MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP - Building permit numbers for the month of March are in, and so far the numbers are slightly lower than last year's at this time.

Commercial properties are counted by the value of construction and not by the number of permits. So far there's only about a $1 million difference from last Mach with the value current at around $3.6 million.

Meridian Township Director of Community Planning & Development Mark Kieselbach said they're still some big projects coming to the Township, so he thinks those projects will help reach the $60 million in construction value they achieved by the end of last year.

As for new housing, they're only 12 permits compared to last year's 17. New housing permits give the Planning Department a better idea of where people are building in the Township, as well as can benefit the local schools with the potential for new students.

Kieselbach said it is still early and he expects to see more housing permits roll in as the weather warms up.

Kieselbach went on to say, "in 2014 we had over 100 new house starts, so we're hoping to have another good year. It really helps that the market for housing is coming back."