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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The town of Harbor Springs repealed Zoning Ordinance #439.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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March 6 2026 News mml.org/inside208/2026/03/06/state-preemption-bills-in-the-name-of-housing-missing-the-mark-once-...
Status: Bills are in the House Committee on Regulatory Reform. Testimony has begun — the committee chair (Rep. Aragona) moved quickly to take testimony, signaling this is being pushed fast.
Who's opposing: Michigan Municipal League, Michigan Townships Association, Michigan Association of Counties — all oppose. Over 1,300 local officials statewide have signed opposition letters. We hope this makes it easier for you to communicate
For your calls:
- Lead with *HB 5529–5532 and 5581–5585* (the 2026 package)
- Ask your Rep: which committee do these sit in, has your Rep taken a position, and if they will they sign the MML opposition letter
- MML opposition letter + signature page: mml.org/advocacy/support-local-decision-making/
Parker Fairbairn’s email is: ParkerFairbairn@house.mi.gov
Mailing Address S-1486 House Office Building
P.O. Box 30014 Lansing, MI 48909. By Phone: (517) 373-2629
John Damoose, Email through his website: senatorjohndamoose.com Mailing Address: P.O. Box 30036
Lansing, MI 48909-7536. By Phone: (517) 373-2413
Joseph Aragona. Email: JosephAragona@house.mi.gov
Mailing Address N-994 House Office Building. P.O. Box 3001 Lansing, MI 48909. Phone: (517) 373-1785.
Also, please go to the Michigan Municipal League website and sign the petition against this overreach.
Harbor Springs is in the 107th district for the House.
Here is an example of a letter from Harbor Springs . Please make your letter unique. Spread the word.
Subject : HB 5529, 5530,5531,5532,5581,5582,5583,5584,5585
Dear Senator Damoose,
I'm a resident of Harbor Springs, District 37. I'm writing to urge your opposition to HB 5529–5532 and 5581–5585, the state zoning preemption package currently moving through the Legislature.
Harbor Springs is a small, historic community that has spent years carefully crafting zoning standards that reflect our town's scale, character, and the wishes of our residents. These bills would strip that local decision-making authority and impose one-size-fits-all mandates that ignore the unique needs of communities like ours.
I urge you to reject state government overreach.
Reducing minimum lot sizes to 1,500 sq ft in a town our size doesn't solve a housing crisis — it overrides decades of community planning and opens the door to out-of-scale development that would permanently damage what makes Harbor Springs special.
I strongly urge you to oppose this package and stand with the over 1,300 local officials statewide who have already signed in opposition.
Thank you for representing Northern Michigan's interests.
Signed
Address in HS
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Every winter we often look at the snowbanks and wonder how they managed to get so tall. Of course, they don’t appear overnight. They grow one push at a time.
In the world of design, something similar happens. Somewhere, someone is always sketching the next house just a little broader, a little longer than the last. Each change makes sense on its own. Each approval makes sense on its own. Over time, the street begins to feel different.
That is why the residents of Harbor Springs have spent so much time in meetings, open houses, and revisions — more than anyone expected. Not to stop progress, but to make sure the scale of what we build continues to fit the place where we live. We are grateful to Lynee Wells of Aligned Planning that is helping the community bring any remaining loose ends into our view.
The Planning Commission meets on Thursday to review Heights - join the meeting on Thursday in person or by zoom - here is Lynee Wells letter received yesterday -
3.16.26 Residential Height Memo for Planning Commission
weloveharborsprings.org
3.16.26 Residential Height Memo for Planning Commission 3.16.26 Every winter we look at the snowbanks and wonder how they managed to get so tall. Of course, they don’t appear overnight. They grow on...0 CommentsComment on Facebook
Please go on outside or where ever these vents may be - and check. Thank you HSAFD
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