We Love
HARBOR SPRINGS
Harbor Springs is Beautiful!
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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The town of Harbor Springs repealed Zoning Ordinance #439.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.
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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.
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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 design is scheduled to be completed in October.
On Wednesday July 8th, 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. It was explained that NEW maps, boards and illustrations may be on display.
Then, on 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 be available soon.
By attending The DDA meetings and committee meetings, the public can follow the steps - hope to see you there.
0 CommentsComment on Facebook
Sitting around the BBQ - with your family members - lots of subjects come up....we'd like to add a few subjects for your conversations. The reason we like Facebook is because it informs, it connects.
And it can bring important issues to light and encourage people to become engaged. But Facebook doesn't cast the votes.
City Council does.
And before City Council can act, the process begins by City Council asking the community what it thinks.
Are you talking to the City Council - are you engaged yet?
The filing deadline for this fall's election for City Council candidates seeking the office of Mayor or one of two open City Council seats is July 21st.
If you've followed the debates over zoning, development, housing, taxes, or the proposed Downtown Development Authority's Streetscape project and believe Harbor Springs would benefit from your perspective, this is the time for you to step forward.
Luckily, communities don't require unanimous agreement. They require informed citizens, respectful debate, and leaders listening before making difficult decisions. The conversations happening on Facebook matter because they reflect what people care about.
The conversations in City Hall matter because they become public policy. One starts the conversation. The other finishes it.
Harbor Springs needs both.
As the city considers decisions that will shape Harbor Springs for decades to come, is the most important click the next Facebook post you share? Is it completing the next community survey? Or is it the click showing you are willing to serve?
The right answer could be all three.
That's how communities move from debate to decisions—and from opinions to action.
Contact Nick Whitaker (231) 526-2104 for a signature sheet if you are interested in running for Mayor or one of the two City Council seats.
Signature Deadline: Tuesday July 21, 2026
cityclerk@cityofharborsprings.com.
0 CommentsComment on Facebook
Wondering how it works? This flow chart may help to explain the process.
0 CommentsComment on Facebook
