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HARBOR SPRINGS
Harbor Springs is Beautiful!
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The town of Harbor Springs repealed Zoning Ordinance #439.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.
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TOMORROW. -----Wednesday, July 8th, at 8 am at City Call the DDA will be reviewing feedback from the community. City Planner Beckett & Raeder will present a review of the Public Input Survey and a Project Status Update. Public comment will be taken.
The Downtown Development Authority is working on a redesign of Main Street, Bay Street and 3rd Street to change the “Streetscape” into what they think may be an improvement.
The DDA operates independently of City Government and has its own budget derived from taxes. They currently have a targeted $500k budget for these enhancements.
There was a DDA Survey that began June 1st regarding Harbor Springs Downtown - and what might be accomplished. Ideas like brick crosswalks, more flowers, black sky lighting, more benches, differnt traffic routing. The community is being asked for all the improvements and ideas we have for our downtown. What makes it better, and what may make it safer.
Without your input, DDA and Beckett & Raeder will define a new look for downtown.
The Downtown Development Authority (DDA) collects tax revenue, which it uses to invest in downtown improvements and fund professional planning for Harbor Springs. The planning for this project costs approximately $24,000, with the streetscape design scheduled for completion in October.
Following Wednesday's meeting, members of the public are invited to stop by City Hall to share their opinions on Wants and Needs, as well as Don't Wants and Don't Needs.
Join the DDA Tuesday, July 14 (8:00-9:00 AM), Friday, July 17 (12:00-1:00 PM), or Monday, July 20 (5:00-6:00 PM) - all sessions at City Hall. These informal sessions are one of your opportunities to tell the DDA what you really think and to learn more about possibilities you may not have considered.
Then, on Thursday, July 30 at City Hall, 5 pm to 7 pm: a Community Open House is scheduled to give additional feedback and public comment.
A NEW survey will then be made available from Thursday July 30 through August 10
Wednesday, August 12: DDA Board Meeting. Beckett & Raeder will present a review and summary of input received during the Preferred Plan Showcase presentation and second online survey. This will be a dialogue with the DDA Board. Public comments will also be welcome.
Wednesday, September 9: 8 am DDA Board Meeting. The DDA Board will hear a final overview of the concept plan from Beckett & Raeder. The public is welcome.
Tuesday, October 13: 8 am DDA Board Meeting. The DDA Board will have on its agenda consideration of adopting the Final Streetscape Project Plan and forwarding it to the Planning Commission for review and City Council for approval. The public is welcome.
Learn how the community can participate in the master planning process! By attending these DDA meetings and their committee meetings, you can follow all the steps - taking part in the process to know what is really going on in Harbor Springs. We hope to see you there. Thank you.
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Another weather caution for today -🚨 CURRENT ROAD CLOSURES 🚨
Updated as of 07/01/26 at 3:30 p.m.
Barricades and road closure signs are there for your safety, please respect them.
Please drive with caution throughout the county. Be alert for downed trees, branches, shoulder washouts and other debris that may still be present on roadways.
The following road sections are currently closed. Please seek an alternate route. This list will be updated as conditions change.
- M119: between Robinson Rd & Stutsmanville Rd (Local Traffic Only)
- M119: between S Lamkin/Ball Hill & Middle Village
- M119: between Division Rd & Island View Drive
- M119: between Stutsmanville Rd & Terpening Rd
- Lower Shore Dr: between Windemere Dr & S. Lake Shore Dr
Residents on Lower Shore Drive can reach their homes via the northern section of Lower Shore Drive, accessed from M-119.
For up-to-date information on M-119 closures and detours:
mdotjboss.state.mi.us/MiDrive/map
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We are posting to help get more people to take the survey ...... Direct survey link works here:
www.surveymonkey.com/r/K7PMLR3
The Downtown Development Authority (DDA) has collected taxpayers money, and that allows them to pay for a professional city planners design for downtown Harbor Springs. This work costs about $24,000 and the streetscape design is scheduled to be completed in October.
Here is the link to the Streetscape website is: downtownharborspringsstreetscape.org
Their survey is available on the site - It will close soon.
On Wednesday July 8th, at 8 am while MANY of you are here in town, there will be a DDA meeting at City Hall and City Planner Beckett & Raeder will present a review of the Public Input Survey and a Project Status Update.
Then, through July there will be 3 informal meets, each for an hour - open for public comment at City Hall - (Times and days to be announced ) - Again a Second Community Open House is also to be scheduled for the community to give feedback and public comment. Times and Dates to be Announced.
A NEW survey will then be made available.
By attending The DDA meetings and committee meetings, the public can follow the steps - take part in the process and know what is going on ! Harbor Springs leaders hope to see you there.
- 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! We invite all community member...0 CommentsComment on Facebook