Community development: marketplace apartment permit under review; city wraps 2025 grants and mails gravel-driveway applications

Community Development Director Dyer told the council on Sept. 22 that the city has received a building permit application for the Merriam Marketplace apartment complex and that staff has begun plan review.

"First of all, we have gotten in the marketplace apartment place apartment complex, building permit application. So we have started the review on that," Dyer said.

Dyer also said the city is wrapping up the 2025 grant season and is beginning preparations for 2026 programs. As part of a driveway-grading or surfacing program, staff sent 88 letters last week to property owners and owner-occupants with gravelled driveways explaining the application process and inviting participation.

City staff and the mayor also highlighted several upcoming community events: Merriam Drive Live on Oct. 4, National Night Out and the rededication of McFarland Fields on Oct. 7 at Waterfall Park, a recycling event on Oct. 11, large-item pickup the week of Oct. 20–24, and the city's anniversary/birthday celebration Oct. 23 at Merriam Marketplace.

Why it matters: The building-permit submission signals progress for a major housing/marketplace project; grant closeouts and new grant preparations affect local capital projects and reimbursements; the mailed applications are a direct outreach step to affected property owners.

Next steps: Staff will continue permit review and begin 2026 grant application activities; no formal council action was taken during the informational update.