Speaking out: Residents give opinions at public meeting
Staff reporter
If the attendance is any indication, Marion and area residents are interested in the future of Marion.
The questions asked during a work session Monday evening of Marion Planning Commission were "Where do we want Marion to be in five years?" "Are we a retirement community?" "How do we keep young people in Marion?"
The purpose of the session was to gather public input to update the city's comprehensive plan.
More than 85 people attended the session to discuss land use, public facilities, transportation, and housing issues.
Planning commission chairman Roger Schwab opened the meeting by encouraging audience members to participate. Planning commission members Ralph Kreutziger, Alan Kruse, Nick Nickelson, Angela Lange, and Darvin Markley also were in attendance. Member Jami Williams was absent.
Land use
Marion County Lake resident Dan Crumrine asked what types of business will be allowed in the city's industrial and business parks. Schwab responded that the industrial park is zoned for light industrial businesses.
Crumrine then asked if restaurants and hotels could be located along the highway.
"Could we put in a truck stop?" he asked.
"Anything is possible," Schwab responded.
"The obvious direction of development is toward Marion County Lake," rural resident Harry Bennett said. He suggested the city strike a deal with Marion County to allow smaller development areas with a 20-year growth period.
Currently the city's strategic plan sets out an area of influence for future growth. Schwab showed a map that indicated an area toward the lake designated for potential development.
"In order for the city to determine zoning, the city would have to annex it," Nickelson said.
Bob Brookens said the question was: is the city willing to work with the county. Schwab responded the planning commission was open to anything.
Lake resident Judy Reno said Main Street was being used as well as it could and would like to see improvements in the downtown area.
"Marion could become a destination location," she said.
City resident Dick Varenhorst asked how much city-owned land is available for development.
Schwab said there are locations for development but there are terrain issues.
"Are we looking at annexation?" he asked.
Brookens said historically the city has not annexed unless landowners have requested it.
"The city considered annexing the county lake in the 1980s but lake residents at that time didn't want it," Brookens said.
Schwab then asked the audience if it wanted the city to continue status quo. An audible "no" was the response.
As a high school teacher, Schwab said he had seen students graduate and only return to Marion for Old Settlers' Day. He wants to see efforts made to keep students in Marion or encourage them to return.
The question was asked about Martin Marietta Aggregates located north of town that was annexed for a potential landfill. Could any of that land be used? It was noted that the land is privately owned, not city owned.
Resident Jeff Cady asked if there was a five-year plan in existence. Schwab explained that a plan was adopted in 1999 and based on the 1990 census. Prior to that plan, there hadn't been a city comprehensive plan since 1976.
Schwab continued that the new indoor swimming pool was in the city's comprehensive plan as are walking trails and other ideas that are in the works.
"The city is not responsible for all of the changes but serves as the planner of growth," Schwab said.
He noted that the school district's enrollment has significantly changed. In 2000, there were 741 students. This year there are only 595. The population is staying the same but getting older.
Schwab continued that the 1999 plan was written by a planning professional but the update will be done by the planning commission without assistance from a consultant.
Alan Meyer suggested that city-owned property be inventoried so there would be a knowledge of available property.
St. Luke Hospital Administrator Jeremy Armstrong asked what it would take to bring back the younger generation.
Reno said Marion should build on being a retirement community. One of the ways to do that is to provide housing for older, independent residents.
"Older people are looking at smaller communities because of safety issues," she said. With the additional housing and services, younger people would be attracted to work at the facilities, providing a balance of young and older residents.
Reno said the city needed to offer recreation and other amenities for retirees.
Resident Feebie Holdeman said the community forgets about capitalizing on the close proximity of Marion Reservoir. Plans need to include drawing reservoir visitors to Marion and possible development could occur near the reservoir.
Resident Max Hayen suggested the commission look at promoting more development in the valley.
"There could be 300 more homes added in the valley," he said.
Meyer said he was told that the city would not develop the front row of the industrial park, located on the south side of U.S.-56, with retail businesses.
"I don't think the city should be inflexible nor should it be in the real estate business," he said.
Resident Todd Heitschmidt said if the city is looking at expanding the community, it needed to look at city policy and determine who's responsible for the infrastructure.
Currently the city has subdivision regulations that require developers to pay for streets and utilities. Schwab noted that since developers have to absorb that cost up front, it takes a while for them to recoup their costs by reselling the lots.
"Should the city partner with developers?" Schwab asked.
"The developer of Marion Assisted Living decided not to build patio homes as planned because the payback wasn't sufficient to cover the expenses," Roger Hannaford III said.
Resident Ruth Herbel said she would rather see streets and utilities paid by property owners rather than the city.
"It's not the responsibility of the city to develop streets but to take care of them," she said.
Brookens suggested the planning commission look at five Kansas communities who have had success in developing.
Hayen said in some counties, the county helps pay for city streets. The comment was made that regardless if it was the county or the city paying for development of private enterprise, it's still tax dollars.
Public facilities
Schwab explained that public facilities included water and sewer systems and public structures.
He said the water and sewer plants were operating at half capacity, leaving plenty of room for future development of houses and businesses.
County resident Margo Yates asked if the city was still considering a law enforcement center at the city's industrial park. She added that prisons and jails are a part of economic development.
Schwab said the planning commission was willing to consider that type of development.
Reno suggested the city adopt a "theme" that indicates the city is alive. She also wanted to see a community building where parties and meetings could be held.
Cady said Marion Advancement Campaign had raised money for a community center but fell short of its goal. The group had an opportunity for a KanStep grant for a community center but could not raise the $200,000 matching funds that were required.
Bennett said the city of Marion will be negotiating an electrical contract with Westar Energy within five years. He asked if renewable energy could be included in the plan.
The alternative energy could include wind generation with one or two turbines providing a sufficient supply of energy for the city.
The only applause during the evening was after Marion High School senior Brett Billings spoke.
He and other teens have been looking for a location for a student center but was unable to find one, primarily because of lack of funds.
"Don't forget about teens," he said. "If you do, the town's doomed. We'll want to come back to a community that gives to us."
Schwab noted that currently a teen center was in the city's plan.
Meyer asked if the city could let teens use the city's auditorium since USD 408 is building an auditorium. Schwab said that could be a possibility. The city auditorium also could used as a movie theater.
Councilman Bill Holdeman said he wanted to see an alternate route around Luta Creek. Currently Main Street and U.S.-56 are the only routes motorists can use from the hill to the valley.
Schwab said he would like to see Marion Police Department expand its facilities.
Transportation
It was noted that the city recently spent $400,000 on city street improvements.
Resident Chris Costello said he hates to see brick streets covered with asphalt and concrete.
City street superintendent Marty Fredrickson said brick streets required more maintenance than other streets.
"It costs $35,000 to repair or replace one block of brick street," he said. Fredrickson continued that the city has been trying to maintain the brick surface on Elm and Walnut streets.
Costello said there was merit in maintaining 100-year-old brick streets and it seemed to him to be more economical than constantly resealing and resurfacing other streets.
The city's comprehensive plan addresses preserving historical brick streets such as the one on Elm Street.
Resident Margaret Wilson said she would like to see improvements to sidewalks, particularly in residential districts. It is the property owner's responsibility to maintain sidewalks, Fredrickson said.
Resident Bettie Batt agreed that sidewalks needed to be repaired, particularly on Elm Street. She was concerned when visitors park on Elm Street during events such as Chingawassa Days and Old Settlers' Day and have to walk on the uneven sidewalks.
Markley suggested volunteers could help with the replacement of sidewalks.
Resident Reuben Zerger said he researched the city's program for sidewalk replacement. The city pays for the concrete and property owners are responsible for the removal of the old sidewalk and forming of the new.
Zerger said in the past five years, only eight percent of allocated city funds for the project have been used.
"Someone needs to push the program," he said.
Resident Pam Bowers asked if community service hours by those required to serve because of probation could be used for that kind of work.
Schwab brought up the issue of semi truck and trailer parking.
"Do we become a community that caters to truckers?" he asked. "No one has stepped up to make a proper parking lot."
A new ordinance will be presented at Monday's council meeting regarding allowing truck and trailer parking in residential areas only if it meets specific requirements.
Business owner Laura Yates said she has had five to eight truckers who have stopped and stayed at her convenience store along U.S.-56 because they had driven the allotted time before taking a break and didn't have anywhere else to park.
"They need a place to park when they can't go any further," she said.
Resident Bill Pickering asked if land at the city's industrial park could be used for truck parking.
Meyer asked if the state would be willing to provide a rest area along U.S.-56.
Herbel said she would like to see trucks and trailers kept off of residential streets.
Schwab said many of the city streets couldn't hold the weight of 80,000-pound trucks.
Resident Pat Smith said Marion was ideally located along and between major highways. The city could attract truck drivers and their families because of the location.
Housing
Resident Jean Case said the city had low income housing for elderly but no "upper end." She suggested small, patio homes.
Resident Sally Hannaford said she would like to see another Sunrise Townhouses development but without income restrictions.
"There are a lot of houses in town with one, older person living in them," she said.
Another suggestion was to have condominium-style housing, with all services such as yard work and repairs included, with no age or income restrictions.
Business owner Jim Cloutier said Wichita had communities that offered this kind of living.
"People buy homes with all maintenance included," he said. They would be nice homes at a reasonable price, he added.
Schwab asked those older people in attendance if they would be interested in purchasing a house like that mentioned and there was a "yes" in response.
Schwab then asked the number of apartments in town, besides elderly housing.
"Zero. There are no apartments for rent," he said.
"We're somewhat land-locked," Schwab said. "Do we need to consider annexation for new houses? Do we need to offer incentives for improvements?"
Other issues
Resident Mary Costello said she would like to see city recycling. Currently residents can have private haulers pick up recyclable items.
Case said she uses the private recycling service and only has one bag of trash per month.
"If people recycled, trash would only have to be picked up once a week instead of twice," she said.
Brookens said the city could provide the service but there isn't a market for recyclables. He suggested the city work with an industry to use recycled materials to produce products.
Cloutier said it was important to maintain the historical nature of the community.
"It's a shame to see buildings deteriorate," he said. The city shouldn't look to modernize but restore and maintain what it has.
Current zoning guidelines and the comprehensive plan require the city to preserve its historical identity.
Bennett said one faction that's missing is a historical preservation society.
Kansas Department of Commerce representative Bob Fettke said some cities have a city historian who teaches local history at its high school. He also suggested implementing community service programs as part of the high school curriculum required for graduation.
Reno said everything the city does effects residents at the county lake.
She also reminded the planning commission of the importance of supporting St. Luke Hospital and Marion County Hospital District #1.
Reno also would like to see city do more.
"The town plans a lot but doesn't do much," she said.
Schwab said the city needed to progress. A plan needed to be devised that would be implemented instead of sitting on a shelf. The city council should then follow the plan. Schwab said he was told by a current councilman that he wasn't aware of the comprehensive plan.
"Everyone needs to support the plan," Schwab said. "They don't have to agree with everything but need to support it."
The planning commission will discuss the suggestions at its next meeting. The final comprehensive plan will be presented to the council for final consideration.
