City planning commission approves comprehensive plan
Marion City Planning Commission unanimously approved subdivision regulations and city comprehensive plan Dec. 17 at their public hearing.
Planning commission members present were Jackie Crofoot, Bob Sprowls, Doug Sharp, Sally Hannaford, Mickey Lundy, Feebie Holdeman, Alan Kruse, Harry Koslowsky, and administrator Susan Cooper.
The comprehensive plan provides a framework for land use in and around the city. It shows the main emphasis for future development is the area between the city limits and the county lake.
During the public comment portion of the meeting, Robert Harris of rural Marion said he was concerned about the plan extending outside the city limits. City officials could be making decisions about property when those property owners had no opportunity to vote for city commissioners.
Cooper said by statute, the city can extend its comprehensive plan to include the area up to three miles beyond the city limits. This does not mean the city has zoning authority over the area.
Subdivision regulations are for property within the city limits. They require the developer to be responsible for planning and financing improvements in the subdivisions.
One person made remarks during the public hearing regarding the subdivision regulations. Roger Schwab of Marion said he supports the regulations and wished they had been in place when he started building his home. He said planned development was needed and it will encourage responsible developers to come to Marion.
The regulations and plan will be presented Jan. 2 to the city commission for their consideration. They can adopt them, reject them, or return them for further study.
