We Love
HARBOR SPRINGS
Harbor Springs is Beautiful!
Volunteer, Newsletter Sign Up and Contact us at: WeLoveHarborSprings@gmail.com
WLHS Newsletter
Powered by Substack
ZONING | WLHS BLOG | DDA | HISTORY
Press | Letters | Surveys | Corrections | RRC
The town of Harbor Springs repealed Zoning Ordinance #439. This gave our town the
right to Decide for ourselves as a community, our future within the city.
WELCOME TO WE LOVE HARBOR SPRINGS
A COMMITMENT TO RESEARCH, STEWARDSHIP, AND STRONG PUBLIC PROCESS
Harbor Springs is shaped by many decisions—large and small—that affect how we live, work, gather, and care for this place over time. Zoning is one part of that picture, but so are parks, trees, open space, public infrastructure, historic resources, and the way our local boards, commissions, and City Council engage with the community. At We Love Harbor Springs, our commitment is to strong research, clearly explained ideas, thoughtful review, and public processes that invite participation and build trust.
You can follow our ongoing work under the NEWS tab, we share research, updates, letters, corrections, press coverage, and analysis related to community decisions and governance.
Community input—through surveys, town halls, public meetings, and individual engagement—has been invaluable. These perspectives help ensure that decisions reflect lived experience and shared values, not just technical compliance.
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 decision marked an opportunity to reaffirm local priorities and reaffirm the importance of community-driven decision-making.
There are more decisions like that to still be made to Preserve and Protect.
Disclosure & Commitment to Open Dialogue
We Love Harbor Springs is committed to fairness, transparency, and careful research. The information shared on this site is offered in good faith to support informed public discussion. Facts, interpretations, and conclusions presented here are always open to challenge, correction, or clarification. We welcome additional information, differing viewpoints, and evidence-based feedback at any time, recognizing that strong communities are built through accuracy, openness, and respectful dialogue. Contact us at weloveharborsprings@gmail.com with details.
“Watch” Our Facebook Page below for Latest Updates:
We are so glad to have you here and appreciate your interest in staying connected with us!
You do not need to be a Facebook user or logged in to view our WLHS posts. It’s a great way to stay updated on the latest news and events through social media. However, if you’d like to engage with our content—such as liking or commenting on a post—you’ll need to be signed into your own Facebook account.
Additional Facebook Instructions:
-
To share a post, click the three dots in the bottom right-hand corner of a post, and choose to share via Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, or Email.
-
To view existing comments, simply click the comment button under each post.
-
To open the post directly on Facebook, click the Facebook circle icon in the top right-hand corner.
Thank you for staying connected with us and helping us build a vibrant online community!
ALERT NEWS: On Thursday night 5.21.26 The Planning Commission did pass a motion, introduced by Kenny Stewart, asking the City Council to impose a three-month moratorium on 3-story approvals so the zoning can be re-evaluated. The vote was 6 to 2 in favor.
Please attend the City Council meeting on Monday June 1st - here is the packet: www.cityofharborsprings.com/wp-content/uploads/glm-member-db/files/june_1_2026_city_cteouncil_age...
To read the WLHS Newsletter - wlhs.substack.com/api/v1/post/pdf?postId=198834983
Here is the Harbor Light Story www.harborlightnews.com/articles/three-story-downtown-development-proposal-reviewed-by-planning-c...
Here are 10 key data points and a link to today's Harbor Light story on the three story building. No mention, however, of the proposed moratorium.
289 East Main Street — the address of the proposed development, currently home to Running Water fitness space
3 stories / 35 feet — the new zoning code allows up to 35 feet by right, versus 30 feet under the old code.
As Lynee Wells - planning consultant - repeatably said 'height in feet matters enormously at this scale — a 30-foot limit makes three stories a tight squeeze, while 35 feet makes it considerably more achievable, potentially encouraging more three-story development downtown.' The distinction matters because "three stories" sounds the same either way, but the extra 5 feet in the new code is what makes that third story genuinely viable — and that's the real change in what developers can build "by right".
6 condos - three on the second floor, three on the third floor:
See sizes in photo -
2 retail spaces - on Main Street at the corner of Gardner Street
942 & 987 S.F. - too small for a new restaurant for example
6 Garage bays of more than 10,000 square feet on the Street Level
7 parking spots lost - currently along Gardner and Third Streets where the building would go; an estimated 4–6 approximately
20-foot rule - the code prohibits more than 20 feet of solid wall; the west side facing The Lyric and the three story design violates this rule
6% of CBD - one commenter's estimate of how much of the Central Business District's retail space the building would occupy
The Planning Commission at the 5.21.26 meeting did not take action on the proposed 3-story condominium project at Main and Gardner because the submission was incomplete.
Under the new zoning, however, there does not appear to be a means to stop it.
Preliminary planning is changeable - we can try - what are your ideas? Let us know at weloveharborsprings@gmail.com
1 CommentsComment on Facebook
Today: Thursday, May 27: Downtown Streetscape Master Plan Community Open House at City Hall, 4pm to 7pm.
The open house venue will give people the opportunity to drop in at their convenience, ask questions and provide input on preliminary streetscape concepts, and talk directly with the planners and DDA Board members.
- Downtown Harbor Springs Streetscape
downtownharborspringsstreetscape.org
Downtown Streetscape Conceptual Master Plan City of Harbor Springs Downtown Development Authority Learn how the community can participate in the master planning process! Anticipated Project Schedule W...1 CommentsComment on Facebook
Please consider becoming a volunteer.Open Seat on Parks and Recreation – Application deadline May 28th at Noon. Please see information below on how to apply.
0 CommentsComment on Facebook