The Midland City Council voted 5–1 on Oct. 28 to grant a special exception allowing the division of a one‑acre lot at 6500 Gladiola Avenue into two half‑acre lots, a move residents called contrary to the subdivision’s original design.

Planning staff described the request as a special‑exception petition to reduce the minimum lot area from one acre to two half‑acre parcels. Staff reported four written objections from neighbors within the 200‑foot notification radius and said there are several existing lots in the neighborhood already smaller than one acre. The planning analyst recommended approval with a condition limiting future subdivision to the two half‑acre lots.

Neighbor Nolan Bradshaw objected during public comment and cited private easements and a pending lawsuit involving dedication of rights‑of‑way. “No such consent has been granted, and thus the application infringes on protected private rights,” Bradshaw said, arguing the city should not alter recorded rights without the written consent of all easement holders. Other neighbors spoke of increased traffic, absence of sidewalks and deterioration of private streets.

Developer Brandon McMorris and engineer Andrew Mellon said the applicant’s intent is to place a second single‑family home on the property and that the owner had cleared significant trash and abandoned vehicles from the site. McMorris said the split would improve property values and allow for a second single‑family residence consistent with surrounding development. Staff noted that restrictive covenants in the subdivision allow lots as small as 10,000 square feet and that the proposed split would not violate those covenants.

Council debate focused on consistency with nearby parcel sizes and the balance between private property rights and neighborhood concerns. After public comment, Councilwoman Poole moved to approve the special exception; Councilman Norman seconded. The motion carried 5–1.

Why it matters: The vote resolves a specific property dispute while highlighting larger tensions about enforcement of subdivision covenants, private easements and the pace of infill development in older neighborhoods. Residents said they fear cumulative change to neighborhood character and raised questions about sidewalks and street maintenance; staff said sidewalk design exists for parts of the corridor pending resolution of separate litigation over right‑of‑way.