Planning Commission Meeting 8/19/2021

Detailed briefing

Planning Commission Meeting — August 19, 2021 ATTENDEES: Beth Rahalik, Mary Catherine Hannah, Emily Dubay, Jack Deegan, George P., Bill Mulder, Andrew Bowman, and Al Dagan were recorded present; Mark Bidet was recorded absent. • The commission approved the July 15, 2021 meeting minutes with corrections. The identified correction was capitalization of “Harbor Springs” in two places near the beginning of the minutes. The supplied transcript does not state a vote count. • Staff raised a sign-code issue after denying part of a signage-permit request for a new business planned in the former Sam’s Graces building. The property is in the B-1 district, where only one building sign is permitted. Staff contrasted that rule with the Central Business District, where the same sign-area formula can permit up to four signs. • Commissioners indicated support for looking at B-1 and B-2 sign regulations in the fall. The discussion noted that setbacks differ between those districts and the CBD, so any changes may need to account for buildings set farther back from the street. Staff said a future agenda item would include a map of B-1 and B-2 properties. • Emmet County Recycling presented circular-economy concepts for possible consideration in the city’s master plan. Topics included public-space recycling, composting and backyard-compost education, use of finished compost, recycled-content purchasing policies, repair programs, reusable or non-styrofoam food containers, appliance-recycling incentives, and potential future residential food-scrap collection. The presenter said 97% of materials collected through the county’s curbside and drop-site recycling stream supply Michigan businesses. • The commission began reviewing draft master-plan material on land-use approval patterns. The consultant said the draft added discussion of industrial land, short-term rentals, and potential redevelopment areas, including large lots north of Lake Street and west of Hoyt and the Bluff Garden property. No changes to the draft were adopted in the supplied transcript. • Commissioners discussed the phrase that the city is “essentially built out.” Members agreed it describes current conditions and limited vacant land, but some expressed concern that readers could take it to mean redevelopment, reuse, or future land-use changes are no longer possible. Worth watching: • Whether staff brings forward proposed B-1/B-2 sign-code changes and a district map. • Whether circular-economy recommendations are incorporated into the master-plan draft. • Whether the master plan clarifies the meaning and implications of the city being “essentially built out.” Upcoming: No next meeting date was announced in the supplied transcript. Why it matters: The discussion could shape future sign rules, sustainability policies, and how Harbor Springs guides redevelopment in a largely developed city.

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