Harbor Springs Planning Commission May 21

Detailed briefing

Harbor Springs Planning Commission — May 21, 2020 ATTENDEES: Jeannie Benjamin, Lee Kramer, Sarah Smith, Mary Catherine Hanna, Jeff Ford and Mark Bidet were identified as present during roll call. • The commission approved its prior meeting minutes by roll-call vote. The transcript does not state the vote total, but the motion passed. • Members agreed to separate the city’s master-plan work from regular Planning Commission meetings. The dedicated sessions will be public meetings on the first Thursday of each month at 5:30 p.m., beginning June 4. They will be noticed and published like regular commission meetings and remain subject to Open Meetings Act requirements. Remote participation was expected to remain available under the then-current executive order through June 30. • The first master-plan assignment is for commissioners to review the first 43 pages of the current plan. Consultant Larry Nix said the material is primarily background analysis: Harbor Springs history, people, population, economy, parks, utilities and other community conditions. Members were asked to identify information that needs updating, including changes such as the city’s flood-prevention planning. • Nix outlined the expected master-plan process: background review, goals and objectives, public participation, future land-use discussion, a draft plan, required outreach to adjacent municipalities and other governmental entities, a statutory public hearing, implementation strategies, and final City Council approval. He stressed that public participation will be important, but said COVID-19 could affect the available methods and timing. Options mentioned included online surveys, charrettes and public meetings. • Public commenters questioned whether the existing zoning code aligns with the 2014 master plan, especially at the waterfront, and asked whether the city should seek additional outside planning expertise. Commissioners discussed potential benefits, cost, scope of work and the value of local knowledge. No decision was made. The issue was deferred for discussion at the June 4 session; a resident was invited to submit written consultant information for the commission. • Staff said Irish Boat Shop was administratively allowed to use additional parking at its Fairview Street site during construction activity. Staff said the location already had parking approval as part of its existing use and that using it would help avoid tying up public downtown parking spaces. Worth watching: • Whether the commission adopts a public-engagement plan for the master-plan update, including any COVID-19-related changes. • Whether commissioners define a scope of work and consider additional outside planning assistance. • Whether the updated master plan leads to later review or changes to zoning provisions. Upcoming: Master-plan work session scheduled for Thursday, June 4, at 5:30 p.m.; commissioners are to review the first 43 pages of the current plan beforehand. Why it matters: The master-plan update will guide Harbor Springs’ future land-use and policy decisions, with possible later implications for zoning and waterfront issues.

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