THE CITY OF A CASE STUDY {MANISTEE Michigan Coastal Community Working Waterfronts A CASE STUDY THE CITY OF MANISTEE ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Michigan Coastal Community FELLOWSHIP MENTORS Working Waterfronts Mark Breederland, Michigan Sea Grant Extension Emily Finnell, Office of the Great Lakes NOAA FELLOWSHIP ADVISORY COMMITTEE This case study was compiled as part of a set of 11 working Jon Allan Richard Norton John Warbach waterfront case studies in coastal communities. For more Dave Knight Chuck Pistis Ronda Wuycheck information on the series, please see the Introduction, Carol Linteau Jennifer Read Lynelle Marolf Frank Ruswick Value and Context, Waterfront Land Use, Best Practices, and Recommendations and Next Steps sections. OFFICE OF THE GREAT LAKES AND SEA GRANT STAFF OTHER CASE STUDIES IN THIS SERIES: PREPARED BY Alpena Monroe Saugatuck Elizabeth Durfee Charlevoix Muskegon Sault Ste. Marie 2011-2013 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Coastal Manistique Ontonagon Zone Management Fellowship with the Michigan Coastal Zone Marquette Port Huron Management Program and Michigan Sea Grant. Cover photos: U.S. Coast Guard, Elizabeth Durfee, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. June 2013 | MICHU-13-730 TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction ..............................................................4 FIGURES AND TABLES Summary .................................................................5 Figure 1. tate of Michigan and Manistee County and aerial image of the City of Context ...................................................................7 Manistee with Lake Michigan, Manistee Lake Community Profile ................................................... 8 and the Manistee River............................................ 6 Community Overview .............................................. 9 Table 1. Intent, permitted uses and special uses of zoning districts that accommodate Waterfront History .................................................. 10 water-dependent uses and/or public access ......... 13 Waterfront Summary ............................................. 11 Figure 2. City of Manistee 2011 zoning districts .... 14 Zoning....................................................................13 Figure 3. Map of zoning adjacent to waterfront and frontage by zoning category ........................... 15 Parcel Classification .............................................. 17 Figure 4. Map of zoning and location of Infrastructure and Access ...................................... 19 water-dependent uses within a 1000-foot buffer Working Waterfront SWOT Analysis ..................... 20 of water bodies and waterfront land area by zoning category ................................................ 16 Tools, Strategies and Best Practices for Maintaining Working Waterfronts........................... 21 Figure 5. Classification of parcels within a 1000-foot buffer of water bodies by Guiding Principles.................................................. 22 water dependency ................................................. 17 References and Resources ................................... 23 Figure 6. Parcel frontage and area within 1000-foot buffer by water dependency classification ..........................................................18 Figure 7. Water-dependent and enhanced uses, docks, waterfront parks along the waterfront and within 1000 feet of water bodies ..................... 19 Table 2. Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats related to maintaining Manistee’s working waterfront ................................................. 20 North Pierhead Lighthouse from 1st Street Beach. Elizabeth Durfee INTRODUCTION Many coastal communities have areas known fish stocks and regulations, aging and inadequate This case study: as working waterfronts — waterfront lands, infrastructure, decline in waterfront industry and n Characterizes one of many working waterfronts waterfront infrastructure and waterways that are economic recession — threaten the viability of found throughout Michigan’s diverse coastal used for water-dependent uses and activities. water-dependent businesses and access to the communities. These uses may include ports, small recreational public trust waters. Left unchecked, these threats n Identifies existing waterfront amenities, waterfront boat and fishing docks and other types of places can result in the slow loss of working waterfronts history, waterfront zoning and land area occupied or businesses where people use and access the and permanent conversion of waterfront property by water-related uses. water. Coastal communities’ working waterfronts to non-water-dependent uses. n offer economic and cultural value, contribute to a Highlights examples of waterfront challenges, community’s identity and are intrinsically tied to Active waterfront planning and the sharing and threats and opportunities as well as tools and a region’s natural resources. implementation of tools, resources and strategies strategies for maintaining the working waterfront. for maintaining and protecting working waterfronts A number of factors — such as population can ensure access for water-dependent uses and change, competing land uses and development activities, as well as preserve options for future pressure, fluctuations in water levels, changes in waterfront uses. MANISTEE Michigan Coastal Community Working Waterfronts Case Study 4 SUMMARY Manistee, Michigan developed in the facilities are permitted in the city’s Manistee received FY2013 federal Best practices for maintaining access early 1800’s as logging, salt mining waterfront and industrial districts and funding to dredge its harbor, however to the waterfront for the public and and manufacturing city at the mouth of marinas are permitted by special low lake levels and lack of funding water-dependent uses include: the Manistee River on Lake Michigan use permit in most districts, including for dredging continue to challenge n Providing universal access to in Lower Michigan. residential districts. Waterfront parks the viability of the city’s working waterfront amenities. and beaches and water-dependent waterfront. Inadequate harbor draft n The Manistee Harbor is a regionally Creating a riverwalk that provides uses account for approximately 22 has significant impacts on local recreational opportunities and important recreation, cargo, industrial percent and 40 percent, respectively, employment, launch sites and and commercial Harbor of Refuge. connection between the waterfront of the 11 miles of waterfront along marinas, as well as implications for and downtown. Approximately half a million tons of Lake Michigan, Manistee Lake and the tourism revenue the city is able to n Permitting marinas as a special use material, including coal, sand, gravel the Manistee River. Nearly 60 percent generate. The physical characteristics in many zoning districts. and limestone pass through the of the frontage along these bodies of the channel present an added n Manistee’s port. The city’s waterfront of water is comprised of parcels with challenge to commercial and cargo Establishing a waterfront district and has numerous waterfront amenities, water-dependent uses (21%), water- shipping and limit the harbor’s ability peninsula district. including a riverwalk, beaches, public dependent industrial uses (16%) and to receive large of ocean going n Installing amenities such as a state and private marinas and universal parcels that provide public access vessels. of the art fish cleaning station. access sites, that provide residents (22%). and visitors with access to Lake The potential opportunity to divert Michigan, Manistee Lake and the Although the recession resulted in a and existing rail line and open up Manistee River. Tourism, charter loss of local jobs, over the last seven 7.5 miles of currently landlocked fishing and waterfront industry are years the community’s manufacturing waterfront would improve the working important to Manistee’s economy. base has restructured and Manistee waterfront and increase public access The city has a harbor commission companies have stabilized and grown. along Lake Manistee. Diverting the that oversees the marina, boat launch Recent infrastructure maintenance rail line would also increase public and related waterfront facilities in an and adaptation to meet the needs access, recreational opportunities advisory capacity. of evolving industries include a new and transportation safety. At a county- dock facility on Manistee Lake. The wide level, initiatives such as the Waterfront land use consists of a community has utilized many funding Explore the Shores program, which combination of residential, commercial sources including Coastal Zone provides barrier-free accessibility and industrial uses as well as a Management funds for waterfront and educational opportunities and a golf course and waterfront district. improvements. connection to recreation and fishing, Residential use (52%) is the dominant increases access to waterfront land use along the waterfront. Water- resources and draws visitors to the dependent uses such as shipping region. MANISTEE Michigan Coastal Community Working Waterfronts Case Study 5 MANISTEE, MI Lake Michigan Manistee River Manistee Lake Michigan Manistee County 100 miles N City of Manistee FIGURE 1. STATE OF MICHIGAN AND MANISTEE COUNTY (LEFT) AND AERIAL IMAGE OF THE CITY 1 mile N OF MANISTEE WITH LAKE MICHIGAN, MANISTEE LAKE AND THE MANISTEE RIVER. MANISTEE Michigan Coastal Community Working Waterfronts