Planning Commission Regular Meeting 10.20.2022

Detailed briefing

Planning Commission Regular Meeting — October 20, 2022 - The commission approved corrected minutes from prior September meetings. Corrections concerned the record of attendance and voting. - The commission approved a special land-use request for the Tracy Cottage at 730 Pennsylvania Avenue. The proposal includes an attached garage and activity-room area that could be used as guest quarters in the future. Staff and the planning consultant said the submitted plan met zoning criteria. The consultant also said replacing the existing parking arrangement with a driveway and garage would reduce the need to back vehicles into Pennsylvania Avenue. - The commission approved the City’s site plan to reinstall playground equipment at Lower Zorn Park. Parks staff said the former City Beach playground was removed after high water made its sandy location unsafe, and that it could not return to the sand because of ADA requirements. The donor has offered to pay reinstallation costs. - Public comment on the Zorn Park plan was sharply divided. Supporters said a downtown playground near the beach serves families, children, and downtown activity. Opponents argued that the proposed location would reduce usable green space and shade, affect views, add traffic or safety concerns, and alter the park’s character. Several speakers asked the City to consider alternatives or take more time. - The Zorn Park approval includes a condition that construction not begin before May 1, 2023. City staff said the delay would provide time for residents and others to present alternatives to the Parks Board, City Council, and staff; staff did not guarantee that another proposal would be adopted. The commission’s chair abstained from this item after a participation vote was not unanimous under the commission’s bylaws. - The commission voted to advertise a public hearing for November 17 on proposed guest-quarters language. The discussion concerned allowing long-term rentals of guest quarters while continuing special-land-use review. Zoning-code review discussion was postponed. Worth watching: - Whether public alternatives for the Lower Zorn Park playground are submitted and considered before the May 1, 2023 construction date. - Public input and commission action on the proposed long-term guest-quarters rental language at the November 17 hearing. - A member’s planned research into demolition-material recycling and options to preserve Harbor Springs’ architectural character. Upcoming: November 17 Planning Commission meeting, including the guest-quarters public hearing and review of the capital improvements plan. Why it matters: The meeting advanced a downtown playground plan while leaving time for further public proposals, and opened a policy decision that could affect residential guest-quarters rentals.

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