The question we face on our zoning code on November 5th, is not super intuitive. Hopefully we can help: A "NO" vote keeps the new code. A "YES" vote repeals the new code.

Look, input from all is great and can help us make better decisions. But they are ultimately OUR decisions. Being a registered voter in a community comes with rights and responsibilities. We take them seriously.

One can hope that all the folks with "yes" signs in front of their summer homes and rental properties are equally involved in the communities where they actually live.

Hey there Harbor Springs! Today we wrap up our series that follows up on the recent letter from the folks working to repeal the zoning code. The next topic is Fostering Community (which we are all for!)

Its day three of our look at the latest letter from the folks working to repeal the zoning code. The next topic is Affordable Housing. We've been looking forward to this one!

Hi there Harbor Springs! It is day two of our “The More You Know” series and we are tackling the second reason the letter we got this weekend said we should vote yes. They say “The current zoning plan was not developed by Harbor Springs residents . . .”

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).

Good morning Harbor Springs! We are less than 30 days out from Election Day! Most of us have day jobs and volunteer our time in support of the candidates and causes we support when we can. This year, perhaps more than others, many of us are putting in the extra effort to support our democracy and city.

Here is a thought exercise. What if instead of going through all this effort to repeal the work our neighbors did to pass a new code, those who want changes worked with the committees to propose, draft and enact changes to the new code. Reasonable people could have worked with the city and our volunteer boards rather than turning it all into a referendum. That seems much more like the Harbor Springs we want to preserve.

But, here we are. "Yes" signs on one side of the street. "No" signs on the other. For a group that says they love Harbor Springs-they sure as heck divided it. It is time to move beyond the misinformation, distrust, fuss and anger. 

Our options are a vote "yes" to REPEAL the new code and go backward or vote "no" to KEEP it and move forward. Our hope is that together we will say "NO" on November 5th.

Rainy days have us thinking.

Early on, we wrote a post about a lesson from Mr. Rogers. It likely betrays us a bit that we grew up in a generation that looked to a mild mannered, cardigan wearing, Presbyterian minster for life lessons, but here we are.

In our earlier post we recalled that after the tragedy of 9/11 Mr. Rogers we should, “Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.”

Today we conclude our three-part series highlighting changes in the new zoning code. These three relatively small changes were so concerning an entire cottage industry of grievance sprung up in our little town to combat them.

The Planning Commission sought to help provide housing opportunity to the broad spectrum of persons seeking housing in the city by:

o Allowing a narrower minimum width for newly created lots to give property owners more options.

o Changing “guest quarters” to Accessory Dwelling Units and allow long-term rental of ADUs to potentially increase the availability of rental property options for the community

o Allowing duplexes with administrative review (this was “by right” but was changed at the request of the petition people) in both new residential zoning districts and triplexes by special land use to address multi-generational housing needs and provide options for property owners

Strap in folks. This ole ram has penned another long one:

In 2022, the Merriam-Webster dictionary declared “gaslighting” to be the word of the year.

Around here, you probably think of the Gaslight District of Petoskey when you hear the term. Those charming streetlights in Petoskey’s downtown hung with wreaths and red ribbons during the holiday season.

But the reason Merriam-Webster gave the honor to the word “gaslighting” was far from charming. The term comes from a 1944 film with Ingrid Bergman called “Gas Light.” (There was a play and TV movie before, but Bergman is the best so we can start there). In the film a husband lies and manipulates his wife into believing she is crazy. Slowly, she becomes more isolated and seemingly delusional as gas lights flicker on and off in her mind.

Next up, Modest Change #2:

The new code allows for more approvals by administrative committee rather than special land use by entire planning commission to streamline processes (especially for more common requests).

Today, we begin a series highlighting changes in the new zoning code. These relatively small changes constitute the bulk of the recommendations the city council adopted in the new zoning code.

We are dubbing them: “The Modest Three.”

We’ve had some interesting interactions on here after launching a few weeks ago. The vast majority have been positive, some have not.

The vitriol from some petition people has been, frankly, disappointing.

The same group that sent misleading mailers, swarmed council meetings, called names, questioned motives, used the specter of lawsuits to sway the council to accept their deficient petition and place it on the ballot. Do we blame the council? No. Is public policy by threat of litigation healthy? No.

There is no scandal brewing in the new codes adopted for our town. They are mundane and unworthy of the melodrama some would ascribe. Fear not, dear reader. These rules to shape our surroundings were written by this season’s true diamonds. Each and every volunteer, bright, determined and worthy of our sincerest thanks.

The second big question we’ve heard goes something like: “This is a democracy. Why shouldn’t we just vote?” As big fans of democracy, that one is a bit harder to answer.

We’ve gotten several comments and messages that ask if we are afraid of a vote on the new zoning code. We are not. If there are enough signatures to ask voters to repeal the ordinance (and we assume there are), we are confident our community will reject the petition people’s position if given the choice and facts.

A mailer sent to residents in Harbor Springs asks the question: “Duplexes 35 feet tall and 8 feet from your property… is this what we want our neighborhoods to look like?”