MARION — Most new improvement in Marion’s rising business districts could be briefly restricted for a yr underneath a proposed moratorium superior by the Marion Metropolis Council.
In contemplating a pause till Oct. 5, 2024, to briefly prohibit sure business makes use of alongside stretches of Tower Terrace Street, Freeway 13 and Uptown Marion, the town is trying to assess and plan for the impacts of economic improvement in these areas.
This pause would take impact as the town is refreshing its complete plan, a long-term information for bodily enchancment and improvement. It was final up to date in 2010.
The moratorium is slated to routinely expire, until prolonged by a vote of the seven-member council. The council unanimously supported the pause Thursday in its first of three required ordinance issues.
“This pause in business actions goals to strike a stability between financial progress and safeguarding the well-being of neighborhoods and the atmosphere, in the end selling accountable and sustainable improvement practices,” Metropolis Supervisor Ryan Waller stated in a weekly memo to the neighborhood.
This doesn’t apply to operational companies or those who have already utilized for a constructing allow to increase. If an present enterprise have been to pursue a brand new growth mission within the subsequent yr, that will be topic to the moratorium, until the council indicators off on an modification. Equally, if new improvement prospects emerge throughout this pause, the council might amend the ordinance to permit for it.
Underneath the moratorium, restrictions would apply for the next makes use of in sure areas:
- Motorized vehicle service and restore, minor
- Motorized vehicle service and restore, main
- Fuel station
- Automobile wash
- Pawnshop
- Liquor, tobacco or vape store
- Deep low cost retail retailer
- Crematory retort
- Self storage, inside models
- Storage models business
- Storage models business, short-term
- Motorized vehicle storage, everlasting
- Motorized vehicle storage, short-term
- Outside gross sales, everlasting
- Outside gross sales, short-term
- Artist reside work
- Delayed deposits companies
- Retail gross sales, medium and huge
- Grocery
- Grocery, neighborhood
No constructing permits could be issued for these makes use of for sure properties with enterprise, manufacturing or business zonings in these areas:
- East of Alburnett Street to west of tenth Road, and for property situated alongside Winslow Street between Wallace and Tower Terrace roads.
- Property alongside Freeway 13 south of twenty ninth Avenue to Seacrest Street.
- Uptown Marion properties from Second Road to thirty first Road, primarily within the neighborhood of Seventh Avenue.
Marion improvement moratorium
New improvement of choose business makes use of is restricted alongside components of Tower Terrace Street, Freeway 13 and Uptown Marion till Oct. 5, 2024.
Click on or press on the map under to view a full-size model in a separate tab
Supply: Metropolis of Marion
For property round Tower Terrace Street zoned BL-Enterprise Native, the town wouldn’t concern constructing permits for deep low cost retail shops or short-term out of doors gross sales.
Total, the moratorium impacts 361 properties in these areas.
The council authorised an expert service settlement with RDG Planning and Design for the plan replace for not more than $131,000. Work will start this month and is slated to wrap up in March 2025, in line with council paperwork.
Mike Bates, proprietor of Marion Weapons and Gold, expressed issues to the council about having the ability to restore his enterprise ought to a catastrophe or different sudden occasion happen.
“We additionally try to be a top quality enterprise within the metropolis of Marion that gives all forms of people the chance for a serving to hand when the sudden invoice comes due, their automotive breaks down or simply down on their luck,” Bates stated. “This financial system is taking a toll on lots of people.”
Mike Morak, who owns a storage enterprise referred to as Morak Properties subsequent to Walmart, stated he purchased the best zoned property he might discover in Marion and has a website plan displaying his intention to increase. He stated he desires the flexibility to do what he meant.
Metropolis employees stated his website plan doesn’t present the precise location of the longer term constructing he plans to construct, so his growth plan could be affected by the moratorium as written.
“I don’t know why you’re placing all these stipulations on my property,” Morak stated.
A number of council members stated they didn’t need the moratorium to have unintended detrimental penalties on present companies. They amended it to make clear that nothing within the ordinance is meant to create a authorized non-conforming use from any presently present use — defending present companies by enabling them to rebuild after a pure catastrophe or an accident.
Council member Sara Mentzer stated that as a result of Marion is rising, there are areas the place residential makes use of are beginning to battle with enterprise makes use of. The great plan would deal with “how can we all develop harmoniously collectively and do one of the best for the neighborhood,” she stated.
Council member Will Brandt stated he had some reservations about limiting some makes use of similar to neighborhood grocery — a grocery retailer underneath 10,000 sq. toes. He additionally stated he feared shedding prospects to a neighboring neighborhood that has no moratorium.
However Mayor Nick AbouAssaly stated this pause will not be a last willpower as to what forms of companies ought to go the place within the metropolis. It’ll briefly pause new tasks that may’t be undone as soon as they’re in place.
“The concept is that we get one probability to do that proper,” AbouAssaly stated.
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