The Downtown Streetscape Plan includes a recommended three lane traffic pattern on Main Street with parallel parking and bumpouts on both sides of the street, a traffic flow pattern designed to improve pedestrian safety, allow for safe vehicular movement, provide for enhanced landscaping opportunities and beauty in the downtown area and provide for a greatly improved chance of NCDOT approval.  The adopted Plan also includes asphalt stamping of crosswalks at intersections and at selected mid-block crossings on Main Street, the addition of way finding signage in the downtown area and beyond, including directional signage for Interstate 40 and other highways leading into Marion, and the planting of Gingko and October Glory Maple trees to replace holly trees on Main Street and in a few other locations.

The way finding signage is a component of the City’s N.C. STEP Program grant funding.  City staff and the N.C. STEP Leadership Committee worked on way finding signage recommendations for several months.  City staff and the Tree Board also discussed options for the replacement of downtown holly trees for several months as well, due to the holly trees outgrowing their current planting locations and complaints that have been received from motorists.  The Plan does not change the location of downtown loading zones.

The Marion City Council unanimously approved the Downtown Streetscape Plan at its regular meeting on November 17, 2009.  Planning and Development Director Heather Cotton summarized the comments at the City Council meeting and reported on cost estimates for the plan’s implementation. Several City business owners and residents were present for the meeting and provided comments about the recommendations. The estimated cost of the adopted plan is approximately $342,000.

During 2010 and part of 2011, the City worked with NCDOT to obtain approval of the plan. NCDOT directed several changes be made to specific details of the plan, including the bumpouts and drainage system. The installation of way finding signage and new trees in the downtown took place in Fall 2010. The construction of bumpouts, street resurfacing and restriping and installation of crosswalks took place in the Summer and Fall of 2011. The project was administered and constructed by NCDOT.

Planning Director Heather Cotton worked with McGill Associates and the McDowell Trails Association on Phase I of the Joseph McDowell Historical Catawba Greenway Project.  This 0.8 mile paved greenway, located on Sam Phillips Drive off of US 70 West, opened in September 2010. The greenway also offers a picnic area, fishing pier, wildlife observation deck, and access to the Little Round Hill Trail being constructed adjacent to the greenway by the McDowell Trails Association. The entrance to the greenway is located just west of the Lowes Home Improvement Store on US 70 West. Ms. Cotton is now working on grant applications for Phase II of the greenway, which will extend under the US 221 Bypass to the Historic McDowell House site.

In 2008, the City of Marion was awarded a Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Action Plan grant from the North Carolina Department of Transportation.  The Safe Routes to School Program was created by the National Center for Safe Routes to School, and is maintained by the University of North Carolina Highway Safety Research Center with funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration. The Center assists communities like Marion in enabling and encouraging children to safely walk and bike to school by equipping local communities with the knowledge and technical information to implement safe and successful strategies.

Marion’s Action Plan grant will assist five area schools in developing a plan that will address engineering, enforcement, education, encouragement strategies to improve safety for students walking and biking to school.    The plan was unveiled to City and School officials in November 2010 and approved by the City Council in early 2011. Since that time, the plan has been awaiting NCDOT approval. To learn more about the SRTS program please visit the National Center of Safe Routes to School or contact Heather Cotton, AICP, Planning & Development Director.

The historical resources located in Marion is one of the City’s most valued and important assets. The conservation and preservation of individual historic properties and historic districts ties the community together and strengthens the economy.

City Council adopted an ordinance on March 24, 2009 establishing Marion’s first Historic Preservation Commission. The Historic Preservation Commission is comprised of five members appointed by the Marion City Council who are responsible for the general oversight of the historic preservation ordinance. In addition, the Historic Preservation Commission is responsible for making recommendations to City Council on the nomination of local landmarks and districts.