Muskegon City reviews development agreement that would move port activity to Fisherman’s Landing and expand public waterfront

City Manager Cyphers presented a draft development agreement on Sept. 8 that would let West Michigan Dock (Martdoc) lease the Fisherman’s Landing campground beginning Jan. 1, 2028, with a 50-year lease and an optional 40-year extension and an option to buy the campground after the city secures a conversion property.

The agreement centers on three linked moves: the city’s planned purchase of the Third Street Wharf, Martdoc’s long-term lease (with purchase option) or operation of Fisherman’s Landing, and the city’s intended acquisition of about 25 acres of nearby Verplank property as a conversion site for parkland, wetlands restoration and public access. Cyphers said the city secured a $2,800,000 state “enhancement grant” intended for a community wharf project and that other federal port-development grants (PIDP) would be pursued to fund the waterfront work.

Why it matters: the draft would double Muskegon City’s publicly owned waterfront frontage on Muskegon Lake — from roughly 2,400 feet to nearly 5,000 feet — and increase city-owned shoreline acreage from about 22 acres to 36 acres, while also aiming to consolidate port operations on the lake’s east end. A Greater Muskegon economic study referenced by staff estimated the redevelopment could support more than 200 construction jobs, more than 300 ongoing jobs and about $41 million in annual regional economic activity.

Key terms and timeline - Lease and purchase option: the draft calls for a prepaid, long-term lease of Fisherman’s Landing to West Michigan Dock starting 01/01/2028; the operator would have an option to acquire the campground fee simple after the city secures a conversion property. - Conversion site: the preferred conversion property is about 25 acres owned by Verplank, intended for wetland restoration, passive recreation…