MUSKEGON, Mich. (WOOD) — The Muskegon City Commission could be voting on rezoning lakeshore properties Fisherman’s Landing and Mart Dock by November, according to the city manager.

At a commission meeting Monday night, Muskegon City Manager Jonathan Seyferth outlined a plan to shuffle property on Muskegon Lake, including a beloved campground and boat launch.

The campground at Fisherman’s Landing, which is currently owned by the city, would be leased to a company called West Michigan Dock, also known as Mart Dock. Mart Dock would temporarily take over operations of the campground before eventually redeveloping the space for use as a port.

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“We’re historically a campground and golf course operator … Tyler Creek Campground and Golf Course,” explained Chuck Canestraight, lead executive operator for Mart Dock’s parent company, Port City Marine Companies. “We understand the ins and outs and the scheduling and the maintenance and the pump outs and those things that have to go on. … So the campground doesn’t go away, most of those amenities you talked about don’t go away until we have met our end of the bargain.”

The process to redevelop the Fisherman’s Landing space for port use will take several years, according to Seyferth, but once it’s begun, Mart Dock has agreed to stop operations at its current site downtown within five years.

In exchange, the city would acquire 2.5 acres along the lakeshore area of the Mart Dock’s current site and plans to redevelop it with a greenspace and a public walkway along the lake. There would also be space for cruise ships to dock.

The city and Mart Dock plan to buy the property surrounding Fisherman’s Landing from Verplank Dock Co., the company who currently owns it. Mart Dock would redevelop part of it for its own uses and the city would get 25 acres of property along the south branch of the Muskegon River on the shores of Muskegon Lake for park expansion, wetland restoration and natural habitat maintenance, Seyferth said.

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A map he showed outlined Fisherman’s Landing boundaries in purple, which Mart Dock would maintain. The blue/green areas are places the city would have control of. Fisherman’s Landing’s launch ramp, fish cleaning station, restrooms, fishing spots and kayak launch would all remain on the city-owned land. The pavilion will stay but will be relocated.

Rendered map of a possible land swap deal between Muskegon, Mart Dock and Verplank Dock Co. at the Fisherman’s Landing area in Muskegon. (Courtesy City of Muskegon)

The process could begin next month, when rezoning plans for Fisherman’s Landing and Mart Dock would begin and a lease between Mart Dock and the city would be finalized. By November, city commission would vote on rezoning and whether to approve the development agreement.

By 2026, Mart Dock would begin to lease Fisherman’s Landing and manage the campground. The city would acquire the Third Street Wharf (where Mart Dock currently operates downtown) and begin improvements.

Seyferth emphasized that the plan is a long process.

“This is a project that will have generational impact on the community. This is not a project that is going to be done in 2 years, 5 years, 10 years,” he said.

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While the city would lose 109 fenced campsites and 46 parking spots at Fisherman’s Landing campground in the deal, Seyferth said it would more than double the amount of publicly-owned waterfront space on Muskegon Lake. There would also be opportunities for recreation and conservation on the current Verplank property, if acquired by the city.

Commissioners at the meeting said they had been hearing from constituents who were disappointed about the campground’s ultimate retirement proposed in the deal. Some commenters echoed that Monday night.

“Fisherman’s Landing is an established and extremely popular recreational facility that should remain available for residents and visitors of Muskegon, not traded for an undeveloped piece of property,” said Barb Arthur of the Lakeside neighborhood.

Ward III Commissioner Destinee Keener brought up concerns about the financing for the Verplank purchase, which Seyferth said would be funded by the revenue from Mart Dock leasing the land from the city combined with a possible grant through the Department of Natural Resources. However, if those did not cover the cost, the city would be on the hook to pay the remaining balance

More funding concerns were brought up by commenters.

“My biggest concerns is really what happens to Fisherman’s Landing say that the federal infrastructure grant does not go through? … or for some reason the Verplank property deal doesn’t go through?” said Jamie Cross of the Nims neighborhood.

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But some were in favor of the proposal. Commenter Dave Alexander, of the Beachwood-Bluffton neighborhood, said he has been in the community for 45 years and urged commissioners to vote “yes” for what he called a “generational decision.”

“The agreement affords the opportunity to redevelop the downtown Mart Dock for waterfront mixed use on Muskegon Lake. Do you know how long city and community leaders have sought such redevelopment and what that can mean for this community? This agreement will launch a new era of Great Lakes Shipping in the port of Muskegon, creating good-paying jobs. I ask you, please vote the interest of the city residents, not special campground interests of those outside of our city.

More information about the plan can be found on Muskegon’s website.