As we go through these subjects, corrections and further insights may be added. Thank you for taking the time to review.
Administrative Review: A Review
The Proposed Code – Headed to the Planning Commission for Approval on November 13, 2025 The community has two weeks to study it. The map is here:
October 21, 2025 Agenda Packet with 60 questions answered https://www.cityofharborsprings.com/…/10_21_2025_pc…
Sixty Questions and responses by Planning Commissioner Bill Mulder can be found in the meeting packet or on the We Love Harbor Springs Website. www.weloveharborsprings.org or contact us at weloveharborsprings@gmail.com with comments.
Update:
Admin Review Committee (ARC) – What We Heard on 10.21.25
At the last Planning Commission meeting, discussion turned to the proposed Administrative Review Committee (ARC). From what was explained, the ARC would handle small site plans where the Assessor believes full public discussion isn’t needed.
Let’s ask the question– is AR different from ARC ?
Administrative Review (AR)
Definition: A general process where staff or the zoning administrator reviews and approves minor projects without a public hearing.
Who decides: Usually one or two city officials (like the Zoning Administrator or City Planner).
Purpose: To handle small, routine matters—for example: decks, fences, porches, minor additions, or signage—where the code already sets clear standards.
Goal: Speed, efficiency, and reducing paperwork for simple, low-impact projects.
Public involvement: None; the decision happens internally.
Administrative Review Committee (ARC)
Definition: A formalized version of administrative review where a group—not just one staff person—reviews site plans or permit applications.
Who decides: A committee of multiple officials (e.g., Zoning Administrator, City Manager, City Planner, PC Chair, etc.).
Purpose: To handle slightly larger or more complex projects that don’t quite rise to the level of a full Planning Commission hearing but are more significant than a deck or fence.
Goal: To streamline review while still bringing multiple perspectives (legal, planning, management) into the decision.
Public involvement: Still limited—ARC meetings are typically not public hearings.
Examples of when the AR or ARC is being used: accessory dwelling units (ADUs), commercial renovations, single-family homes in business districts, and commercial projects under 5,000 sq ft.
Already, residents question whether 5,000 sq ft is truly “minimal.” That’s a significant project with lasting neighborhood impact and should not bypass Planning Commission and community oversight.
The Zoning Administrator said ARC remains dormant for regulated uses but active for technical cases like floodplain or shoreline protection. Yet Article 8 lists a six-member ARC that includes:
Jeff Grimm (Zoning Administrator)
Bill Mulder (Planning Commission Chair)
A Planning Commission Member
Jim Ramer (City Attorney)
Victor Sinadinoski (City Manager)
John Iaconangeli (City Planner)
Only three of the six live in Harbor Springs. For a town of 1,200 voters and 1,600 parcels, that’s a major shift of decision-making power to non-residents and consultants.
Why this could matter:
Administrative review is useful for truly minor work — decks, fences, porches — with checklist-style criteria. But when applied to larger or more complex projects, it removes public notice and hearings, reducing transparency. A 5,000 sq ft building in the commercial district could change traffic, parking, or lighting patterns without neighbors ever knowing until construction begins.
Harbor Springs future is to be built on careful stewardship and community oversight.
Administrative Review should stay limited to small, low-impact projects.
Call to action:
Read the proposed code on the City website. Understand:
1. Is “Administrative Review” the same as an “Administrative Review Committee”?
2. When is each used?
3. How does the public stay informed for ARC decisions?
Let’s protect transparency, accountability, and the local voice that define our town.
Take Action:
Attend the next Public Hearing Planning Commission meeting Thursday November 13th 2025
Email Jeff Grimm with your questions assessor@cityofHarborSprings.com
Read the proposed code and decide for yourself. Every line in the code is numbered, every page is numbered – use both those #’s and write up your questions.
Let’s keep transparency, accountability, and the local voice at the center of Harbor Springs planning.