WLHS: Recent News and Letters

## The Brief ***- -

- Visit Zorn Park Saturday: **We will be in Zorn Park, adjacent to the Farmers Market, every Saturday from 9:00 am to noon. Meet candidates, talk about Harbor Springs, volunteer, and sign up to get yard signs.

- **Yard Signs Matter: **Elections are won by name recognition and remembering to vote.

- **Update contact details: **We are correcting our databases to make the election process and campaign outreach more effective Contact Update

- **Vote YES on Ord 439: **The referendum is officially on the ballot. Early voting starts at the end of the month. **The job is not done. **Vote Yes to repeal the new zoning, build on the work to date, so we can work to address what needs to change.

- **News: **Please be sure to click the links on the articles below and read the letter to the editor. We are not alone. Many municipalities are struggling with development.

- **Letters to the Editor: **If you have a viewpoint, we will publish it. Please send your letters to weloveharborsprings@gmail.com

Contact Update

## Recent News Some relevant news with links to the full articles

**The Uglification of Michigan Lake Towns:** The city's pursuit of Redevelopment Ready Community certification has raised concerns about preserving the town's unique character and historical charm. Amid accusations of stifled public discussion and questionable transparency from local government, residents are pushing back with a referendum on the November ballot. This struggle in Harbor Springs mirrors broader concerns about the homogenization of beloved vacation towns across America, echoing recent changes in nearby Traverse City. (Front Porch Republic)

**The Invasion of Traverse City: **Traverse City is experiencing a dramatic transformation, sparking heated debate about its future and identity. Once a quaint Northern Michigan lake town, it's now evolving into a bustling urban center, complete with trendy developments, chain stores, and a growing population. This rapid change has left many long-time residents and visitors feeling nostalgic for the city's former charm and worried about its "Up North" character being eroded. (Michigan Enjoyer)

**The Federalization of Land Use:** A recent article in the WSJ highlights the move to federalize zoning, removing local control. Is this in the best interest of communities or a gift to developers? (WSJ)

That Patchwork WSJ: "If You Like Your Town, Can You Keep It?" by Robert Showah

This week, I’m in the Wall Street Journal writing about the creeping federalization of land use policy. This rather dull yet intimate issue within the full purview of state and local government is gradually seeing more federal intervention… Read more a year ago · 3 likes · Robert Showah

**The world is Gray:** Politics would like to make our towns binary, either Not in My Back Yard (NIMBY) or Yes in My Back Yard (YIMBY). Matthew Yglesias, a popular American blogger and journalist and professed YIMBY, found himself a bit confused recently when visiting a small town in Maine.

Slow Boring The poverty of proceduralism

I’m in Maine this week where, like every place in the United States, plenty of NIMBY-type issues are standing in the way of good things… Read more a year ago · 230 likes · 212 comments · Matthew Yglesias

## Letters to the Editor A letter from Mike Kilbourn, a 25+ years Harbor Springs homeowner

**Is it all about money? The City Council recently enacted a zoning ordinance which will now appear on the ballot this November allowing Harbor Springs voters the opportunity to evaluate and reject or approve the ordinance. The mayor and City Council did everything in their power to stop the question from being placed on the ballot, but the voters spoke with force via a voter referendum petition to make sure voters have a chance to evaluate the new ordinance. The resistance makes HS residents wonder what is going on. The only conclusion is that the City Council wants a way to increase density in the city that will lead to more tax revenue!

There are some good updates in the new zoning ordinance that is currently on hold until the election, but many undesirable things such as the burden of qualifying as a Redevelopment Ready Community (RRC). Although the City Zoning Board claims they never discussed RRC in their meetings, it is clearly the backbone of many of the new sections of the zoning ordinance and requires our community to continually qualify. Among the draconian provisions of the RRC is the requirement that the City of Harbor Springs “maintain an updated list of at least three priority (‘development ready’) sites” each year that are “actively marketed” with a “vision that includes desired development outcomes.” More money?

At least one Council member said the RRC certification provisions of the new zoning ordinance were done to obtain financial “grants (i.e., money) from the State” of Michigan. However, Michigan State Senator John Damoose made it clear that Harbor Springs is not a special exception, stating “…one thing I will not do is look for a special exception for our town if that is the request…Harbor Springs should have to play by the same rules as everybody else.*”

Another extremely disturbing part of the zoning ordinance is the elimination of *oversight* by the zoning and building departments for such things as building a duplex and/or being able to add an accessory dwelling unit (ADU) on an existing lot. No oversight! “By right” is the description in the new zoning code and it eliminates any input or objection by neighboring property owners.

A particularly disturbing provision is the new minimum lot width of 52 feet and the minimum allowable side-yard setback distance of only 8 ft. These dimensions will allow developers the ability to increase the density on many HS lots. The zoning ordinance also changed the classification on large portions of HS land to make room for high density development on a large scale. The clear motivator here is the resulting increase in tax revenues (more money) once developers get their hands on the available land.

The worst part of the recent decision on changing the zoning after 70+ years is the Council’s ignoring the petitions with over 1,000 signatures from residents and proceeding to pass the zoning legislation in May – notably before the summer residents returned to Harbor Springs. Cries to the Council to slow down and allow others to become informed fell on deaf ears. One council member even said she only “represented voters” - ignoring the fact that over 62% of the residents of Harbor Springs do not vote here and, incidentally, pay 80% of the HS taxes!

This fall vote for a mayor and 2 new council members that will *listen* to the voters AND be sure to VOTE “YES” on the referendum** - to send the zoning ordinance revisions back and allow the HS Planning Commission Council to revise the ordinance so it maintains the charm and character of Harbor Springs - for years to come.

Mike Kilbourn 703 Dellwood Lane Harbor Springs, MI mike@kilbournassociates.com