1. Create startup and shutdown scripts:
   Startup:
   Open TextEdit and create a startTomcat.command file in your home folder ...
   
   #!/bin/sh # -------------------------------------------------- # Start Script for the Tomcat Server # -------------------------------------------------- export CATALINA_HOME=/Library/Tomcat export JAVA_HOME=/Library/Java/Home $CATALINA_HOME/bin/startup.sh
   
   Shutdown:
   Open TextEdit and create a stopTomcat.command file in your home folder ...
   
   #!/bin/sh # --------------------------------------------------- # Start Script for the Tomcat Server # --------------------------------------------------- export CATALINA_HOME=/Library/Tomcat export JAVA_HOME=/Library/Java/Home $CATALINA_HOME/bin/shutdown.sh
   
   
2. Open a Terminal and make both scripts executable:
   
   • chmod ug+x ~/startTomcat.command
   • chmod ug+x ~/stopTomcat.command
3. Change ownership of the /Libaray/Tomcat folder hierarchy:
   
   sudo chown -R your_username /Library/Tomcat
4. Start Tomcat by simply clicking the startTomcat.command icon in your home folder.
   Test with http://localhost:8080

Instead of using the start and stop scripts, you may also want to check out activata's Tomcat Controller a tiny freeware app, providing a UI to quickly start/stop Tomcat.