Muskegon planning commission approves rezoning for waterfront properties included in land swap deal
Posted By: mlive on October 29, 2025. For more information, please click here to read the source article.
The Muskegon Planning Commission approved the rezoning of two properties that are included in a proposed plan for a land swap between the city and a local port company.
The city commission has final approval on zoning changes. The proposed deal would close Fisherman’s Landing campground and allow Mart Dock to move port operations to that space on the east end of the city on Muskegon Lake.
The city would acquire neighboring land from Verplank Co. for a public park, as well as some property on Third Street downtown next to Mart Dock’s current operations. The planning commission approved on Oct. 23 to rezone 23.5 acres of the 43.5-acre site at 560 Mart St. from Waterfront Marine to Waterfront Industrial PUD. The property is owned by West Michigan Dock & Market Corp.
Planning Director Mike Franzak said that this would bring existing port activities into compliance with current zoning and would allow for potential operational changes or expansion.
City Manager Jonathan Seyferth described the change as an “insurance policy” and “olive branch” for Mart Dock. If the land swap deal falls through, this rezoning would still allow them to operate and upgrade their business at its current location.
Mayor Ken Johnson said that creating a new industrial district downtown contradicts the city’s master plan, which aims to consolidate port activities on the east end of Muskegon Lake. He said that made him inclined to vote against the rezoning, but that his decision could be different when the city commission votes on the proposed project on Nov. 25.
“It’ll be interesting to see what evolves and what gets brought forward to the city commission next month,” Johnson said. “That’s where there may be rationale for me to vote yes at the city commission on this.”
The planning commission voted 7-2 to recommend approval to the city commission, with Johnson and planning and city commissioner Destinee Keener voting no. The commission also voted to rezone the majority of Fisherman’s Landing from Open Space Recreation to Waterfront Industrial PUD to allow for new port activities. If the land swap is approved, Mart Dock plans to move the bulk of its port activities to the city-owned property that currently houses a campground, public pavilion, boat ramp, fish cleaning station and restrooms.
In response to commissioner questions, Seyferth said there’s “lots of room” in between the public accessing the Fisherman’s Landing boat ramp and barge traffic.
“I just don’t want us to get ourselves into a position where it seems like it would work, but in practice it becomes unnavigable for recreational traffic,” said planning commissioner Lea Willett LeRoi.
Staff also said the upcoming development agreement is expected to include a 25-foot buffer to protect the habitat on the soft, western shoreline of the property and temporary RV camping for events like fishing tournaments would no longer be a standard use but could be approved with special event permits.
The planning commission voted 7-2 to recommend approval to the city commission, with commissioners Keener and Shonie Blake voting no.
The city has had several discussions on the land swap proposal in recent months, including a Q&A session last week.
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