Planners recommend approval of county building’s plan
Staff writer
After discussing concern about a possibility of street damage caused by large trucks being parked on the property, Marion planners gave their approval Tuesday for a former beauty salon building being remodeled into county offices.
The county bought the former Silk Salon building north of US-56 in June. At the time, commissioners thought they would move the health department there.
After they learned that renovating the building for health department would cost $693,700, they planned instead to move the road and bridge, emergency management, and planning and zoning departments there.
The county’s plan for the 46-by- 64½-foot building includes four offices for roads and bridges, a shared area for roads and bridges and planning and zoning, two offices for planning and zoning, an office for emergency management, a storage room, a work room, a kitchen, and a conference room.
Planning board chairman Darvin Markley, worried about street damage from heavy roads and bridges trucks being parked on the property, wanted a stipulation that the county would be responsible for repair of street damage.
“What I thought to be fair is, your one condition is that the county would be responsible for any damage to the roadway,” Markley said.
But Markley was outvoted.
County clerk Tina Spencer, planning and zoning director Sharon Omstead, road and bridge director Brice Goebel, and commissioner David Crofoot said the parking lot would be used for employee vehicles, not large equipment.
Planning commission member Bruce Skiles said the city wouldn’t be able to know whether damage was caused by county trucks on the street or by trucks headed toward a truck wash east of the building.
Spencer suggested setting a condition that only passenger vehicles be parked at the building.
“But we have no way to hold you to that,” Markley said.
Zoning administrator Margo Yates agreed.
“I don’t think you can police their parking,” she said.
Planning commission member Brent Miles asked how much a trash truck that travels the street twice a week weighs.
Member Carol Laue said she was concerned about traffic from the highway to the building. She asked whether turn lanes could be added.
Goebel said that since the turn would be off US-56, which already has turn lanes for Dollar General and Ace Hardware, the state would not add another.
Ultimately, planners voted unanimously to recommend city council members approve a conditional use permit for the building on three conditions:
- That the county works with the city building inspector during the building renovation.
- That the conditional use permit be withdrawn if the county sells the building or changes its use.
- That the county agrees the parking lot be used only by small passenger vehicles and small trailers.