Roundabouts out, signs touting routes in

The Marion City Council approved Tuesday a streetscape plan for downtown that does not include roundabouts, angled parking on Main Street or the closing of East Henderson Street. The plan does include the planting of new trees and the placement of more attractive signs directing people to points of interest.
City officials said they expect this plan to be approved by the N.C. Department of Transportation, which has the final say over what can be done to Main Street. They also hope that local businesses and individuals are willing to "adopt" a tree or bench in order to cut the cost to the city.
The city's staff has been working with a consultant on the streetscape plan for more than two years. The project has been delayed due to the N.C. Department of Transportation's concerns about the traffic flow pattern recommended for Main Street in the original plan. Main Street is a U.S. highway maintained by the state DOT.
"We can't do anything without their approval," said Mayor Everette Clark. "It's their street."
The plan first proposed by HSMM Consulting called for changing how traffic moves on Main Street. It called for a two-lane system with a center turn lane and angled parking on both sides of Main between Fort and Henderson streets. However, DOT officials were reluctant to approve a plan that included angled parking.
The original plan by HSMM Consulting also called for roundabouts at the intersection of Main and Logan streets and where South Main becomes Rutherford Road, something city officials disliked immediately. The plan also called for the closing of East Henderson Street to vehicles and making it a pedestrian walkway. It also called for the creation of an alleyway alongside the MACA center.
"There were a lot of things the consultant recommended," said City Manager Bob Boyette.
One proposal in the plan that city officials like is the construction of a walkway that would connect Main Street with the Depot and the Historic Marion Farmer's Market. It would run alongside the railroad.
On Tuesday, the City Council approved a revised streetscape plan that calls for a two-lane system for Main Street with a center turn lane. It has parallel parking instead of angled parking. It also includes mid-street crosswalks in the downtown using asphalt stamping. This is the procedure where sections of asphalt are stamped and colored to resemble brick walkways.
Council removed the unpopular roundabouts from the plan. They also deleted asphalt stamping for the center turn lane, which was deemed to be too expensive at an estimated cost of $400,000.
City officials also dropped the opening of the alley next to MACA and the closing of East Henderson Street to automobiles.
"Council has no interest in getting rid of buildings to provide alleyways," said Boyette.
Council also agreed to hold off on building the walkway between Main Street and the Depot area until it can be funded.
The plan is designed to improve pedestrian and traffic safety as well as provide for better landscaping and beauty in the downtown area.
"We hope DOT will approve this," said Clark.
The adopted plan also calls for new way-finding signs in the downtown area and beyond, including directional signs for Interstate 40 and other highways leading into Marion. It includes the updating of the city limit signs that would direct motorists to the center of Marion. The new signs would also inform them that the downtown has wireless Internet. New city limit signs could have Marion's elevation and GPS coordinates.
In addition, some smaller "trailblazing" signs could be placed at key areas around downtown. They would direct folks to places such as the McDowell County Courthouse, MACA, Marion City Hall, the Depot, the Community Building, the Farmer's Market and parking areas.
To beautify the downtown area, the plan calls for the planting of ginkgo trees on Main Street and October glory maples in places where taller trees can stand. New benches could be placed along the sidewalks.
Before taking action on the streetscape plan, city officials heard from some downtown business owners and city residents.
Attorney Russell Neighbors said he's upset about how the plan would do away with some parking spaces on Main Street between Court and Henderson.
"You're taking away our parking," he said. "It's an unfair taking of more than a proportionate share of our spaces."
Council directed staff to look at minimizing the number of spaces that would be removed. The options for these spaces will be discussed at the Dec. 1 meeting.
Merchant Bill Griffith asked why the sidewalks on Main Street are so wide.
"It's beautiful, but it doesn't serve a purpose," he said.
Clark said he would like to see the parking lots behind the stores used more. That includes the parking lot at the corner of Logan and West Henderson and the jury parking lot, too.
Russell Anderson, who lives off East Court Street, said more attention should be paid to the people who live and work in other parts of Marion. He said some basic services are being neglected for city residents.
"I feel like so much is being focused on the downtown," he said.
Mike Ornberg of the Crooked Door Coffee House said he's pleased with the plan for downtown Marion.
"This type of thing that they are showing is something I've looked forward to," he said.
The plan adopted by council has an estimated cost of $340,000. Some N.C. STEP program money will pay for part of it and the city can borrow out of its capital reserve fund to do the rest.
"There's no sources of grant money that would allow the city to start doing the plan now," said Boyette.
However, city officials hope local businesses and individuals will step forward and purchase a memorial bench, tree or some other feature. That would lower the city's cost.
Boyette said the city raised more than $30,000 to build the farmer's market shed and got donations for new playground equipment, too.
"It's going to change the look of Main Street," said Clark. "It's going to look different. If we don't take the initiative to do some things downtown, it will go down."