From: Karin Offield 

Subject: Letter from Karin Offield about a Town Hall scheduling

Date: April 3, 2024 at 5:09:59 PM EDT

To: Matt Bugera <mjBugera@gmail.com>, Jamielynnmelke@gmail.com, kathy.motschall@yahoo.com

Cc: mbehrmann@cityofharborsprings.com, njrondel@gmail.com

April 3, 2024

Dear Matt, Nancy, Kathy, Jamie, and Michael,

I am writing in response to John Lio’s recent letter regarding the Harbor Springs City Council meeting on March 18th and the proposed zoning code changes. While Mr. Lio claims that no specifics were provided by those in opposition to the changes, I respectfully disagree.

 During the City Council meeting, many specific concerns and requests for answers were raised by the 28 out of 32 speakers who opposed the zoning changes. These included:  For simplification: Flag Lots; Overlay districts; CBD enlargement; Ordinance has to align with Master Plan; the missing 300 residents being misleading; and Property Rights.

These speeches and letters referred to were not personal attacks, but rather legitimate concerns and tangible requests that can be analyzed within the community and acted upon by the City Council and Planning Commission in the weeks following. 

 Furthermore, the meeting on March 18th statistics demonstrated that a majority of those who spoke up were against some or parts of the proposed changes. Over 75 people physically attended the meeting, and of the 32 individuals who provided public comment, 28 (87.5%) spoke in opposition to the zoning changes, while only 4 (12.5%) spoke in favor. According to my stats.

I hope you agree it can be crucial to acknowledge and address specific concerns in the letters written to each of you to ensure that the zoning code update aligns with the desires and best interests of the Harbor Springs community.  How can this be done? 

Please include my letter in the upcoming meeting packet’s.

I am writing because I want to ask each of you if a Townhall Meeting could be scheduled where all of the townspeople can attend,  in a comfortable setting,  to learn about the proposed zoning ask questions and learn the answers. 

There,  a Q & A could be held, where dedicated “readers” of the audiences questions would be at the microphone,  thus allowing your towns people to be getting feedback from you, helping to reduce knowledge frustration with the City Council, and giving the PC and CC time to answer their many questions. The questions can be submitted ahead of time. 

It could be a win win. A Townhall Meeting like this can be scheduled at the High School. Let me know if this is something you can arrange.

 Thank you for your time to read this request, sincerely,

 Karin Reid Offield  30 Year Citizen in Harbor Springs