THE CITY OF A CASE STUDY {SAULT STE. MARIE Michigan Coastal Community Working Waterfronts A CASE STUDY THE CITY OF SAULT STE. MARIE 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 Context and Trends, 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 Marquette Port Huron Elizabeth Durfee Charlevoix Monroe Saugatuck 2011-2013 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Coastal Manistee Muskegon Zone Management Fellowship with the Michigan Coastal Zone Manistique Ontonagon Management Program and Michigan Sea Grant. Cover photos: Bayliss Public Library, Elizabeth Durfee, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. June 2013 | MICHU-13-724 TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction ..............................................................4 FIGURES AND TABLES Summary .................................................................5 State of Michigan and Chippewa County and aerial image of the city of Sault Ste. Marie Context ...................................................................7 with the St. Marys River........................................... 6 Community Profile ................................................... 8 Table 1. Intent, permitted uses and special Community Overview .............................................. 9 uses of zoning districts that accommodate water-dependent uses and/or public access ......... 13 Waterfront History .................................................. 10 Figure 2. City of Sault Ste. Marie 2007 Waterfront Summary ............................................. 11 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 Working Waterfront SWOT Analysis ..................... 19 water-dependent uses within a 1000-foot buffer Tools, Strategies and Best Practices for of water bodies and waterfront land area Maintaining Working Waterfronts........................... 20 by zoning category ................................................ 16 Guiding Principles.................................................. 21 Figure 5. Inventory of Identified water-dependent uses within a 1000-foot buffer of the References and Resources ................................... 22 St. Marys River ......................................................17 Figure 6. Water-dependent and enhanced uses, docks, waterfront parks along the waterfront and within 1000 feet of bodies of water ................. 18 Table 2. Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats related to maintaining Sault Ste. Marie’s working waterfront ................................................. 19 Michigan Sea Grant 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. SAULT STE. MARIE Michigan Coastal Community Working Waterfronts Case Study 4 SUMMARY Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan was iron ore, coal, limestone, petroleum, 34 percent other uses, including the Best practices for maintaining access founded in 1668 and incorporated as a chemicals, primary manufactured tourist district, 15 percent industrial to the waterfront for the public and city in 1887. It is the oldest community goods, food and farm products, and and 6 percent commercial uses. The water-dependent uses in Sault Ste. in Michigan and the first non-Indian manufactured equipment, machinery Tourist District permits water-related Marie include: settlement in the Midwest. and machine products pass through uses, among other uses. n the channel annually. This generates Placemaking and improving public Sault Ste. Marie is located in the $3.9 billion in direct revenue and more Both of the city’s commercial docks waterfront space. northeast Upper Peninsula along the than 16,500 jobs annually. are underutilized. Sault Ste. Marie’s n Capitalizing on tourism with ample St. Marys River on the U.S.-Canadian west dock, or Reiss Dock, is the only amenities and a well-connected International Boarder. The city has Sault Ste. Marie has two ports that are deep water dock in the region and downtown waterfront. approximately 33 miles of frontage on also Harbors of Refuge, the Charles has the capacity to accommodate a the St. Marys River, which drains Lake T. Harvey Marina and the George fully loaded 1000-footer. The dock is Superior to Lake Huron. Kemp Marina. The city has a number ideally located at the convergence of of waterfront parks that provide deep water, a major rail yard and an The Soo Locks, which are the largest additional access to the upper and interstate freeway. The port has been waterway traffic system in the world, lower river. Approximately 500,000 inactive for 60 years and the city is were constructed in Sault Ste. Marie people visit the Soo Locks visitor’s exploring options to off-load materials to enable expansion of commerce and center and park every year. at the Reiss Dock instead of the trade opportunities in 1852. Today, downtown Carbide Dock. the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Although much of the waterfront (USACE) Soo Area Office operates industry has moved inland, the Located on the east side of the city, and maintains four navigational locks, waterfront has retained much of its the Carbide Dock is used occasionally channels and structures and some of historical character. The downtown for salt deliveries but is not used to its the community’s waterfront property. core of the city is separated by a full capacity. There is potential for this power canal constructed in 1902. property to be redeveloped for public The 63-mile long St. Marys River use in the future. connecting channel flows between Tourism dominates the economy and Michigan and Ontario, Canada from much of the waterfront land use in Additional challenges associated Lake Superior to Lake Huron. The Sault Ste. Marie’s downtown is tourist- with managing the city’s working St. Marys River federally authorized oriented. Land use along the St. waterfront include budget cuts, which project includes channel maintenance, Marys River consists of approximately have resulted in low prioritization construction and operation of four 73 percent tourist, 16 percent for waterfront planning, an outdated locks and two canals, a hydropower residential, 11 percent industrial and master plan and integration of plant and anchorage areas in the 1 percent commercial uses. Land use planning across local and federal river. Over 80 million tons of cargo, within a 1000-foot buffer of the river jurisdictions. including bulk commodities such as consists of 45 percent residential, SAULT STE. MARIE Michigan Coastal Community Working Waterfronts Case Study 5 SAULT STE. MARIE, MI St. Marys River Michigan 100 miles N Chippewa County City of Sault Ste Marie 2 mile N SAULT STE. MARIE Michigan Coastal Community Working Waterfronts Case Study 6 CONTEXT Jurisdiction / Government City Region Upper Peninsula County Chippewa Land Area 9,455 acres / 14.8 square miles Watershed / Subwatershed St. Mary’s River / Sault Area Watershed Dominant Land Use of Subwatershed Urban (60%) Adjacent Bodies of Water St. Mary’s River Types of Water Body Connecting Channel between Lakes Superior and Huron Percent of Land Area within the