Aligned Planning, Lynee Wells Advice for Harbor Springs Zoning Code - The Proposed Zoning Code is Not ready for Preserve & Protection
Developers: Could vs Would
Brief
Interim City Manager/ Chief Kyle is proposing to move winter City Council meetings to 6PM. Please keep an eye on the schedule for meeting time changes.
City Council will meet on Monday, January 5th, at 7 PM City Council public hearing on Zoning. The meeting will begin at 6 PM for other agenda matters. Check for the agendas when available: at City Website, Zoom Meeting, You Tube
The next scheduled Planning Commission meeting is on Thursday, December 18th, at 5:30 pm, check here for the agenda when available: City Website, Zoom Meeting, You Tube
Remember, the Planning Commission only makes a recommendation on zoning to the City Council. Only the City Council can decide on zoning updates.
The Harbor Commission meets today Wednesday December 17th. The Tree Board meeting was cancelled. The schedules and information are available here: Meeting Calendar.
Planning Details for the January Public Hearing
Could’s VS Wants
Several conversations recently over donuts reminded us that the remaining items brought to the attention of the Planning Commissioners and now the City Council for approval by City Planner Lynee Wells have actually been in discussions by the Planning Commissioners since 2020.
As a reminder, WLHS hired Lynee Wells to help interpret many of the proposed changes, based on her experience with other towns similar to Harbor Springs. Lynee Wells writes that “guardrails are needed to help neighbors and the community as a whole feel secure in the unpredictability of a Planned Development process, which is inherently a tool to sidestep underlying zoning.”
She continues in the Letter to City Council.
“These amendments can be incorporated without requiring a new hearing and will significantly strengthen the ordinance’s legal defensibility and community protection. Given the permanent nature of zoning changes, taking the time to address these issues now will prevent costly challenges and unintended consequences in the future.”
Here is Lynee Wells’ full letter to the City Council, to download or print from December 12, 2025.
Excellent report, Lynee! Clear, concise, and a very easy plan for our CC to make these changes that will preserve and protect our beautiful town. Ambiguity can result in legal action that will be very damaging. It is essential that we have guardrails to development in our zoning lest we get haphazard construction and uses that risk the loss of the neighborly charm that we all enjoy.