HISTORY: Anyone who supports the Redevelopment Ready Community (RRC) views, rules and regulations may have missed a valuable story of how Harbor Springs became a ‘best’ lake city here in northwest Michigan.  (This month voted by Travel and Leisure Magazine.)  The question is if Harbor Springs should become an RRC Community or can the City preserve these attributes without State guided development schemes.

We are asking you to consider voting YES to repeal Ordinance 439 Zoning Code in November 5th election. The RRC should not be the driver of our zoning codes.

Here’s the story:  The Master Plan before the Redevelopment Ready Community came to town!    https://www.cityofharborsprings.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/fs20-1405622645-41417.pdf

In 1932, Harbor Springs changed its status from village to home rule city.

During the next 30-40 years, the business establishments of Harbor Springs changed dramatically.

The increased use of the automobile, the advent of commercial air travel, and the disappearance of passenger trains and steamboats led to a changed resort season.

Harbor Springs became more of a visitor town from June to October, although all of the resorts continued, new developments and condominiums sprang up, mostly outside of the town.

Ski resorts established and brought more business in the winter months.

Little Traverse Bay made the ideal location for a burgeoning lumber trade due to three factors: manpower to fell trees, mills to process the logs, and transportation to a waiting market to finish the lumber.

Today, Harbor Springs continues to be a lively city amidst Northwest Michigan’s lakeshore tourist destinations.

Harbor Springs is served by the idyllic M-119, and connects 4 miles south in Petoskey to the important route of U.S. 31, a main tourism transportation route.

The City is a part of Michigan’s thriving grape growing and wine producing industry, lying just north of the popular Old Mission Peninsula American Viticulture Area (AVA).

Besides water and boating activities, other opportunities for ice skating, sledding, bike trails, skiing at nearby resorts, winery tours, and two historical museums provide many year round seasonal activities for locals and tourists alike.’ (History excerpts from the

2014 Master Plan written by locals Dika, Bugera, Pfeifer, James, Cupps Sr., Walstrom, Bowman, Deegan, Ford, Benjamin, Wiggins and Smith).

Then on May 20, 2019 the new City Manager Victor Sinadinoski and the Downtown Development Authority Director Rachel Smolinski of HARBOR Inc. and Downtown Development Chair Kathy Breighner recommended a CHANGE,  in exchange for Lansing GRANT money. Just 5 community members were needed to agree Bugera, Lio, Dika, Naturkas and Johnston! Now that we have benefitted from the many RRC suggestions, we have the opportunity to become a smaller, downsized community once again.

Our question to all community members is: What’s good for some communities is NOT good for ALL communities:

ASKING THE QUESTION: Is the RRC good fit for Harbor Springs? If you are unsure or need more information, please vote YES to repeal Ordinance 439 Zoning Code in the November 5th 2024 election and pause the RRC Certification approval that may be coming to Harbor Springs very soon.

Vote YES on 439 www.voteYES439.org