A large mixed residential development is expected to bring nearly 600 new housing units and several commercial lots on the east side of Marion. The Marion City Council voted unanimously Oct. 5 to approve the first reading of an ordinance that would rezone just over 121 acres of land from Agricultural Holding to Planned Unit […]
A large mixed residential development is expected to bring nearly 600 new housing units and several commercial lots on the east side of Marion.
The Marion City Council voted unanimously Oct. 5 to approve the first reading of an ordinance that would rezone just over 121 acres of land from Agricultural Holding to Planned Unit Development to accommodate the Rookwood Estates development.
The property, currently being used as farmland, is bounded by Fernow Road to the north, Bluegrass Street to the west and Highway 151 to the south. It’s located just north of Culver’s Garden Center and the Marion Airport, and just east of the Squaw Creek manufactured home community.
Another Rookwood Estates housing development is already under construction just west of the newly-proposed project.
The planned Rockwood Estates development area is bounded in red on this map. CREDIT CITY OF MARION
The rezoning request for the project was approved unanimously Sept. 12 by the Marion Planning and Zoning Commission, which indicated that it met the goals of both the Marion Comprehensive Plan and East Marion Sub Area Plan, which provides for a mix of residential housing units, with commercial and multi-family units along Highway 151 and multi-family units along Fernow Road.
“The general intent of the East Marion Subarea Plan is to provide for walkable and connected neighborhoods, and work within the constraints of the land to create meaningful neighborhoods while incorporating a variety of neighborhood and community scale land uses that have access to open space both with parks and natural areas,” Marion principal city planner Dave Hockett wrote in the council’s Oct. 5 agenda.
The first phase of the development incorporates 177 residential units and 14 commercial lots. Plans call for the addition of more residential units in a subsequent phase.
At full build-out, the Marion Rookwood housing development will include:
94 detached single-family units with front load garages;
56 detached single-family units with alley load garages;
68 row houses with alley load garages in 17 four-plex buildings;
75 duplex houses with alley load garages in 37 two-plex buildings;
284 multi-family units on three lots; and
14 commercial lots.
Developer Chad Pelley of Twenty40 Building Concepts said as a Marion native, he views the project as a personal priority.
“I’ve spent my entire life in this community, and I grew up really poor,” he said. “One of our biggest things is creating jobs and affordable quality housing in neighborhoods. All this represents, and you are aware, how much effort has been put in here in partnership with the city.”
Mr. Pelley also noted the project will include detention basins, trails, parks and accommodation for a future Linn-Mar elementary school, and will help address the area’s ongoing housing shortage.
“We're excited to get this one going,” he told the council.
The council must still approve the second and third readings of the rezoning request.
