighborhoods and Livability Survey results is available here.

2) On Thursday, September 2, 2021, at 5:30 pm, the City of Midland will host a Midland Moves event in the Huron Park Elementary area. This event is part of the Midland City Modern comprehensive master planning project. The City invites Community members to join City staff for a 0.5-mile walk of the Huron Park neighborhood around Cook Elementary school. Discussions during the walk will include topics relating to healthy neighborhoods, walkability, building accessibility, and the impact design has on livability, home values, safety, the environment, and social connections. Flyer available here.

3) On Thursday, September 16, 2021, at 5:30 pm, the City of Midland will host a Midland Moves event along the Bay City Road corridor. This event is part of the Midland City Modern comprehensive master planning project. The City invites Community members to join City staff for a walk/ride (using DART) of the Bay City Road corridor. Discussions during the walk will include topics relating to healthy neighborhoods, walkability, building accessibility, and the impact design has on livability, home values, safety, the environment, and social connections. Details coming soon!

July 28, 2021 Update

Thanks to everyone who participated in the Plymouth Park walk event. You can view photos of the event here.

July 13, 2021 Update

1) The Neighborhoods and Livability Survey is open until July 31, 2021. Take the survey here.

2) On Thursday, July 22, 2021, at 5:30 pm, the City of Midland will host a Midland Moves event in the Plymouth Park Neighborhood. This event is part of the Midland City Modern comprehensive master planning project. The City invites Community members to join City staff for a 0.63-mile walk of the Plymouth Park neighborhood. Discussions during the walk will include topics relating to healthy neighborhoods, walkability, building accessibility, and the impact design has on livability, home values, safety, the environment, and social connections.

The event will begin and end at “MIDLAND” letters just north of the Plymouth Park pool. The walk will depart from the letters at approximately 5:35 pm and return by 6:30 pm. A flyer for the event that shows the walking route is available at City Hall, 333 W. Ellsworth Street, and here.

June 28, 2021 Update

Our first Midland Moves event was successful and a lot of fun! Thanks to everyone who came out and participated. Click the images below to see enlarged photos of the event.

June 16, 2021 Update

Transportation & Mobility survey results.

June 4, 2021 Update

Midland Moves: Walk the St. Andrews Neighborhood

June 17, 2021 | 5:30 pm - 7:00 pm

The City of Midland invites community members to join its Planning department staff for a stroll through the St. Andrews neighborhood on Thursday, June 17 as an interactive part of the Midland City Modern master planning process.

During the one-mile walk, attendees are encouraged to share what they see, feel, and experience and discuss their visions for the future of the community. Topics will include items related to healthy neighborhoods, walkability, building accessibility, and the impact design has on livability, home values, safety, the environment, and social connections.

The walk will begin and end at the Grace A. Dow Memorial Library, 1710 W. St. Andrews Road. The walk will depart from the Library at approximately 6 p.m. and return by 7 p.m.

Click here to see a map showing the walking route and details.

May 17, 2021 Update

1) May 2021 is "Mobility" Month

2) Midland Mobility Challenge

May 21 - June 6, 2021

During the final weeks of May and the early days of June, residents are encouraged to park their personal vehicles and travel about the city by walking, biking, taking an e-scooter, or using Dial-a-Ride transportation instead. While using a different mode of transportation, the goal is for residents to better understand how the city is built for these different modes.

If your main mode of transportation is not a personal vehicle, you are encouraged to try something different during this time.

Write down your observations and use them to help complete the Transportation & Mobility Survey (details below).

Some questions to ask yourself during this challenge:

How easy was it to use this different form of transportation?
Did it take you a longer or a shorter amount of time to use the different mode?
How safe did you feel using a different mode?
Were you able to accomplish the trip you set out to take using a different mode?

April 14, 2021 Update

Survey #1 Results: PDF Responses

The initial Midland City Modern Master Plan Survey consisted of four (4) questions centered around the strengths and challenges of the city, what the master plan should focus on, and what residents want Midland to look like in the future.

The 4/12/21 Planning Commission Summary Report (questions 1-3 categorized and charted by response percentage).