With 22 reasons to Vote Yes to repeal and replace Ordinance #439 Zoning Code, one follower AND PROPERTY OWNER AFFECTED BY THE NEW ZONING reached out today and wrote this regarding losing the Agricultural District in the west end of Harbor Springs.

“One of the significant changes in the new zoning code that I feel isn’t getting enough attention, and definitely didn’t get enough discussion prior to the adoption of the new rules, is the elimination of the Agricultural Residential Zoning District.

This affects more than 30 parcels in the City and has significant implications for the property owners’ rights, as well as potential tax ramifications. Among other things, the zoning change deprives those property owners of the by right ability to grow and sell agricultural products, instead requiring them to obtain permission from the City to do so.

The reason that was given by the City officials for taking away agricultural property rights from the people that owned this land was … that the City wanted fewer zones.

I don’t like the idea of giving up my fundamental rights in perpetuity so that the City can say it has nine zones instead of ten.

The right to farm is worth fighting for and I hope that in the next version of the Zoning Code update this right can be returned to those homeowners.”

PLEASE VOTE YES TO REPEAL ORDINANCE 439 ZONING CODE

We can do better.