We Love
HARBOR SPRINGS
Harbor Springs is Beautiful!
Volunteer, Newsletter Sign Up and Contact us at: WeLoveHarborSprings@gmail.com
The town of Harbor Springs repealed Zoning Ordinance #439. This gives our town the
right to Decide for ourselves as a community, our future within the city.
Celebrate
The Real Work Begins — May 15, 2025
On May 15th, 2025, Harbor Springs begins the important work of crafting a new zoning code aligned with our town’s Master Plan. This process isn’t just about policies and regulations—it’s about listening to one another and making thoughtful decisions that reflect what matters most to us as a community.
Visit the NEWS tab for updates on zoning, blog posts, letters, press coverage, corrections, downtown development, and more.
The insights we’ve gathered through community surveys and town halls have been invaluable. They will guide us as we address the key questions and priorities shaping the future of Harbor Springs.
Let’s pause and reflect:
What do we want Harbor Springs to look like for our children and grandchildren?
What kind of town are we building for the further on generations to come?
In a decisive move, in February 2025, the City Council chose to step away from the Redevelopment Ready Community (RRC) certification and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) program. This is not a step back—it’s a step forward on our own terms, grounded in local values and vision.
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Tourism, what do you think?
Back in 1990, an AP article described Harbor Springs as a town that intentionally “self-limited” tourism through things like limited parking, no fast food, and no marketing. All to protect its character. Today, we’re at another decision point. Seasonal crowds are larger, year-round residents are fewer, and businesses depend on summer dollars while residents feel the strain.
Should Harbor Springs aim to increase tourism, maintain it, or reduce it?
Increasing tourism: good for businesses and revenue, but adds congestion, housing pressure, and strains services.
Maintaining current levels: keeps things stable and predictable, but doesn’t solve seasonal economic fragility or fund improvements easily.
Reducing tourism: quieter and less crowded, but could hurt downtown vitality and local businesses.
Tourism policy affects the City Council (infrastructure, parking, events), Harbor Commission (marina congestion), Parks Board (beach and parks programming), DDA (downtown activity), and Planning Commission (zoning and housing impacts).
What direction do you think the City should prioritize, and why?
Increase, maintain, or reduce?
And what should Council, Parks, Harbor, DDA, and Planning focus on as part of that choice?
Article from 1990 about Harbor Springs
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November into December 2025!
Please consider donating to the Harbor Springs Community Food Pantry today. Every gift helps fill the gap and supports people right here in our community when national support falters.
How Bad Are the Circumstances?
They’re serious. We Love Harbor Springs, Inc. encourages all readers to support a Food Pantry of your choice.For today's post, we are working directly with the Harbor Springs Community Food Pantry (HSCFP).
Times are complicated, and the need is real.
Donate
The HSC Food Pantry recently shared this message:
“Are you at risk of losing SNAP benefits or more while the government struggles to reopen. We are here for you! Come see us tomorrow, Monday, from 9–11:30 a.m. at the Holy Childhood Church Community Center. We’re inside now, with the chilly weather setting in. We’ll watch for you!
The Pantry is currently on track to exceed our food expense budget for 2025 by 20%. We don’t know how much further beyond budget the immediate and long term fall out of SNAP suspension, along with other national challenges including skyrocketing of health insurance, will take us.”
Please consider donating to help our neighbors through this difficult time. Every contribution makes a difference. See below on how to donate.
“Harbor Springs Community Food Pantry clients are part of an overlooked population who struggle to make ends meet. This vulnerable group is often invisible to the general public throughout the year, and especially during the busy summer months around here when abundant wealth appears to the norm.”
“Many aren’t aware that our food pantry is made up of many generous people, organizations and businesses. With their ever so generous donations of time, foods, fundraisers and other items so important to our local people as they fight to maintain a solid lifestyle, each plays an important part in making our pantry so successful and important in our communities. Some offer help on a scheduled, regular basis. Some are periodic helpers and donors. All are so appreciated and essential.”
“So hard to believe that our summer is steadily winding down. As you prepare to close your cottage for the season, please consider donating your unused food items to our pantry! Donating your leftover food from your cottage is a great way to help those in need and reduce food waste. Give a call 231-526-2017 ext 143, or email hscfoodpantry@gmail.com to make arrangements.
Thanks for thinking of us!”
Facts & Data - Harbor Springs Community Food Pantry
You are welcome to stop by on a Monday morning during our distribution hours to see how it all works. We do amazing work. We volunteer our time. We feed people. It’s what we do every Monday, 52 weeks a year.
We are a local, non-profit food pantry. Our mission is to alleviate hunger and enhance the well-being of food insecure individuals and families in our community by providing nutritious food and support. The Pantry is dedicated to fostering an equitable and connected community through compassionate service, collaborative partnerships, and a commitment to dignity and respect.
100% volunteer-operated
Entirely supported by individuals, grants, and partnerships with generous local businesses and organizations.
Emmet County - 10% of the population lives below the poverty line. 25% more are ALICE Households (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed). These households are most often ineligible for SNAP benefits but remain food insecure due to low wages.
In 2024, the HARBOR SPRINGS COMMUNITY FOOD PANTRY served 25% more people than the previous year. 2025 year to date we have seen an additional 14% increase.
Food purchase costs have increased by 15% in 2025.
Food distribution cost per family/individual has increased by 35% in 2025.
The Pantry increased spending on fresh/perishable food from 22.8% of total expenses in 2024 to 39% in 2025.
With some generous foundation grants, last year we were able to offer milk and other dairy products weekly (including eggs, even when prices were through the roof), fresh produce throughout the winter, and a large variety of local produce this summer and fall. The Pantry is committed to continuing these offerings.
To donate: Harbor Springs Community Food Pantry
PO Box 23
Harbor Springs, MI. 49740
Harbor’s Community Food Pantry Just Received the Ambassador Award
“We are excited, amazed and not just a little bit humbled that out of so many other deserving Harbor Springs people and businesses, we were awarded the Marty Van De Car Community Ambassador Award at the annual Harbor Stars 29th Annual Community Awards Dinner last night. We have served our local population for over 20 years. Being recognized was never our priority. Helping anyone who experiences food insecurity at any time drives us to do more and to do better. We are so grateful for everyone who did, indeed recognize our hard work and dedication. It won’t change who we are or what we do, but it surely does put a smile on all of our faces! Thank you to our wonderful community!”
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The deadline for Applications is Thursday December 11th at 9 am Consider yourself chosen to serve!The Deadline is December 11th, please consider how to participate.
The City has begun the recruitment process for City boards. All existing board members whose terms expire in 2025 have the option to reapply, and notice has been given to the general public on available positions. For more information, visit the City’s “Board and Commissions” webpage under the Government tab.
Board and Commission Appointments for 2026
In December, City Council will make appointments or reappointments to the following boards and commissions for terms beginning in January 2026. If you are interested in applying to serve, please read the Boards & Commissions Recruitment Process for more details and submit a Citizen Participation Application.
Board of Review — 2 open positions
Downtown Development Authority — 1 open position
Harbor Commission — 4 open positions
Parks and Recreation — 3 open positions
Planning Commission — 3 open positions - two do not have to be voters
Tree Advisory Board — 1 open position
Zoning Board of Appeals — 2 open positions (1 to fill a vacant seat)
Please submit applications by Thursday, December 11 by 9:00 AM. Please submit all applications to City Hall: 160 Zoll Street, PO Box 678, Harbor Springs, MI 49740. Alternatively, e-mail Victor at citymgr@cityofharborsprings.com.
Citizen Participation Application
The City of Harbor Springs encourages all citizens to participate in local government. The involvement of citizens in the political process is an essential part of democracy. Citizen involvement increases government transparency, allows for additional perspectives, and addresses business owner and property owners shared/opposed view points needed for the development of sound municipal policies. The City of Harbor Springs has a Planning Commission, Zoning Board of Appeals, Harbor Commission, Downtown Development Authority, and a Tree Advisory Board.
You may apply to serve on more than one board if desired by filling out the below Citizen Participation Application. Please submit your Citizen Participation Application at the City of Harbor Springs, 160 Zoll, Harbor Springs, MI 49740.
Citizen Participation Application www.cityofharborsprings.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/CITY-OF-HARBOR-SPRINGS-CITIZEN-PARTICIPATI...
Citizen Participation Application Fillable Form - Please Download from the City of Harbor Springs found on this link. www.cityofharborsprings.com/government/boards-and-commissions/
Boards Commissions Recruitment Process www.cityofharborsprings.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Boards-Commissions-Recruitment-Process-1.1...
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