ArticlesOp-Ed: Harbor-Blue Lampposts and the Cost of Closed-Door Planning

9 min read

Op-Ed: Harbor-Blue Lampposts and the Cost of Closed-Door Planning

Painting only some lampposts blue?

By We Love Harbor Springs (Substack)

September 20, 2025

**WLHS welcomes Op-Ed submissions. We publish essays on local issues that matter to Harbor Springs residents, both year-round and seasonal. Submissions should be well-reasoned, factually supported, and written in a respectful tone. We generally do not publish endorsements of individual candidates, though we do consider pieces addressing ballot initiatives or campaign issues of broad public concern.

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Dear Community,

Here we are again, watching decisions unfold only after they’ve been made.

The lampposts that have quietly stood for decades along our downtown streets, our *heritage fixtures*, are now caught up in yet another round of beautification efforts. This time, they’re getting a fresh coat of “Harbor Blue.” It’s the latest in a series of changes presented to the public not as a question, but as a foregone conclusion.

If this feels familiar, it should.

We saw it with the State Street reconstruction, a project full of technical precision, funded and permitted long before most citizens knew the full scope. We saw it in the Electric Station funding, the Marina upgrades, and the Planning Commission’s 'strawman' zoning exercise. Each time, the public conversation came after the ink was dry. Now, it's our historic lampposts, an aesthetic and symbolic element of our town, being repainted with minimal community discussion and no real choice offered.

Where is the breakdown? Why are we always brought in at the end?

### What the DDA Can Do (and Did) To be clear, the **Downtown Development Authority (DDA)** has every legal right to paint lampposts within its district. Under Michigan’s Public Act 197 of 1975, a DDA can make public improvements, like painting benches, swapping garbage cans, and yes, updating lampposts. They can even use tax increment financing (TIF) and special business assessments to pay for it.

That’s the letter of the law. But what about the spirit?

TIF and assessments aren’t just accounting tools, they are public funds. Funds that come, directly or indirectly, from property owners, businesses, and residents in the DDA district. When property values rise, the “increment” in tax revenue is diverted to the DDA. That means less money for schools, libraries, and city services. Businesses within the district may also pay direct assessments each year, expected to fund visible, impactful improvements.

Which brings us back to the paint.

When public money, real money from our pockets, is being used to change public space, especially space tied to the historic identity of our town, shouldn’t the public be consulted?

A different shade of blue might not seem like a big deal, but it’s the process, not just the paint, that should concern us.

### Beautification Isn’t the Problem, Secrecy Is Let’s be honest: no one is against beautification. A fresh coat of paint, coordinated benches, and upgraded trash cans, these all contribute to the charm of Harbor Springs. But when decisions about these changes are made, buried in development plans most residents never see or read, it erodes public trust.

Worse still is when the real details, color samples, timelines, and budgets only appear after contracts are signed and the work is about to begin.

In an era where openness is a civic expectation, this model of “plan first, inform later” is not just outdated, it’s damaging and seems to have become a trend in City planning over the past few years.

### A Call for Better Process We don’t need less planning, we need better, more inclusive planning. That means:

- Publishing clear, accessible summaries of projects *before* funds are committed.

- Hosting genuine public input sessions on aesthetic and cultural decisions, not just functional ones. It is, after all, our money.

- Making sure DDA and city communications go beyond PDFs, PowerPoint presentations, Facebook posts on city websites, what about newsletters, storefront flyers, and conversations with council members - TownHall sessions where council learns our concerns and can add the concerns to the agenda before a crisis happens.

- Treating public engagement not as a legal checkbox, but as a foundational part of public service.

The DDA exists to serve the public. And that means respecting the public’s voice, especially when funding comes directly from the district’s property owners and taxpayers.

### Our Streets, Our Standards This town belongs to all of us, not just boards, consultants, or city departments. The lampposts may be a small detail in the bigger picture of Harbor Springs’ future. But they symbolize something important: that we care about how change happens here. We want improvements, but we want to be part of them, not merely observers once it’s too late to weigh in.

So here’s a simple request: before a can of “Harbor Blue” is opened, bring the decision into the light. Let the people whose money is being used, whose downtown is being shaped, and whose heritage is being modified have a real seat at the table.

Because it’s not just about lampposts.

It’s about who we are, how we govern, and who gets to decide what “improvement” really means.

## Who Paints the Lampposts? Understanding the Power and the Price of Your Local DDA Walk through the heart of a Michigan downtown and you might notice the charming touches: freshly painted lampposts, coordinated benches, flower baskets, and trash cans that somehow make the streets feel both clean and inviting. These touches don’t appear by accident, and they aren’t always funded by the city’s general budget. In many towns, they’re the work of a Downtown Development Authority, better known as a DDA.

But while the results may be beautiful, the process behind them is far from cosmetic. Every flower basket and painted lamppost comes with a story of how downtowns are funded, who pays, and who gets a say.

### What Is a DDA, Anyway? In Michigan, a DDA is a public entity created by a city or village under Public Act 197 of 1975. Its purpose? To prevent downtown decline and encourage revitalization. Once established, a DDA is given a specific geographic boundary, called a *downtown district*, and is tasked with making that district more attractive for residents, businesses, and visitors.

What can a DDA actually do? Quite a bit. Within its district, it can:

- Paint and maintain lampposts, benches, and public trash receptacles

- Install landscaping, signs, lighting, and public art

- Sponsor events and business promotions

- Assist in the rehabilitation of historic buildings

- Plan and fund larger infrastructure improvements

These enhancements may seem small, but together they can significantly change the perception and economy of a downtown.

### The Money Behind the Makeover: TIF and Assessments So how does a DDA pay for all of this?

There are two primary tools:

#### 1. Tax Increment Financing (TIF) TIF allows the DDA to capture increases in property tax revenue within the district over time. When the DDA is formed, the property tax base is frozen. As values rise, due to new buildings, renovations, or rising market demand, the difference between the base and the new tax revenue (the increment) goes to the DDA instead of the city’s general fund.

#### 2. Special Business Assessments Some DDAs (with approval from the city council and sometimes by vote) can levy special assessments on the businesses or properties within the district. These are fees or charges separate from property taxes, used specifically to fund DDA activities like maintenance, events, or façade grants.

### Painting Comes with a Price and Responsibilities Now, back to the painted lampposts.

Yes, a DDA can choose to paint lampposts. It can select a uniform color for benches, swap out garbage cans for ones that match the town’s branding, or hire artists to add decorative touches. These are all within its legal power and, in many cases, part of the charm that makes Michigan downtowns stand out.

But here’s the key point: these visual improvements are not free, and they come with financial obligations for the people and businesses who live and work within the DDA’s boundaries.

#### If You Live in the TIF District: You may not pay anything directly, but the DDA’s capture of tax increment revenue means that less of the increased tax base goes to schools, libraries, or other city services. That’s a tradeoff, and while the long-term value may benefit the whole community, it should be weighed carefully.

#### If You Own a Business in the DDA: You may be paying an extra assessment each year, money that goes directly into the DDA’s operating fund. This isn’t optional, and it often comes with expectations: that the DDA will deliver improvements, drive foot traffic, and maintain a vibrant, clean, attractive environment.

In short, if your business is helping to fund beautification efforts, you’re also a stakeholder. You have the right to question how funds are spent, how projects are prioritized, and how decisions are made.

### Accountability Matters A well-run DDA involves the community. It holds open meetings, publishes development plans, and provides financial transparency. But not all DDAs are created equal.

Critics of some DDAs argue that they focus too much on cosmetic upgrades, like painting lampposts, and not enough on economic development, sidewalk repair, affordable housing, or year-round foot traffic. Others question whether all businesses benefit equally from the projects that DDA funds support.

That's why public input matters. Beautification is valuable, but so is ensuring the needs of local residents and business owners are heard, not just the interests of developers or tourism boards.

### Conclusion: More Than a Fresh Coat of Paint That newly painted lamppost might brighten your morning commute or make your downtown feel more inviting, but it also represents a choice: to invest public dollars in appearance and placemaking. A DDA has the power to make those choices, but it also has an obligation: to be accountable to the community that funds it.

If you live or work within a DDA district, your voice matters. Attend meetings, read the development plan, and ask questions. Beautification is good, but it should serve the broader public good, not just the optics.