Let’s Turn Around and Get on the Same Page

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Hi you all,

It’s Nan Mautz, and I am a voter who lives downtown on West Third Street. After reading the last WLHS newsletter and looking at the photo with those red ADU roofs, I began to imagine that Harbor Springs might indeed be looking toward its best future by allowing ADUs under Special Land Use Approval.

All summer, I attended those meetings where the Planning Commissioners discussed ADUs. Many of us thought, at the time, they could be part of the solution to both affordability and accommodation. Since my husband and I live elsewhere in the winter, I often wonder: if our lot were larger, or if we had a garage apartment where a schoolteacher or medical professional could legally live year-round, wouldn’t that be a good thing for our home, our property, and our neighborhood? Wouldn’t it help keep the lights on all year long?

The other day, I was chatting with Tom Graham, who always seems to have more common sense than the rest of us rolled together. He laughed and said, “Why are folks so quick to build more, when we’ve already got plenty of homes sitting dark half the year?” Some folks ram their heads into a wall all day; Tom just points out the open gate and walks right through.

In my research, I found strong support for the concept of “infill” within our existing 1.3 square miles. Urban planners define infill as building new housing or structures within already developed areas—such as on vacant lots, underused parcels, or backyards—rather than expanding into undeveloped land.

That said, infill they say must be approached case by case, with care and nuance. A “broad-brush” approach is not appropriate for all established neighborhoods. By allowing ADUs under Special Land Use (SLU) approval, our Planning Commissioners are encouraging thoughtful infill that fits Harbor Springs’ character, instead of relying on surrounding townships to meet our housing needs.

We should also not forget that there are already over 70 licensed short-term rentals in town, plus all the unused garage apartments and the quiet handful of long-term rentals that are not included on the official lists. Altogether, that’s easily 100+ units that could help right now, whether for teachers, nurses, or even short stints for visiting doctors. Before we rush to build new, why not work together to unlock existing capacity and test the real demand?

We all know that every new township development means higher infrastructure costs, more traffic, parking issues, and less walkability. It spreads our community outward and weakens our cohesion. By keeping Harbor Springs compact, we are protecting farmland, open space, and the natural areas that surround us. As I thought about this, the song “Let it Be” came to mind.

As we move ahead, we must also preserve our neighborhoods and our very rare waterfront. That means explicitly excluding Planned Developments, Cluster Housing, and employee dormitory-style housing from our zoning code. I have read enough to ask - should there be a formal infrastructure assessment? Other than the Commissioners patting us on the head and saying, “There, there…just trust us,” how do we know our systems can handle the added demand?

I commented on the recent WLHS newsletter: “We are still fighting to preserve our residential districts and our waterfront. I urge everyone to keep writing letters, encouraging neighbors, and attending meetings. Everything we love about our slice of heaven is at stake. We can do this.”

My advice is this: the path forward demands patience, perseverance, and partnership. Let’s start small with pilot programs, such as capping the number of ADUs in a district, and build success stories. Let’s stop the divisiveness and instead engage respectfully with opponents, offering education and understanding. Most importantly, let’s focus on creating homes for teachers, nurses, firefighters, and the workers who make Harbor Springs function. When residents see their nurse practitioner, their grandchild’s teacher, or their favorite restaurant manager able to live here, opposition will turn into support.

A compromise is this: no Planned Developments in our residential districts or on the Waterfront, and no Cluster Housing, wiping out our historic grid neighborhoods. I am asking for the explicit exclusion of these uses in our residential district zoning.

One final note: understanding co-living versus employee dorms is important. Co-living is essentially roommates, unrelated people sharing a home, each with their own bedroom and common spaces. As long as the number stays under a set limit, it is considered residential use. Employee dorms are distinct: they are tied to specific jobs, classified as group quarters, and typically require special approval. Here, the employer is the landlord and decides who lives there. The key difference is choice: co-living is voluntary housing, while employee dorms are business-controlled. Roommates belong in neighborhoods; dorms belong in multiple housing, business, or grandfathered areas.

This isn’t about social engineering or changing Harbor Springs’ character. It’s about ensuring our community’s survival by housing, within our town, the people who sustain it. The only question left is whether Harbor Springs will act on the evidence—or remain paralyzed in the fear of change. The community is speaking. Is the leadership listening?

Respectfully,

Nan Mautz

We Love Harbor Springs invites constructive letters from those who love Harbor Springs. Send us your letters to weloveharborsprings@gmail.com for consideration. *