Is This What You Want?

This Thursday, 5:30pm, at City Hall, there is a formal public hearing on the draft of the new zoning code for Harbor Springs. This draft comes after nearly a year of work conducted in full view of the public. It has included the proper scrutiny the process is intended to provide.

Dozens and dozens of meetings have been held ---open to all. Countless hours of testimony and discussion have contributed to this draft document.

If this hearing is anything like the five most recent open houses held by the Planning Commission, it will be unpleasant.

Please understand, the act of bending the rules of civility and public discourse to make these meetings difficult is a choice with consequences. These performative grievance sessions are not worthy of a town full of kind and generous people. But that is the intent. To drive off regular folks from the discussion so the comments are dominated by the harshest voices.

If you follow our civic conversation on this page over the last year, you have seen this behavior in comments. Name calling, all caps yelling and visible dislike of fellow community members by a few very loud voices.

It is a "win-at-all-cost" campaign that few can dispute has had a real effect on the bonds that tie our community together.

I simply cannot imagine being so fortunate in life and deciding to spend so much time tearing others down.

For what? What is the goal? That is the question I ask as we come to the end of another grueling zoning process. Those who opposed the code in last year's election have gotten nearly everything they have demanded. Every line of the code has been reviewed, and the public has been involved in every step of the way.

No buildings over 35 feet anywhere; no expansion of duplexes; a realigning of districts in direct response to property owner input; compromises on lot dimensions, setbacks and home sizes; the removal of the city from the RRC program.

I didn't want any of that. But it was not about my personal desires. It is about reaching broad agreement we can all live with.

We have reached that broad agreement as a community, and it is still not enough. I think most of us understand that while we all have personal interests in the code, it should be written in the best interests of everyone. And yet many with so much, have had to give very little. And they will still come to the meeting on Thursday upset.

Public processes are nearly impossible when the goal posts are constantly moving. It is hard to reach agreement when the goal of the conversation changes near the end of each negotiation. The Planning Commission have done their very best. They should be proud.

So, here we are Harbor Springs. Nearly at the end of a difficult public conversation, having compromised on nearly every point, and the same group who hated the last new code seem to hate this new code.

Hate, for some, has become a hobby. Distrust, disinformation, and dislike for community members have become a strategy. Look around, folks. The strategy has real-world dangerous consequences on our society.

Put the zoning code aside. Set aside building heights, historic beauty and setback requirements and ask yourself---is this the Harbor Springs you want?

There is a scenario where we trust one another. Where our elected officials work for all of us and don't hide behind shady dark money groups. Where we do not have to spend our energy fighting just to get back to normal. Where those who work here are valued as much as those who spend money here. Where we understand that in this exceptional city there are still many who struggle and need our help.

There was a path where this page was never needed.

Returning our community to one that values addition over division is what most residents of Harbor Springs want. Frankly, they are tired of the acrimony, grievance, and backbiting. If they are like me, they are beyond tired. I know most are exhausted.

"We Love Harbor Springs" began with the goal of changing our community---and they certainly have. Have their efforts changed things for the better?

It is up to all of us to restore civility in Harbor Springs. To not just love the buildings but love the people. To understand that this beautiful and amazing place is just a theme park without the residents who work hard to make it special.

Please look beyond the zoning code to see the bigger stakes for all of us. The heart of our little town is at risk because of how a handful have chosen to behave. Enough is enough.

Let's join together to move forward, Harbor Springs.