The More You Know: Downtown
Today we are starting a series named for that catchy “The More You Know” segment we used to watch when we were kids. (Go ahead…sing the jingle-we wont tell).
Ole Nubbins got a letter in the mail this weekend which featured four reasons to repeal our new zoning code. (It also included a long piece written by fashion writer whose style memos are honestly worth a look. The author however didn’t find anyone in Harbor Springs who was voting no on the zoning repeal to talk with-which is too bad, we are nice folks).
The first reason listed to repeal the brand new code is a concern about the downtown area. It says: “Harbor Springs’ unique downtown doesn’t need to expand . . .” We took a look back at the past planning commission meetings as they discussed the new code. The only expansion into residential areas the new code includes is the incorporation of a few homes and the Yacht Club on Bay St. into the Central Business District (CBD). Those homes right along the city beach to the Point gates were mostly in their own zoning district (Transitional Residential) within the CBD before. Some of the properties were in 2 different zoning districts. Time had made a bit of a mess of things before the new code.
Along the way, the planning commission designed a special “overlay” just for those homes to address concerns raised by homeowners in the area. Folks with concerns were heard and the code was adjusted.
As for the rest of downtown, there used to be three business zoning districts downtown that the planning commission simplified and combined into a single Central Business District.
Finally, a topic near and dear to our little mutton heart. The new zoning code closes a loophole that previously allowed for an unlimited amount of height for rooftop access beyond the normal 30’ limit. While the folks in the letter would like a two-story limit downtown, the 30’ limit has been in effect since 1976 and you can still see the boardwalk just fine from the water. We did a post on this subject over on the Nubbins Blog if you are interested in the geometry: https://www.votenoharborsprings.org/.../how-big-are-we...
The new zoning code also includes architectural standards for downtown buildings for the first time. These all seem like pretty reasonable and very stylish additions to our code.
Thanks for reading and thinking about your vote on November 5th. Be sure to visit www.votenoharborsprings.org to learn more about the benefits of the new code!