MUSKEGON, MI - The Muskegon City Commission recently decided not to put a possible waterfront land swap between the city of Muskegon and a private developer on the ballot for a residential vote.
If approved, the Mart Dock boat-storage facility on Third Street downtown would move to Fisherman's Landing, 501 E Western Ave. with two-thirds of the property then used for port operations.
The 105-site campground and, potentially, the picnic pavilion would be removed at the waterfront park along Muskegon Lake.
Public access to boat ramps, fishing areas and parking at Fisherman's Landing would remain and, with a 52-acre land acquisition next door, would expand as a public park.
The former Mart Dock site on Third Street would be redeveloped into a waterfront green space and possible retail shops.
Here are the five things to know about the city's latest move:
Muskegon officials considered earlier this month putting the decision on the Nov. 4 ballot for an advisory vote, which would not be binding and would still leave the decision up to the city commission, feeling it would give them more of a sense of what the larger community thinks.
The commissioners ultimately decided not to vote after a discussion on the topic.
The deadline to put the language on the Nov. ballot was the following day, so the commission's failure to vote meant the question would not be on the ballot.
Three commissioners - Willie German, Destinee Keener and Rachel Gorman - were absent.
Commissioners also hesitated to put something on the ballot when the plan could change before November.
City Manager Jonathan Seyferth said he did not support putting the question on the May 2026 ballot either, as that would interfere with the city's potential application timeline for grants from the federal Port Infrastructure Development Program.
Those grants, among other things, would aid in Mart Dock relocating its port of operations, which is behind Pigeon Hill Brewery, to what is now Fisherman's Landing.
2. Muskegon residents would gain 4,000 feet of free, publicly accessible waterfront in the potential land swap.
Currently, the city has 900 feet of public access to the waterfront on Muskegon Lake, between Terrace Point Marina and Fisherman's Landing.
Fisherman's Landing, a private, gated campground, provides 1,200 feet, but that is not publicly accessible, only to those who pay.
With the potential conversion of the Third Street Mart Dock site and the acquired Verplank property, Seyferth said there would be 4,933 feet of public waterfront access between the two locations.
City officials have previously said they felt the gains of the development outweighed the losses.
3. A plan by Mart Dock leaders is in the works, but has not been finalized with the city, nor voted on for final approval.
The Muskegon commission heard a presentation last fall from Chuck Canestraight, president of Port City Marine and Sand Products Corporation, director of West Michigan Port Operators and representative for Mart Dock.
In the swap, port operations and boat storage that currently take place across Shoreline Drive in downtown Muskegon would move to Fisherman's Landing. The campground and, potentially, the picnic pavilion would be removed.
Public fishing and access to boat and kayak ramps would still exist. However, the site would lose 50 to 75 parking spots of its 250 current spots, Seyferth said.
Mart Dock is looking at acquiring 52 acres of greenspace property owned by Verplank Family Holding Co. to the east of Fisherman's Landing.
The overgrown, wooded area would turn into a "passive" green space with boardwalks overlooking the water and paved trails, Seyferth said.
The former Mart Dock site on Third Street would also be redeveloped into a waterfront green space with possible retail shops.
Seyferth said he hopes the city will review a site plan from developers this fall.
4. City leaders want to hear from residents about the decision.
Commissioner and Vice Mayor Rebecca St. Clair said the commission has been discussing the topic in various forms for more than 10 years.
"I don't feel like at any time we've had a clear picture of what the community's thoughts are on this," St. Clair said.
Commissioner Jay Kilgo suggested putting the topic on a commission meeting or work session and inviting the public to weigh in.
"I never think it's a bad thing to ask the public," Kilgo said. "Maybe we fill the chambers, and we have to sit and listen to the public for three minutes a piece, but I'm OK with that."
The initial discussion this month to put the land swap on the ballot was for the sole purpose of gathering feedback, since the decision would still be subject to commission approval.
A rally to "Save Fisherman's Landing" was held earlier this year and signs are posted in various front yards around the city.
An informal meet and greet is planned for 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 4 by the managers of the campground, nonprofit, Fisherman's Landing Inc. According to the event flyer, the goal is to "discuss what Fisherman's Landing Campground brings to the city of Muskegon."
The park is owned by the city but is managed by the nonprofit, led by park manager Kevin Wright.
"The city is giving away a perfectly good piece of property for some sidewalks and some wetland," Wright said earlier this year, of the land swap.
Wright said the campground grosses over $400,000 a year and that "it all stays in the park" for maintenance and upgrades.
5. No matter what is decided, Fisherman's Landing will still be open for the summer 2026 season.
If the development is approved by the city, the campground would still stay open through the 2026 season.
There are 70 to 90 fishing tournaments a year at Fisherman's Landing, bringing people from across Michigan and from neighboring states, Wright said, but not all of them stay at the campground.
To stay a night at Fisherman's Landing costs a minimum of $38.
About 30% of the campers are seasonal, paying $3,200 to park from April 15 to Oct. 15.
Wright said he purposefully limits the number of seasonal campers to allow for more local, short-term recreation. He said that seasonal wait list is "six pages of lined paper" long.
The campground also works with the Muskegon County Department of Human Services to provide short-term tent campsites for homeless people waiting for housing.