Here We Go Again: Rushing Zoning Changes in Harbor Springs
Who Wants to Talk About Zoning Over the Holidays? Not Us.
The Brief
The Community Rejected Ordinance #439: Earlier this month, voters overwhelmingly repealed the zoning ordinance, citing its rushed process, lack of public input, and failure to reflect Harbor Springs’ values.
The Planning Commission Is Repeating the Same Mistakes: Despite the clear rejection of Ordinance #439, the Planning Commission is once again rushing through a new zoning code without meaningful community engagement. What’s the rush, especially when voters have already rejected their original plan?
Holidays Are Not the Time for Zoning Debates: The current push is out of step with the community's priorities during the holiday season, a time for family and tradition—not discussions about zoning.
Your Voice Matters—Speak Up Tonight: The Planning Commission meets tonight at 5:30 PM to discuss the Capital Improvement Plan and the new zoning schedule. Residents are urged to attend in person or via Zoom to request delaying zoning work until after the holidays, ensuring the process includes the voices of all community members.
A Call for Collaboration: The Planning Commission consists entirely of members who supported the repealed plan, with no representation from the Vote Yes group. To date, the city has made no effort to engage residents with opposing views. City Councilman Michael Berhmann proposed creating an inclusive ad hoc committee to incorporate diverse perspectives and rebuild trust—a step the Planning Commission must take to avoid repeating past mistakes.
What’s the Rush?
The Planning Commission has unveiled an ambitious schedule to push through a new zoning code, built on top of the repealed #439 Zoning Code, but they seem to have forgotten one critical fact: the community rejected their original plan.
In the recent referendum, a clear majority of voters said yes to repeal the Planning Commission’s zoning plan. It was rushed, lacked meaningful input, and ultimately failed to reflect the community’s will and vision of Harbor Springs. The repeal was a strong message that residents want a thoughtful and inclusive process—not a rehash of what they’ve already rejected.
And yet, the Planning Commission seems determined to move forward without learning from their mistakes. Their current schedule is alarmingly rushed, and despite some minor changes, the process feels eerily similar to the last attempt. The Planning Commission, made up entirely of individuals who supported the repealed plan, has made little effort to engage with the voters who opposed their vision. Other than a poorly designed survey, they have done nothing to involve the community—especially the many residents who voted Yes to repeal.
Why the rush?
We’re heading into the holiday season—a time when people should be focused on family, friends, and celebration, not fighting over zoning. Harbor Springs needs a break. Pushing a new zoning plan through now, when residents deserve time to recharge, is tone-deaf and out of step with the community.
City Councilman Michael Berhmann recently called for a better way forward, saying:
"I strongly hope that the Planning Commission puts a process in place, um, that maybe does look a little bit different. Maybe an ad hoc committee where a few representatives from Planning Commission, a few representatives maybe from, um, the uh We Love Harbor Springs group, a couple of other full-time, part-time—whatever that group looks like, I I don't know what the makeup of that is. But I think that small groups with, um, representative, uh, of representative constituencies tend to work."
Berhmann’s idea makes sense. A truly representative process—one that brings together diverse voices, including those who voted to repeal the previous plan—is the only way to rebuild trust and craft a zoning code that works for everyone. Having now been appointed to the Planning Commission by Mayor Graham, we hope Councilman Berhmann stands by his word to create such a committee and develop an inclusive process going forward.
Additionally, members of the repeal efforts dedicated countless hours over the summer and fall knocking on doors and engaging directly with voters. They connected with over 800 members of the community, including those both for and against the zoning code. This extensive outreach provided invaluable insight into what residents truly want for Harbor Springs. Unlike the city’s informal and flawed survey, which cannot be considered a serious effort to gather community feedback, this work represents genuine engagement. These individuals have a deep understanding of the community’s priorities and concerns, making their input essential to creating a zoning code that reflects the will of the people. They must be included in the process moving forward.
By ignoring this need for collaboration, the Planning Commission is repeating the very mistakes that led to the rejection of their original plan. This isn’t just poor governance—it’s a failure to listen to the community they’re supposed to serve.
We’re calling on the Planning Commission and City Council to hit pause. Nothing related to zoning should happen until after the holidays. Harbor Springs deserves a process that reflects the will of all residents, not just those who supported the repealed plan.
The charm and character of Harbor Springs are worth protecting. Let’s not rush this. Let’s do it right.
A Letter to Mayor Graham and Chair Mulder: Prioritizing Community, Family, and the Holidays
November 20, 2024
Tom Graham Harbor Springs Mayor
Bill Mulder Planning Commission Chair
Dear Sirs,
As you both are aware, last week we had an Michigan Public Radio (MRP) interview that was released that was insulting to our community. A letter from a Harbor Springs voter about the interview was included in the City Council agenda last Monday. The below is a rebuttal draft letter to MPR that we will be submitting.
First, I want to make several points. I have reviewed the recent survey, Bill, that you must have done. I have seen and built surveys myself and your zoning survey does not represent a honest effort to gain facts, consensus or participation from the community. From a professional’s point of view, it should be taken down, for many reasons.
The purpose of writing to the two of you today, is a separate issue. #1 Deer Season ends December 15, #2 Thanksgiving is 8 days away, #3 Christmas Holidays are 23 days away. And New Years is 29 working days away. Not everyone you know is a deer hunter and Bill you may not have ever been, but it is part of our heritage, and life up north here. Taking part in politics or spending time building a future plan for Harbor Springs should not compete. It’s wrong to suggest.
I spoke to a dozen parents, and young adults about the schedule and honestly, not a single voter, or person I spoke to has any interest in helping, being involved – they were getting their homes ready for the holidays, cleaning, and planning. Maybe not everyone you and your family know have holiday plans, but up here in the north, it’s what we do. Taking part in politics or spending time building a future plan for Harbor Springs should not compete. It’s wrong to suggest.
Bill, you said at the City Council Meeting on Monday that this room of people may know more about zoning than most groups of 30 do – but you are not going to get buy in- which you have to do this time. Let’s get it right, start after the holiday. Vote to accept the old zoning – it will do no harm, shut down the moratorium at your meeting tomorrow November21 at the Planning Commission meeting – and wish everyone a happy holiday, successful deer season, a tree lighting that’s amazing and pray for snow.
Thank you for your time to read this,
Karin Reid Offield
WLHS Leadership
It’s About Time - Your Time and Our Time in the Community
Tonight’s Planning Commission starts at 5:30 PM Here is the LINK: https://www.cityofharborsprings.com/event-detail/planning-commission/?glm_event_from=2024-11-21T17:30:00
Please attend the Planning Commision meeting this evening. By ZOOM or in person.
https://zoom.us/j/7770202234?pwd=bTNUUnNYWFYxYkU0Zm5wOXlNSncxdz09#success
The agenda includes discussion on the Capital Improvement Plan and a discussion on the Zoning Re-draft Plan and schedule. Please speak up to delay zoning work until all Boards and Commissions are newly staffed with new community members - after the holiday - and ask that the zoning moratorium be halted tonight, because the old zoning is legally in effect. Let the local builders and GC’s keep working. July 1st, the typical building moratorium for many neighborhoods is around the corner and any delays cause ripple effects.
Michigan Public Radio Article Missed the Mark on Harbor Springs Zoning
On November 12, Michigan Public Radio (MPR) published an article by Tyler Scott about Harbor Springs' zoning issues. Unfortunately, the article missed the mark, presenting misleading information and leaving out critical context. Below, we provide a rebuttal to clarify the facts.
MPR Claim: Proposed Changes Anything But Minor
“The ordinance was less than a year old. It had been unanimously adopted by the city council in May to update an anachronistic, baroque zoning code, and slightly expand allowances for certain types of housing development within the 1.3 square miles of the city limits.”
“The updated zoning ordinance allowed for the construction of duplexes and accessory dwelling units (or ‘granny flats’) in most parts of the city, expanded possibilities for mixed-use development downtown, and adjusted lot size requirements.”
WLHS Response:
The ordinance was unanimously adopted only after a City Council committee of five decided Harbor Springs needed a new zoning code. Their process involved unminuted sub-committee meetings and consultations with outside paid experts who drafted the new code. This rewritten ordinance reduced city oversight and minimized protective zoning guardrails, opening the door for unchecked development.
Even “slight expansions” in zoning allowances can lead to major changes on the ground. For example, what was once a single-family home could now become a triplex, and previously untouched backyard green spaces could be paved over to create parking lots for additional units.
With just 1.3 square miles of land in Harbor Springs, every zoning decision carries weight. We don’t have the luxury of abundant empty space to allocate. The proposed rezoning even targets the town’s limited agricultural zones—one more reason not to rush through a new code in just over 30 days.
Quality of life in Harbor Springs isn’t measured by population density or economic efficiency metrics—it’s reflected in what we experience daily: the charm of the town, its open spaces, and the balance of reasoned and thoughtful development.
MPR Claim: Repeal by Out-of-Town Political Group is Nonsense
“Adoption of the now-repealed ordinance (Ordinance 439) inspired acrimonious backlash, conspiracy theories about state government intervention in city planning, worries about the city losing some of its quaint small-town nostalgic character.”
WLHS Response:
This characterization is both dismissive and misleading. Ordinance #439 was repealed by Harbor Springs voters because it failed to reflect their priorities. It was developed with significant input from outside consultants who were paid to design and, in part, to align the code with Redevelopment Ready Communities (RRC) best practices. While the RRC framework provides guidelines for attracting state funding, it also pressures cities to adopt development standards that don’t always align with the needs or desires of the community.
The backlash wasn’t driven by conspiracy theories—it stemmed from legitimate concerns that aligning zoning with RRC requirements could prioritize development at the expense of Harbor Springs’ unique charm. Voters rejected the ordinance because they wanted thoughtful, community-centered planning that safeguards the town’s quaint, nostalgic small-town character rather than risking its loss.
MPR Claim: Imagining the Future: A Community-Wide Responsibility
“Do we want to be a community that is primarily for those who resort here and those who come in to retire? Or do we want to have a balance of a community where we have people who are here year-round, supplying the businesses, supplying the people who make the city run?”
— Victor Sinadinoski, City Manager
WLHS Response:
It takes the whole community to imagine the city's future, not five council members, or nine planning commissioners plus one consultant. The community has not been given an opportunity to study and weigh in on these changes. We have a diverse community which extends beyond the 1.3 square mile city limits. It is now the city’s responsibility to communicate the new plan, along with a reasonable review process. They need to engage residents in this discussion, which they have not done.
Slightly increasing housing accessibility for families is a non-issue in this discussion. As a planning commissioner himself said, affordable housing has no part in this re-zoning discussion even though we can all agree this warrants further evaluation. The city manager’s desire for a utopian outcome because of a new zoning code is wishful thinking.
MPR Claim: Let’s Blame the Rich - Better Yet Let’s Not
“There are some (homes) up on the bluff that have these beautiful views … and then this big concern that maybe taller buildings, apartment buildings, might block our view, or we’re going to have ‘those people’ move into our town.” — Danny Rotert, RRC Committee Member
“We’ve seen comments from different folks about not wanting to attract certain ‘lower demographics’ here.” — Victor Sinadinoski, City Manager
WLHS Response:
Second-home owners are vital to Harbor Springs. They pay taxes, maintain properties, and contribute to the local economy year-round. It’s wrong to pit year-round residents against seasonal ones when both are essential to the fabric of our town. Especially after the election. Many residents, full-time or seasonal, have lived here or visited for generations, benefiting from the stewardship and care passed down by their parents and grandparents. To downplay the connection between Harbor Springs and its “summer” residents is to disregard the legacy that makes this community unique.
Recent comments by RRC Committee Member Danny Rotert and City Manager Victor Sinadinoski are offensive and divisive. Rotert’s reference to “those people” and Sinadinoski’s mention of “lower demographics” as unwelcome are inappropriate and unacceptable. As a public official, Sinadinoski’s remarks are especially troubling.
MPR Claim: Follow the Money
“The committee leading the repeal petition spent over $14,000 to hire a political consultant firm in Lansing…”
WLHS Response:
Campaigns cost money—this is not unusual. The city itself spent taxpayer dollars on consultants like Beckett & Raeder, whose work directly influenced the repealed ordinance. Accusations of financial impropriety distract from the real issue: a lack of transparency in how the original zoning code was created and passed.
MPR Claim: Consultant or City Hall Cheerleader?
“This was a well-organized, pretty well-funded effort by folks — we don’t know their names — to basically derail the zoning ordinance,” said John Iacoangeli, a city planning consultant.
WLHS Response:
This claim is misleading and unfounded. The only out-of-town organized group that has influenced this issue is the City’s outside consultants from Ann Arbor, Beckett & Raeder. The individuals involved in the referendum have been transparent throughout the process. Their names are public, and they’ve acted openly and in good faith to advocate for their community.
Unlike the city’s hired consultants, who worked behind the scenes to draft the original ordinance, the residents opposing it engaged directly with their neighbors. The leaders of the 501(c)(4) have been visible and accessible—they’ve spoken at public meetings, hosted town halls, staffed an information booth at the Farmers Market twice a week, knocked on doors, and authored letters to the editor.
It’s also worth asking why the city’s planning consultant is commenting on this issue in the first place. John Iacoangeli’s role was to assist the city in drafting the ordinance, not to speculate about the motives or actions of local residents. Such commentary raises questions about the neutrality and professionalism expected from a consultant working for the city.
However, if he wants to comment on the process, why has he focused on criticizing opposing opinions instead of helping the community by incorporating feedback? Furthermore, why has he ignored the issue of the rushed schedule? The outside consultants originally planned for approval in October or December 2024, yet the City Council hastily pushed it through in May 2024, bypassing a more deliberate and inclusive timeline.
Conclusion
This is an opportunity for the council to take a pause and get it right the second time. Allow the voters and the property owners time—start the new zoning process after the holidays when all of the new Board and Commissioners are in place.
It was a mistake for the City Council and the Planning Commission to question whether the previous zoning code remained in effect after the repeal and to subsequently enact a building moratorium. We urge the Planning Commission to lift the moratorium immediately and allow local builders to resume their work without unnecessary delays.
I could not agree more with what has been said here. As I watch the city's reaction to the voters' rejection of Ordinance 439, it appears to me they are not willing to be open to extensive community involvement in re-writing a new zoning plan. Either they are lazy or have personal agendas. The author of the MPR article, Mr. Scott, was extremely misinformed..... he didn't even bother to interview our side. I am stunned by the arrogance and condescension of some employees of Harbor Springs who, by the way, work for us. If they aren't professional enough to check their personal biases at the door, maybe they shouldn't be employed by the city. Their comments about people they don't even know are disgraceful and disgusting. Have they no shame?