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 and attention to how new residents will park. Planning and council members responded that off-street parking requirements and planned reconstruction of Johnson Drive under the TIF plan would be factors in future design and enforcement decisions.

Separately, the council granted a conditional use permit to St. Francis of Assisi Parish for an existing church and accessory office and gathering space at 1418 Grand Avenue; Adam reported the Planning Commission found no neighborhood concerns and recommended approval, and the council approved the permit unanimously.

River Point contract and grant contingency

The council also accepted a Board of Public Works recommendation to award the base bid and Alternate 1 for River Point Development Phase 4 (project WS25-2) to Vinton Construction Company for a total contract value of $2,777,681.49. The council authorized staff to award Alternates 2, 3 and 5 to Vinton for an additional $2,556,446.76 only if the city is awarded sufficient grant funding in May 2025. The council approved the award and the contingent authorization without recorded opposition.

Parks, safety and infrastructure measures

The council authorized a fundraising agreement with Friends of the Manitowoc Skate Park for phase 3 of the skate park and approved a city match of up to $100,000 to be combined with funds raised by the Friends group for the project. Alderman Jim Braai (committee chair) and others welcomed the investment as supporting recreational infrastructure.

On traffic safety, the council instructed staff to draft an ordinance creating a four-way stop at South 30th Street and Dale Street, to paint ladder crosswalks at the intersection and at Redfin Court and Dale Street, to install no-parking signs within 15 feet of the crosswalk on the west side of South 30th north of Dale, and directed Chief Reimer to contact the bus company about bus parking. The council later adopted an ordinance amending municipal code sections 10.17 and 10.23 to regulate the new through-intersection treatment at South 30th and Dale.

Administrative, environmental and personnel items

Among other committee recommendations the council approved: - Receiving and placing on file the 2024 MS4 annual report (stormwater permit reporting). - Adopting a resolution authorizing application and commitment of funds for a traffic signal grant. - Approving the stormwater management facility maintenance agreement between the City of Manitowoc and Manitowoc Lutheran High School. - Adopting the three-year harbor development statement of intentions for 2025–2027. - Approving the 2025 sponsorship brochure.

On personnel and finance, the council approved a resolution to increase the sign-on bonus for newly hired transit drivers from $2,000 to $3,000 and approved a grievance settlement with Manitowoc Fire Fighters Local 368. The finance committee reported and the council approved adjustments to three 2024 tax bills due to palpable error, reducing assessed values and rescinding portions of those tax bills as recommended by staff (the amounts and revised tax bills were recorded in committee documents). The council accepted the Board of Canvassers’ statement on the February alderperson election in District 1 and placed it on file.

Votes at a glance

- Conditional use permit, St. Francis of Assisi Parish (1418 Grand Avenue): adopted (unanimous). - Rezoning ordinance (700 E Magnolia Ave & 828 Memorial Dr) and related preliminary plat/CSM/release of easements for former mall properties (Mariner Locks Development): adopted (unanimous). - River Point Development Phase 4 base bid & Alternate 1 award to Vinton Construction Company ($2,777,681.49) and authorization to award Alternates 2, 3 and 5 if grant funding is awarded in May 2025 (additional $2,556,446.76): approved (unanimous). - Fundraising agreement with Friends of Manitowoc Skate Park (phase 3) and city match up to $100,000: authorized (unanimous). - Ordinance establishing four-way stop at South 30th & Dale and associated crosswalk/no-parking measures (amend municipal code §§10.17, 10.23): adopted (unanimous). - 2024 MS4 annual report: received and placed on file (unanimous). - Resolution for traffic signal grant application/commitment: adopted (unanimous). - Stormwater maintenance agreement with Manitowoc Lutheran High School: approved (unanimous). - Three-year harbor development statement (2025–2027): adopted (unanimous). - Transit driver sign-on bonus increased to $3,000: adopted (unanimous). - Grievance settlement with Manitowoc Fire Fighters Local 368: approved (unanimous). - Three tax-bill adjustments for 2024 due to palpable error (per committee documents): approved (unanimous).

Meeting context and next steps

Council members repeatedly noted that parking, traffic and infrastructure—especially Johnson Drive—will need attention as the former mall properties are redeveloped. Several approvals were explicitly contingent on future grant awards (the River Point alternates) or further design and permitting steps. The council set a near-term calendar for committee meetings; the city will seek grant decisions in May 2025 that could unlock additional River Point work.

The council adjourned after completing its agenda; several committee chairs announced upcoming committee meetings in April.