Not all happy with new code

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MARQUETTE - The downtown waterfront form-based code was approved by the Marquette City Commission this week - but at least one downtown business owner is unhappy about it.

Part of the code allows up to a five-story building along Lakeshore Boulevard between Washington Street and Main Street. Tom Wahlstrom, co-owner of Elizabeth's Chophouse on Front Street, said his business is inside one of the buildings that would have its view of Lake Superior blocked if a five- or even three-story building were constructed.

"It amounts to a little bit of spot zoning," Wahlstrom said of the code, adding that it limits all other areas along Lakeshore Boulevard to three stories.

"So some people can and some people can't ... it should be the same for everybody," he said.

City Planner/Zoning Administrator Dennis Stachewicz Jr. said although not everyone was happy with the code, the planning commission tried to work with as many business owners as possible while trying to preserve views of the lake from the public realm: sidewalks and streets.

Stachewicz said a five-story building is allowable due to a 30-foot drop in elevation from Front Street to Lakeshore Boulevard. He said a five-story building built along Lakeshore Boulevard would not be noticeable from the sidewalk along Front Street.

In addition, the facades of the top two stories on any five-story building would be stepped back 30 feet, giving it a wedding cake look.

"Stepping back that building maintains the view from the public space on the street," Stachewicz said. "You don't want to be standing beside something that is out of context with the rest of the area. The initial three floors - that's what Marquette is used to - so stepping back the extra stories helps maintain a level of comfort."

Stachewicz added that any future building there would have to include a parking garage to maintain or increase parking.

The code was approved during a special meeting with the Marquette City Planning Commission.

The commission's unanimous vote clears the way for an entirely new form of zoning for the downtown waterfront area. Form-based zoning emphasizes the physical form of the neighborhood, such as building facades and streetscapes, rather than strict adherence to use.

Unlike traditional zoning - which is usually broken up into residential, commercial and industrial zones - what goes on inside the building is not strictly regulated.

"After a year and a half of lots and lots of work that the planning commission did, it was a nice feeling of relief that it finally came to fruition," Mayor Tom Tourville said.

Washington, D.C., firm Ferrell Madden Associates developed the draft form-based code and the planning commission has gone through the entire code, molding it and changing it to fit the character of Marquette.

The downtown waterfront district is bordered by Front Street, Baraga Avenue and Lakeshore Boulevard.

The code addresses future development and redevelopment. It does not apply to current buildings.

"I think it's going to be a very good tool for the downtown to assist us in future economic development and creating a wonderful sense of place," Stachewicz said.