Marion Planning & Zoning approves revised Riverwest development

Marion Planning & Zoning approves revised Riverwest development

Subdivision will forego original gated, age- specific community plans

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Developers of the Riverwest subdivision gained approval for a new phase of development which is a more of a traditional subdivision than they had initially proposed for the site.

City Planner Ed Cain said the Marion Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously approved a plat request for the third phase for 43 lots and a private park.

“They came back with another proposal,” Cain said.

“There is no more request for a gated community. It doesn’t include any area reserved for any age group.

It’s just like a regular subdivision like it was originally intended.”

P& Z in June shot down a prior request by the developers to rezone the area from R1 to R2S single family to allow for development of 32 homes for residents 55 and older.

The proposal raised the ire of residents already living in Riverwest over concerns that the 55 plus homes would be gated, have smaller square footage than the rest of the homes in the subdivision, and issues over it being on a private street.

Cain said the area that was refereed to as Phase 3 will now be known as The Reserve. No rezoning was needed for the new development.

“The lots meet the city’s requirements for R1 zoning,” Cain. Cain said P& Z unanimously approved the preliminary plat. There were some residents at the meeting to hear the proposal, but none expressed any objection the last time.

“There will be no gated community or private streets that created some issues last time, no area reserved for a certain age,” Cain said. “There is still some pushback, but nothing like the June meeting.” Developers will need to bring P& Z a final plat proposal which Cain said will likely be heard at the September meeting.

By Mark Randall