County land bank seeks rezoning at 314 E. 8th for 40-unit affordable housing project

Planning staff introduced a rezoning application for 314 East 8th Street that would change the parcel from C-2 commercial zoning to R-3 multi-family residential to enable an approximately 40‑unit low/moderate‑income housing development assembled by the Grand Traverse County Land Bank. Staff said the parcel is an isolated C‑2 'island' amid surrounding R‑3 parcels and that rezoning would avoid repeated variance requests.

Leslie, a planning staff member, told the commission the Land Bank and county are assembling several parcels for the redevelopment and that staff have already scheduled a public hearing and mailed notices. "We've already set the public hearing for August 5 and have sent out the notices," she said. Maxwell Cameron, who the staff identified as representing the Land Bank, thanked the commission and said the project is a multi‑party effort with the city. "It's great to be working with the City on this," he said, adding adjacent city‑owned parcels may be folded into the overall project.

Commissioners asked concrete questions about zoning differences and constraints. One asked whether short‑term rentals and marijuana provisioning centers would be permitted under R‑3; staff answered that most types of short‑term rentals are not allowed under the R‑3 proposal and that the project will also be constrained by MSHDA financing rules tied to pilot or tax‑credit programs. Staff noted that MSHDA funding often carries long affordability terms—staff said 30‑year financing horizons are typical for the low‑income tax credit or pilot applications that may follow. The Planning Commission acknowledged the time constraint but did not take final action; a public hearing is scheduled for the commission’s next regular meeting.