Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Land Use Redevelopment topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council approves rezoning, preliminary plat to ready former mall site for housing
Summary
The Manitowoc Common Council unanimously approved rezoning and preliminary-planning actions to prepare former Mid-Cities Mall parcels for a mixed housing redevelopment; a nearby resident raised parking concerns for adjacent streets.
The Manitowoc Common Council on March 17 adopted an ordinance rezoning portions of the former mall site at 700 East Magnolia Avenue and 828 Memorial Drive from B3 General Business to R4 (single- and two-family) and R6 (multi-family) to accommodate planned residential redevelopment.
City planning staff said the rezoning and related approvals are steps to implement a previously approved development agreement and the city’s comprehensive plan. Adam, a city planner, told the council the northern parcel is expected for single-family development while a larger portion will be rezoned to R6 to accommodate multi-family housing.
The zoning change had a public hearing; one nearby resident, Mike VanSleet of 111441 Elder Drive, said he was not opposed to the rezoning but raised a traffic and parking concern for Johnston Drive, saying that cars from nearby apartments frequently park on Johnston and Reed avenues and create a hazard for cars entering the street. "My concern is just the parking on Johnston Drive," VanSleet said at the podium.
Planning Commission had held an informational hearing and recommended approval with no recorded neighborhood objections. The council also approved the preliminary subdivision plat and certified survey map for the former mall property (referred to in planning documents as the Mariner Locks/Tycorp development) subject to conditions from reviewing entities, and approved the release of related easements to enable the platting and redevelopment.
Council members noted the redevelopment will require changes to nearby streets and parking. The council commented that the project is expected to bring new residents to the area; one council member said the redevelopment could mean "500 new people living in that area," and the city will address remaining parking and Johnson Drive reconstruction through the TIF plan.
The ordinance to amend the official zone map and the planning actions passed unanimously.
Why it matters: Rezoning and formal plat approvals move the site from ‘‘vacant mall’’ status toward construction of new housing types the city expects to add to the local housing supply; the approvals also trigger follow-up design and public-infrastructure steps (parking, street work, TIF-funded improvements).
Outlook: Planning staff will complete the technical conditions from reviewing agencies before final platting; construction timing and unit counts were not specified at the meeting.
