Summary
Leelanau Township, in collaboration with the Village of Northport, has drafted a Request for Proposals (RFP) to sell and develop roughly 3.5 acres of a 5-acre Township-owned parcel at 824 N Warren for attainable housing. The remaining ~2 acres would house the existing fire department and new Township offices. The RFP outlines project goals, incentives, evaluation criteria, and a timeline running from an April 15, 2026 RFP issuance to a mid-July 2026 final developer selection.
Affordable Housing Initiatives
The RFP targets households earning 50%-120% of Area Median Income, with preferred density of 8-26 units per acre. Both rental and for-sale homes are acceptable, but units must remain attainable and cannot be used as short-term rentals; deed restrictions will be required. A 2023 Housing Priorities Survey found 56% of the Township's 2,035 housing units are vacant (83% seasonal/recreational) and 93% of occupied units are owner-occupied, with an estimated need for 39 rentals (32 at $1,000 or less) and 32 for-sale units priced at $250k or less. A 2023 County Housing Needs Assessment identified need for 382 additional rental units and 1,953 additional for-sale units. The Township's 2024-25 Annual Report (p.13) states housing is a "pressing need," citing difficulty for workers, teachers, and Fire/EMS personnel to find affordable housing. Developers will be evaluated on alignment with goals, experience, use of incentives, responsiveness to demographics, timeline, design feasibility, financial viability, and offer price for the land.
Parks and Recreation Matters
The document notes the Township maintains 257 acres of park land across five parks, and that Buster Dame Recreational Field is located approximately 0.3 miles from the proposed housing site. No decisions or votes regarding parks were indicated.
Infrastructure Projects
The 824 N Warren parcel lies within the Northport/Leelanau Township Utilities Authority (NLTUA) district and would have access to municipal water and sewer. A sewer main is located on Mill Street near the parcel's east property line. The sewer system is managed by an independent board and operated by Jacobs Engineering of Traverse City. The parcel's south portion currently houses a recycling center, which would be relocated as part of the project.
Financial Summary
Potential incentives include a PILOT (Payment in Lieu of Taxes) ordinance already approved by both the Village of Northport and Leelanau Township (the taxing authority for both); a TIF ordinance not yet approved; and potential USDA and MSHDA funding. The Village of Northport has designated the entire Village as an Attainable Housing District. Offer price for the land purchase is listed as one of the developer evaluation criteria.
Action Items
- Developer questions may be submitted to Township Supervisor Barbara Conley at supervisor@leelanautownshipmi.gov.
- Interested developers must meet with the Township Board before the submission deadline, providing development team identification, qualifications, and a site vision summary.
- RFP issuance: April 15, 2026; pre-bid informational meeting: April 28, 2026; proposal submission deadline: June 15, 2026; Review Team meeting: June 22, 2026; finalist presentations: June 30, 2026; final selection: mid-July 2026.
- Township Board will seek objective subject matter experts to assist in the developer selection process.