Marion 25 comprehensive plan: final draft recommended with a key Tower Terrace map change

Charlie Cowell of RDG Planning & Design presented the Marion 25 comprehensive plan final draft to the council on March 18, describing the document as an “overarching guide to policy in the city across land use, transportation, parks, facilities, and more.” He reviewed edits since the December draft and the Planning & Zoning Commission’s recommendation to change the future‑land‑use designation in the Tower Terrace/Al Burnett growth area.

Cowell said many edits were minor clarifications (urban reserve description, floodplain map clarifications, civic‑use consolidations and refinements to mixed‑use and business‑regional descriptions). He highlighted one substantive map change: shifting an estate‑residential designation north and west in the Tower Terrace/Al Burnett growth area, expanding mixed‑use along a drainage corridor and reverting remaining areas to lower‑intensity residential on the updated map the Planning & Zoning Commission recommended.

Cowell said design‑standards and zoning updates will follow adoption: phase 1 will target corridor design standards (including gates and gateways, and corridors noted in the plan plus Highway 100); phase 2 will address sign code, landscaping and operational standards. Staff said some moratorium‑related work (commercial moratorium areas) will be folded into the zoning/design‑standards work and that the moratorium is set to expire in June unless council takes further action.

Planning & Zoning recommended approval of the amended map and edits; Cowell said the recommended next steps are adoption by council (item was listed on the upcoming Thursday agenda) followed by ordinance and design‑standard updates to implement the plan’s vision.

What’s next: staff and consultants will present zoning and design‑standard drafts after council action on the comprehensive plan; design standards will include a visual image library and public open houses to collect more input.