Not in my backyard: Residents protest truck parking
Staff reporter
More than 10 residents of Jex Addition attended Monday's Marion City Council meeting to express their concerns about a semi truck parking lot in their neighborhood.
They made it clear that they did not want any semi trucks or trailers on their street and had a petition with signatures from 17 households to prove it.
Darryl and Linda Brewer of Marion had approached the council at the last meeting and offered to provide a truck parking area for local residents who primarily drive over-the-road.
City attorney Dan Baldwin informed the audience that when zoning of the city was updated, Rex Savage, owner of KC Development, Inc., was told he would need to apply for a conditional use permit for his current oil drilling operation. According to Baldwin, Savage did not obtain a permit and he assumed it was light industrial.
When new regulations were approved by the city commission and a new map was drawn, the area was shown as residential.
Charles Montgomery, 302 S. Grant, said the infrastructure on Grant Street was for residential, not commercial.
"Nothing more than 16,000 pounds is allowed on Grant Street," he said. "If 80,000-pound vehicles are allowed, it will ruin the streets."
Linda Meier, 202 S. Grant, said her husband is a truck driver and they are completely against the development.
"In a three-block area there are 10 children," she said. She also expressed concerns about drainage issues and the deterioration of Grant and Main streets where trucks will turn.
Meier suggested a truck stop be built at the industrial park.
Terry Killingsworth, 226 Grant, said he appreciated the quiet street with little traffic and wants to preserve the safety and serenity of his neighborhood.
"This proposal isn't for the greater good," he said.
Bobbi Strait, 311 Garfield, said this past fall, there were two newborns in the neighborhood. With family members going in and out of the homes, Strait said the increased parking on both sides of the street made it difficult to get a car through and was concerned about semi trucks using the narrow street.
Darryl Brewer said the property he purchased from Savage had always been industrial. He said previous businesses had used the street for heavy equipment and trucks.
"We're talking about the safety of kids. We're talking about noise," said Chuck Bredemeier. His mother, Lucille, has lived on Cleveland Street for more than 60 years.
"Kids come over and ask if they can play on my empty lot," said Lucille Bredemeier. "I want to go out on a black top street, not gravel."
Chuck Bredemeier said he remembered his father talking about dust and noise coming from previous owners of the property. At that time, Grant Street was a gravel street.
"Cedar trees were planted to cut down the dust and noise," he said.
Councilman Bill Holdeman asked the group for a solution.
Linda Brewer said people are worried about the number of trucks.
"Only 11 trucks will be going in and out," she said, "and they'll be there at different times."
"One truck will make a difference," said Amy Helmer, 222 Garfield. "We don't want any trucks."
Councilman Stacey Collett said he was concerned about the legalities of not allowing the Brewers to use their property.
Mayor Martin Tice said there was more than one issue to discuss — the use of the lot and permitting semi trucks.
Mike Carr, who lives on Burbridge Street, said he was against semi trucks using his street to get to the proposed parking area.
Darvin Markley of the city's planning commission said the property has always been taxed as residential. He said the issue should be presented to the planning commission to review.
"We don't care if the property is used for an industrial business," said Montgomery. "We just don't want trucks on Grant Street."
Baldwin suggested the council enter a 10-minute executive session to discuss the issue, which it did.
When the meeting reconvened, Baldwin recommended the council make a motion for a full review of all items on the map regarding use by the planning commission. He also recommended the planning commission propose a designated truck route.
The motion was made by Jerry Kline, seconded by Gene Winkler, and passed 5-0.
The council was provided with cost estimates to construct Grant Street for heavy truck traffic that ranged from $36,890 to $95,678.
Later in the meeting, truck driver and Marion resident Kevin Steele asked the council if he could continue to park his truck at his house until the issue was resolved. The consensus of the council was to continue a moratorium of issuing citations until the issue could be resolved.
Economic development director Jami Williams said she will check with the owners of Mike's Service Center regarding trucks parking on their property.
