What happened: The Midland City Council met on Tuesday, May 12, and approved a 36-lot residential development in Solomon Estates, after an unusually long process that included tabling the item mid-meeting, reopening the public hearing, and adding new conditions directly into the ordinance.

The meeting also included a unanimous denial of a large storage project near Holiday Hill, the start of public hearings on $1.14 million in federal grants, a renewal of the Boys and Girls Club lease in Taylor Park, and a detailed update on the millions spent on city roads in the last several years.

Key points:

  • Solomon Estates rezone: Council considered a Solomon Estates rezone that has now come before the council four times since February. The developer requested a zoning change to allow 36 homes on about 20 acres at the southeast corner of Mockingbird Lane and Alysheba Lane.

Most public opposition focused on traffic safety along Alysheba. In response, the council paused the item mid-meeting to allow the developer to consider moving one of the development’s entrances from Alysheba to A Street, as the neighbors requested.

When discussion resumed, Councilman Brian Stubbs said keeping access on Alysheba was necessary due to drainage constraints near Mockingbird and A Street, the proximity of a potential curb cut to that intersection, and the need for multiple access points for emergency vehicles.

Council approved the rezone 4–2 (Councilwomen Robin Poole and Amy Burkes opposed) with three conditions: installation of a four-way stop at Alysheba and Sir Barton, full-access entry from Mockingbird, and construction-only access from Mockingbird. Mayor Lori Blong also directed staff to bring back additional traffic-calming options for the surrounding neighborhood.

  • City roads update: City Engineering Director Gabe McClellan outlined how the city’s road investment has expanded over time. Annual street maintenance spending grew from $343,000 in 2011 to about $7.4 million in recent years, alongside roughly 130 miles of new paved roads over the past decade.

Over the last six years, the city completed 52 miles of mill-and-overlay work and applied surface treatments or crack sealing to about 200 miles of streets. Pothole repairs increased 107% from 2022 to 2025, and the number of signalized intersections has risen 12% since 2014. McClellan said recent equipment purchases allowed the city to complete more work in-house rather than outsourcing it.

“We just had a room full of people in here on the [Alysheba] item, and then something as important as drainage and roads and all those things, the crowd has tremendously diminished,” Councilman John Norman said.

  • Holiday Hill storage rezone: Council unanimously denied a request to rezone about three acres at Holiday Hill Road and Becker Drive to allow a 398-unit storage facility. City staff recommended denial, citing incompatibility with the adjacent residential neighborhood and inconsistency with the Tall City Tomorrow Comprehensive Plan, which designates the area for park or open space use.
  • CDBG public hearing: Council held the first of three public hearings on the city’s 2026–27 Community Development Block Grant plan. The city expects to receive about $1.14 million in federal funding, but has received roughly $2.4 million in requests across 18 applications.

Those requests include projects from local nonprofits and organizations such as the YMCA, Habitat for Humanity, Midland Memorial Hospital, and the Salvation Army. A council subcommittee will review applications and bring recommendations forward on June 23. The city must submit the final plan to the federal government by August 15.

  • Boys and Girls Club lease: Council approved a new 10-year lease with a 10-year renewal option for the Boys and Girls Club at Taylor Park, continuing a partnership in place since 1995. The organization built and operates the facility on city-owned parkland and will continue paying $1 per year under the agreement.