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HARBOR SPRINGS
Harbor Springs is Beautiful!
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The town of Harbor Springs repealed Zoning Ordinance #439.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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Shout-Out to Our Amazing Volunteers!
A heartfelt thank you to everyone who has stepped up to serve on the Harbor Springs City Council in the vacant 5th seat. Your willingness to contribute your time, ideas, and leadership is the essence of what makes our community strong.
This week truly epitomizes the kind of city we want—where City Hall and staff, volunteer organizations, and the Harbor Springs Chamber of Commerce all come together to celebrate, collaborate, and move our community forward. It’s a beautiful example of how we can work hand-in-hand to shape the future of Harbor Springs.
Harbor Springs: A Big Week Ahead!
🗓 July 2 at 12:00 PM ( Wednesday)
– City Council discusses the appointment to the 5th seat. Democracy in action—come be part of the process!
🐾 July 3 (Thursday#):
11:00 AM – Get ready for fun at the Wiener Dog Races—a local favorite!
🎇 July 4 (Friday):
8:00 AM – Paul Revere 5K & 10K
9:00 AM – 4:00 PM – Art in the Park
1:00 PM – Community Parade
Dusk – Fireworks over the waterfront
11:00 PM – $2 Movie Showing: Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby
A Community of Participation and Purpose
We all want a community that reflects our values—where City Council can count on thoughtful voices, new ideas, and meaningful contributions from across the city.
Harbor Springs is built on this kind of participation: through our boards, committees, authorities, and everyday volunteerism.
This is the foundation of a community of consensus—where input is welcomed, heard, and used to guide decision-making and strengthen our shared quality of life.
Step Up. Be Heard. Get Involved.
Even in the busy summer if you care about Harbor Springs and want to help shape its future, now is the perfect time:
Share your support and vision during public comment at a City Council meeting (3 minutes max).
Thank You to All Who Serve!
We applaud your spirit, your service, and your love for Harbor Springs. Together, we are building a vibrant, inclusive, and thoughtful community.
🌐 Visit: WeLoveHarborSprings.org
📧 Contact us: WeLoveHarborSprings@gmail.com
Our Community; Our Voice.
👏 We applaud you!
We Love Harbor Springs | Help Preserve Our Beautiful City
weloveharborsprings.org
A new zoning proposal could irreversibly change the unique charm of Harbor Springs. Help We Love Harbor Springs save our city’s one-of-a-kind character.0 CommentsComment on Facebook
Why is the trend to three story downtown buildings still on the table? Let's talk about it.
From last weeks Planning Commissioners meeting...on June 19th the Building Heights downtown: CBD (Central Business District):
The current zoning code 2005 lists 30 ft and 2 stories. See photo and red box.
However, it was noted that a specific block (from the bank to Cottage Company) is a Planned Development (PD) allowing up to 40 feet. Those two buildings were allowed in with special PD approval. This was new information since last year. Question? Can this PD allowance be removed?
Historically structures like the Harbor Springs Library Building at 206 S Spring Street and Main ( 1908) and the Erwin Building at Main and State (1913) inhabit corners, like the Community Bank, that underline their importance as more than ordinary places. *
That effort to establish an air of permanence was fortuitous inasmuch as today's businesses operate in yesterday';s buildings. *
City Planner John Iaocangeli mentions uses of downtown at the turn of the century vs today; the need for 4-story could be seen around the train and ferry depots, rooming houses and resort hotels - shopping concentrated in the ‘CBD’ of the day. What’s needed today?
Views! Undulation of charming days-gone-by…
It’s noted in the 2012 Vision as the key attribute of our downtown
The discussion at the Planning meeting continued on Thursday centered on establishing a uniform height for the entire CBD (e.g., 35ft or 40ft) to eliminate the need for PDs solely for height.
A previous proposal (#439 Repealed Zoning) was discussed: 40ft/3 stories if the 3rd story is set back 8 feet from the property line to prevent a "canyon effect". This is a different conversation than the released #439 which does not appear to have a height restriction. See photo and green box.
A comment from the audience expressed surprise that three-story heights were being discussed, while the Vision documents, community surveys, and the 2025 winter time “listening sessions” were in favor of favoring a two-story downtown.
Concerns were raised about the massing of new buildings like the Cottage Company (49ft including rooftop access) being "too big for our town". The historical presence of three-story buildings (some with higher facades or fake cornices) in downtown was noted, suggesting 3-story buildings are not historically out of character.
These big buildings built yesterday, to this day sit comfortably on the corners, anchoring our two story town. The question remains, will the Planning Commissioners respect and honor the communities past requests to keep Harbor Harbor and maintain a two story down town like the conversations that took place during the surveys, vision plans and town meetings over the years?
Architect Planning Commissioner member Mark Buday explained that 35ft for a 3-story commercial building would require "squished" floor-to-ceiling heights, making 40ft more architecturally desirable for a "true 3-story option" that could also allow roof decks. He was asked by the PC Chair if he would rather design a three story building, and he said "of course".
This decision is for the future of Harbor Springs. What is your opinion? Asking why to add a third floor for the future...this is the reason one source gives. weloveharborsprings.org/zoning/is-this-the-reason-to-add-a-third-story-to-our-downtown-buildings/
The idea of tiered height (35ft for 2 stories, 40ft for 3 stories with setbacks) was also discussed. The "canyon effect" prevention relies on a ratio of street width to building height, which City Planner at Beckett & Raeder's John Iacoangeli offered to research. The shadow effect and the loss of lake and bluff views was not discussed.
The City Planner said during the meeting that if you want to have your town look and have a certain height and look - you have to speak up now to make that happen. You have to decide.Referring to all of the business districts B-1, B-2 and R.O.S.
Also discussed were elevator roof heights versus building roof heights. The Mossburg buildings have a +- 10 foot rooftop mechanical height added to their already massive bulk. The western building is four stories, with unknown floors under grade.
Please see previous FB post with actual heights of different downtown buildings.
So, the comment from the audience expressing surprise that three-story heights were being discussed is just one voice of many and for many who have reached out to us. You can say there are 1200 properties, and that every voice has the right to opinion.
Those of you who are in favor of a two-story downtown with the protections of historical mindfulness and character please send a letter to Jeff Grimm. Here is his address:
assessor@cityofharborsprings.com
Decisions on thoughts on CBD building heights at the June 19th meeting were tabled.
* Research from Harbor Springs, A Collection of Historical Essays, found safely available at the @HarborSpringsLibrary
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