MUSKEGON, Mich. — A project that has been in the works for years may finally be coming to fruition in Muskegon's Beachwood-Bluffton neighborhood. On Tuesday night, the Muskegon City Commission approved a planned unit development request for The Sand Docks.
We first told you about the project in 2018 and 2019, when it was still know as "The Docks." Over the years, neighbors have expressed a number of concerns, including traffic congestion, traffic safety and environmental impact.
The developer, Damfino Development, LLC has had to go back to the drawing board several times after state and environmental regulators got involved and claimed jurisdiction over wetlands on the property. Chuck Canestraight with Damfino Development said the version of the project presented Tuesday night was the 19th version the developer has come up with.
The plan calls for 240 residential units, a community building with commercial space, and new shoreline including a community beach. Though the plan is moving forward, city commissioners did express interest in revisiting some parts of the plan in the future, including accessibility, native plantings, and on-street parking after members of the public spoke out against a proposed parking lot.
"Edgewater residents have long experienced the nuisances that are created by partiers who arrive by car late at night, making noise late at night, exhibiting bad behaviors, lighting fires, leaving bottles, cans and other garbage all around their sites. We don't want it returning to our neighborhood beach, nor do we want to see it happen in the new neighborhood that's being created," said Peter Sartorius during public comment.
Sartorius spoke in favor of the project. Another speaker, Jack Page, requested that a new traffic study be done before moving forward with the project.
"The last one is over seven years old, and a lot has changed. Any commissioners tried to get down to the beach the last couple of weekends? It took me 38 minutes to go from The Vikings to Indiana Avenue to access Harbour Towne to access my in laws property. Traffic is already backed up, and what's the impact of another thousand to 1,5000 cars that are going to be dumped into an already congested Lakeshore and Wilcox Interchange right there?" he said.
Muskegon's next City Commission meeting will be Tuesday, August 13.