Marion County commissioners discuss using designated PSA nodes, density tools to direct growth

Marion County commissioners and planning staff discussed draft comprehensive-plan strategies to concentrate future growth into designated “PSAs” — areas where utilities and road access could support higher-density, mixed-use development — during a March workshop.

The presentation, led by Ken Weirock of Growth Services and planning staff Blair Knighting and Christopher, laid out population projections, permit trends and maps of developable, platted lots and existing utilities to make the case for targeted nodes of denser development inside and adjacent to already built neighborhoods. “Density is not a bad word. It's not the enemy,” Weirock told the board, adding that, if managed properly, density could “be a tool” that benefits the community, developers and region.

The county’s planning staff said Marion County’s 2050 population forecast used the mid‑point between a medium (526,500) and high (650,300) scenario — a working projection of 587,900 people — and showed recent permit activity with a sharp uptick in buildings of 10 units or more. Staff reported a current capacity estimate of about…