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Muskegon planning panel approves Dockers PUD amendment with screening condition
Summary
The City of Muskegon Planning Commission on Aug. 14 approved a planned-unit-development amendment for Dockers at 3505 Marina Viewpoint to add exterior coolers, a larger tiki bar, a compactor enclosure and a fenced smoking area, with a condition that the compactor screening be a minimum 5-foot wood privacy fence or masonry wall.
The City of Muskegon Planning Commission approved an amendment to the Harbour Town planned-unit development for the Dockers restaurant at 3505 Marina Viewpoint on Aug. 14, permitting exterior refrigeration, a larger outdoor tiki bar, a new trash compactor enclosure and a fenced outdoor smoking area.
The developer and applicant, Fred Scharmer, told the commission the project aims to “gain some more space on the interior” by relocating a cooler and freezer outside and to “make the place more efficient” by replacing overflowing dumpsters with a compactor. Scharmer said the owners reached out to neighbors before purchasing the property and that they were “completely fine with doing the wood fence, painting it to match the condos” to screen the compactor.
The commission heard mixed public comment. David O. Cawkins, a long-time Harbour Town resident, said Dockers previously generated noise that affected nearby housing and urged caution about changes that alter the area’s residential character. Other nearby residents, including Jim Goudy and Pat Reeves of Pigeon Key Marina, said they welcome the reopening under new ownership and hope for cooperative management of boat traffic and noise.
Planning staff told the commission the existing dumpster enclosure was a chain-link fence with screening, which is not allowed under city standards; staff recommended a more formal enclosure. Commissioner Mike (staff/commission context in transcript) proposed an amendment to condition approval on the new trash enclosure being a stockade (privacy) fence or masonry wall at least 5 feet tall. That amendment was added to the motion.
Commissioners voted by roll call in favor of the amended plan, with the motion to recommend approval to the City Commission passing on a unanimous vote.
The approval includes the following specific approvals and conditions: the outdoor tiki bar expansion to about 480 square feet and slight realignment within the existing property line; relocation of cooling/freezer equipment to the northeast corner of the property; replacement of the existing dumpster area with a larger compactor enclosure; a fenced outdoor smoking area for patrons; and a condition that the compactor screening be either a wood privacy fence or a masonry wall at least 5 feet tall.
The applicants said the restaurant will reopen under a new name, which Scharmer identified during the hearing as “Bodox.” The item will proceed to the City Commission for final action on the PUD amendment.
