The Zoning is on the Ballot for the Fall Election

Politics changes rapidly when people stand up to be heard.

The Brief:  

• The City Council voted to place the zoning on the November ballot having confirmed the necessary signatures of over 25% of Harbor Springs voters. 

• The referendum with nearly 400 signatures prevailed and after the Council met in a closed session, they voted 4-1 to place the new zoning on the November ballot. Mayoral candidate Nancy Rondel was the sole member against letting the voters decide.  

• The November election is about over-development. We wanted to put this in the voters hands and now it is.

The Details:

Updated (8/6 6:49 PM): August 5 marked a significant event in Harbor Springs' journey toward a more open, inclusive and representative local government. The City Council meeting resulted in a positive outcome for our community and demonstrated the importance of standing up for your beliefs. 

The City Clerk subsequently determined that there was a technical flaw in the submitted documents, claiming it was not addressed properly to City Council. However, a cover letter addressed to all City Council members was submitted with the referendum. 

Due to this ambiguity, the City Council voted unanimously to reject the referendum petition despite it having the necessary signatures of over 25% of Harbor Springs voters. 

After rejecting the petition, the City Council then acknowledged the nearly 400 voter signatures and approved placing the zoning on the November ballot.  For context, Michael Behrmann won his city council seat with only 330 votes in 2023. Council voted 4-1 in our favor. Mayoral candidate Nancy Rondel was the sole member against letting the voters decide.  

The concerns of voters and property owners are simple. Those concerns remain:

• The new zoning code promotes overdevelopment and increased density.

• No consideration for affordable housing.

• No provisions for historical preservation. 

• Loss of green space and lake views due to infill and three story buildings.

• Three-story buildings in the Central Business District.

• Expansion of the Central Business District.

• Removal of the agricultural district.

• Lack of Planning Commission and neighbor oversight. 

By placing it on the ballot, the City Council recognized voter's concerns. Engaging these constituencies will strengthen the zoning code and our community, balancing development within the character of the City.

A Call to Action

For the past 2 years, the City has been working on the zoning code with very little public engagement. The process, driven by an outside consulting firm, Beckett and Raeder - not by local Harbor Springs residents and neighbors, was completed this winter. Since the release of the final zoning code by the Planning Commissioners on February 8, all of the We Love Harbor Springs, Inc.  contributors have brought community engagement and understanding. Starting with the 1000+ signers of the original Change . Org Petition,  the 600+ property owners in and around Harbor Springs that signed the Property Owners Protest Petition, and now the nearly 400 Harbor Spring voters that signed the referendary petition identifying ordinance #439, the community is now engaged. 

The coming months are crucial for Harbor Springs. As we move toward the November ballot, it is imperative for every resident to stay informed, engaged, and vocal. This is not just about the zoning code; it is an effort to ensure that the voices of Harbor Springs' citizens are heard, and engaged to make city policy and our community better.

You need only to look at Traverse City to understand that this fall marks a pivotal moment in our town's history. In a quest for density and expansion, Traverse City has lost control of its development. It has more tax revenue but has lost its character as a place to relax by the lake.

The decisions we make now in Harbor Springs will shape the future of Harbor Springs for generations to come. Residents of all types, visitors, and area townships all mix together to make Harbor Springs unique. Development is coming. Tradeoffs on housing, affordability, taxes etc. are real. We can choose to let the bureaucracy rule us, or we can seek city leadership that values the input of opposing ideas, shapes them, and creates outcomes that are better in a way that protects the unique nature of this community.

Summary

The November election is about over-development. We wanted to put this in the voters hands and now it is.

We are grateful for those of you that stood up and said this is consequential. Moving on to the next steps, volunteers are needed. Contact us at WeLoveHarborSprings@gmail.com. Donate at here. Follow us on our website and Facebook page.