The housing affordability crunch has reached a crisis in Gaylord and Northern Michigan, according to Paul Hartmann, a member of the planning commissions for Elmira Township and Otsego County.
"We want to communicate with the community that we not only have a serious housing problem, but we also have a group addressing the problem," said Paul Hartmann.
Almost 1,000 responses were collected in 2024 from community members about housing needs. And 97% of all respondents said that we need more housing!
In the Summer of 2025 Otsego County approved a change allowing 560 Square Foot homes. This zoning ordinance change was in part due to participation of Task Force members in a Planning Commission sub workgroup.
The housing affordability crunch has reached a crisis in Gaylord and Northern Michigan, according to Paul Hartmann, a member of the planning commissions for Elmira Township and Otsego County.
The open house in April, 2025, at the local library was attended by more than 50 community members. This was the Task Force’s first launch and introduction to the community.
Both the Otsego Economic Alliance and Northeast Michigan Housing Alliance completed updated housing need assessments in 2025. Both studies were developed in part for the Otsego Housing Task Force.
One of the Housing Task Force members volunteered for and was recently voted in to be on the Gaylord City Planning Commission. In addition, there are 3 Housing Task Force members on the County Planning Commission.
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