Today is May 20, 2025, and we’ve got a few important updates to share:

SBGC Board members and volunteers are continuing conversations and dialogues with several landowners in the Leelanau County area regarding land donations or discounted land purchases for attainable housing. As of now, we have nothing to share, but we are hoping these efforts, along with the support of the community and local government officials, will help us identify suitable and affordable properties to develop.

Let’s start with Ryan Kilpatrick’s explanation of the households’ sizes today along with the housing sizing issue and his call for action. As Ryan articulates, we need to right-size our home building by working with developers and local zoning boards to meet today’s needs.

884 square feet with two-beds and two bathrooms that would be illegal to build in most residential zones

This cottage is 884 square feet with two beds and two bathrooms. It offers ample room for many first-time homebuyers and downsizers and fits neatly on a 40’ x 80’ lot with plenty of room for a small yard and off-street parking. Unfortunately, it would be illegal to build in more than 95% of residential zone districts.

Reimagining Housing Development

Addressing this mismatch requires a fundamental shift in how we approach housing development:

Diversify housing types: Cottage courts, townhomes, duplexes, accessory dwelling units (ADUs), and small-lot developments can provide right-sized options while maintaining an appropriate sense of scale and building form for the neighborhood.

Revise zoning laws: Many localities prohibit exactly the housing types most needed through restrictive single-family-only zoning, minimum square footage requirements, minimum lot sizes, and other regulations that artificially limit housing diversity.

Prioritize accessibility: Universal design features like zero-step entries, wider doorways, and first-floor primary bedrooms benefit both aging residents and those with disabilities.

Focus on location efficiency:  Smaller homes near transit, services, and amenities can offset reduced private space with improved access to shared community resources. They can also create opportunities for households to save on transportation costs, something that is typically the 2nd or 3rd highest expense (after housing and/or daycare) for most households.

Encourage adaptive reuse: Converting larger homes into two-family, three-family or accessory dwelling units can increase housing supply while preserving existing neighborhood character.

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The Path Forward

Creating appropriately-sized housing isn’t just about meeting market demand—it’s about building communities that work for people at all life stages. This requires:

  • Developers who recognize the untapped demand for smaller, thoughtfully designed homes
  • Local governments willing to update outdated zoning codes and building regulations
  • Financial institutions that support financing for innovative housing types and ownership models
  • Consumers who advocate for the housing options their communities need

The great housing mismatch represents both a challenge and an opportunity. By aligning our housing development with demographic realities, we can create more affordable, sustainable, and inclusive communities while addressing one of the fundamental disconnects in America’s housing market. The houses we build should reflect the households we have—not the households of generations past.

In an update from the Leelanau Ticker, the Northport Village Council and a local task force have come together to solve the attainable housing crisis.

Housing is staying in the spotlight in the Village of Northport. Following a joint public workshop with Leelanau Township last month to explore potential housing options, Northport’s Village Council discussed next steps at their meeting last week, including the possible creation of a new housing task force and development of an inventory of all publicly owned property in the village.

Northport Village Council President Chris McCann explained that municipal property is the “low-hanging fruit” when it comes to bringing more affordable housing projects to communities like Northport. “[Public land] can be sold at little to no cost, which can help with affordability of housing, and there are tools like Payment In Lieu Of Taxes (PILOT) and Tax IncrementalFinancing (TIF) available to municipalities like ours,” McCann told The Ticker.

The Village Council has indicated its support for creating a Joint Housing Task Force with Leelanau Township, although the specific set of tasks and composition of the group is not yet determined,” Jered Ottenwess (Northport Village Manager) wrote in his report to the village council.

At their meeting last week, the Planning Commission suggested moving forward with an inventory of all publicly owned property in the Village (and possibly Township) to evaluate its suitability for development of attainable housing,” Ottenwess continued. “This inventory could be an excellent resource to help guide future decisions about specific properties, for example, by developing a ranked list. I think it would be helpful to hear feedback and discuss (1) initiating this process now and (2) whether or not and to what extent to involve the Township and Joint Task Force.”

The suggestion for a municipal property inventory came from Tracy Cavendish, who is both a planning commission member and a village council trustee. According to minutes from the planning commission’s April 30 meeting, Cavendish believes creating a “master database of publicly owned property” and then evaluating each parcel “against standard criteria” could help “determine suitability for attainable housing development.”

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How Can You Help?

  1. Start by spreading the word—talk to your friends, neighbors, business owners, and local officials. Share this newsletter with organizations you’re connected to, like your Chamber of Commerce, clubs, or neighborhood groups.
  2. Do you own land that might be suitable for conservation or community use? We’d love to hear from you—whether you’re open to donating or selling it to a local 501(c)(3), your contribution could make a lasting impact.
  1. If you haven’t already, subscribe to our newsletter to stay in the loop—there’s a sign-up link right at the bottom of our homepage. And don’t forget to follow us on Facebook and Instagram for regular updates and stories from the region.
  1. Looking for hands-on ways to get involved? Consider making a donation or volunteering with us. Every bit of support helps us protect and enhance the gateway communities of the Sleeping Bear Dunes.

Only together can we make a real difference.