To: Harbor Springs Planning Commission and City Council
Subject: Request for Public Discussion on Zoning Amendments

Dear Planning Commission Members,

I voted in the open election ‘Yes’ to rescind Ordinance 439 and to keep in place the 2005 Zoning Code that has kept Harbor Springs safe from over development since 1979. With so many communities throughout the North West shore of Michigan being as desirable as we are – in our 1.3 sq miles – yet having remained as picturesque, we must be doing something right. I, like the majority, a ‘survey’ of almost 900 voters spoke at the ballot box. Democracy prevailed and the 2005 code has been reaffirmed in the strongest possible way – by community vote – the largest percentage of voter turnout out in 15 years.

I strongly support City Council. Heed the voters. The voters have spoken in great numbers and offered the mandate, which by anyone’s measure should be enough in any democratic society to uphold its outcome.

I urge you to pause and thoroughly revisit the zoning amendments added on August 18, 2025. Cluster housing, co-living, administrative review, expanded Planned Developments (including in the Waterfront District), with by-right ADUs, and were adopted in less than an hour—without public debate. Check for risks to our community mandate.

Review the 2005 document’s layout. Update it as needed for readability.

Expanding Planned Developments into the Waterfront risks forever changing the character of our shoreline. Yet in November 2024, the largest majority vote in 15 years rejected similar changes, yet they have reappeared in the draft. That is not right nor respectful of Harbor Springs residents, the vote, the Master Plan or the surveys upon which the Master Plan was based.

Notices buried in the Harbor Light or taped to a grocery store wall are not sufficient public outreach. Every property owner deserves clear notice and a fair chance to weigh in before changes of this magnitude. And considering the recent vote against such proposed changes, the City Council who answer to the voters and were also democratically elected must uphold our Charter and tenets of Home Rule. Harbor Springs leads by democratic vote above all else.

I am a Harbor Springs voter
I am a property owner

These changes proposed required direction from leadership, understanding of the ballot majority, open debate, transparency, and broad community input to understand why we are reviewing a zoning reform that already failed at the ballot box before any more time and taxpayer dollars are invested in a previously decided, in a democratically reviewed, mandate.

Sincerely,
Ashley O’Reilly, uptown Harbor Springs