Manitowoc council approves mall redevelopment steps, awards River Point contract and adopts traffic, parks and personnel measures

The Manitowoc Common Council on March 17 approved a package of measures to advance redevelopment of the former Mid-Cities Mall site, granted a conditional use permit for a church at 1418 Grand Avenue, awarded a construction contract for River Point Development Phase 4 and adopted traffic-safety and parks funding measures, all by unanimous vote.

The actions move forward a multi-parcel redevelopment (referred to in meeting documents as the Mariner Locks Development) that includes rezoning former mall properties at 700 East Magnolia Avenue and 828 Memorial Drive to permit single-family and multi-family housing, approval of a preliminary subdivision plat and certified survey map, and the release of certain easements. Adam (planning staff) told the council the proposed rezoning and plat are consistent with the city’s comprehensive plan and that the Planning Commission held an informational hearing with no objections; the council then adopted the ordinance and related approvals without recorded dissent.

Why it matters: the approvals enable reuse of a long-vacant mall property for mixed housing and associated infrastructure work, including planned work on Johnson Drive tied to the city’s TIF plan; council members noted that the zoning and plat approvals are prerequisites for planned private development and future permitting.

Council discussion and public input

A resident, Mike VanSleet (111441 Elder Drive), spoke during the public hearing for the rezoning and asked the council to consider how increased multifamily development and new residents could affect on-street parking on Johnston Drive and Reed Avenue. “When there’s so many cars parked on there … that becomes a traffic hazard,” VanSleet said, urging more use of apartment parking areas…