Special Planning Commission Meeting 1.4.2023

Detailed briefing

Special Planning Commission Meeting — January 4, 2024 ATTENDEES: Roll call listed Rick Tarchinsky, Vanessa Warren, Emily Dubay, Bob Thoma, Tony Johnson, Bill Mulder, Mark Bidet, Barry Luscardi, Nancy Rondell and student representative Mackenzie Bowman; the chair stated there was 100% attendance. • The Planning Commission heard a high-level presentation on a proposed overhaul of Harbor Springs’ zoning code. The stated purpose is to align the code with the city’s April 2022 master plan, simplify a code described as difficult to use, and give property owners more flexibility. No vote or final decision was taken. • The proposal would reduce the city’s zoning districts from 17 to nine. Key changes include a broad Residential Neighborhood district, a Residential Waterfront district, a Residential Multiple district, a consolidated Central Business District below the bluff, and a consolidated Convenience Business District above the bluff. • Proposed housing tools include reduced and standardized minimum lot sizes, adjusted setbacks, flag lots, duplexes, triplexes, limited quadplexes, and accessory dwelling units. Flag lots would allow certain deep properties to create lots behind an existing street-front lot, subject to legal lot-split requirements. Duplexes, triplexes and quadplexes would have to meet the same dimensional requirements as a single-family home; triplexes and quadplexes would require special land-use approval in the circumstances described. • The subcommittee proposed allowing accessory dwelling units as detached secondary dwellings that cannot be sold separately from the main house. They could be used by family, caregivers or long-term renters, but the presentation said ADUs would not be permitted as short-term rentals. • Commissioners discussed a proposed accessory commercial unit, a small owner-operated business on an owner-occupied residential property. It would require special land-use approval and be limited in size, hours, signage and paved area. Examples discussed included tutoring, lessons, professional services, cafes, salons and specialty shops. Parking standards and neighborhood-compatibility details still need review. • Members also discussed a possible administrative committee of Planning Commission members to handle certain routine approvals. The proposal would allow matters to go to the full commission if concerns arise. • The commission expects to receive the full draft zoning code for review around its January 18 meeting. Members requested a short, plain-language summary of major changes to accompany the roughly 160-page draft. Worth watching: • Whether the commission schedules a public hearing as early as February 8 after reviewing the draft. • Whether the draft provides sufficient standards for parking, design compatibility and accessory commercial units. • Whether the public and City Council receive enough time and materials to review the extensive changes. Upcoming: The next regular Planning Commission meeting was described as two weeks after January 4, when members expect to discuss next steps and the draft code. Why it matters: The zoning update could change where and how housing, small businesses and future development are allowed in Harbor Springs.

No open public follow-ups are linked to this meeting yet.