Council advances rezoning and airport overlay changes for Aircom Park area; PUD and future land‑use amendments approved for initial consideration

The Marion City Council on Sept. 4 approved initial consideration of amendments to the city’s airport overlay regulations and a rezoning request to establish a Planned Unit Development (PUD) for property south of Marion Airport Road and east of Enterprise Drive, the area marketed as Aircom Park.

Planning consultant Christian (MSA Professional Services) and city planning staff presented the proposed changes. The package includes: an update to the Marion Municipal Airport Land Use and Height Overlay (to rely on FAA and Iowa Department of Transportation procedures, including use of FAA form 7460-1 for determinations), repeal of the prior airport layout plan and elimination of a now-dissolved Airport Committee, an amendment to the comprehensive plan future land-use map changing the runway parcel from civic/industrial to commercial (resolution 32538), and a rezoning to PUD (ordinance 25-27) that will allow a mix of local, community and regional business uses, office/service and light manufacturing.

Staff described the PUD concept as a flexible, mixed-use destination oriented around the existing runway and Aircom Park. The applicant’s illustration shows up to 35 buildable lots with a minimum lot size of about 1 acre. The proposed zoning would set maximum building heights tied to location: 45 feet on the west side of Aircom Drive and 75 feet on the east side; any structure that penetrates the airport’s imaginary surfaces must follow FAA review procedures. Planning & Zoning recommended approval 6–0.

During the public hearing the applicant, Genesis Equities (represented by Hannah Custis), said the vision includes commercial units, mixed use and aviation‑oriented facilities such as hangar‑residential combinations and small restaurants or offices. City staff confirmed there are no changes to the runway’s current public accessibility or operational status as a runway; the future land‑use designation change does not, by itself, alter current airport use.

Council discussion clarified that the overlay update streamlines local language and defers determinations of potential hazards to FAA review when development proposals exceed the imaginary surface heights. Staff said that FAA responses can be lengthy in some cases and that the city could seek assistance from federal delegation members if timing became an issue for a developer. Several votes on the measures carried with the mayor’s abstention noted in minutes.

What this means: If the rezoning and PUD move through final consideration, the property owners and developers would be allowed a broader set of commercial and aviation‑supportive uses than under the site’s prior manufacturing zoning. Any building that potentially intrudes into FAA‑defined surfaces will require FAA review under Form 7460-1 before construction may proceed.