Marion?s Third St. turning two-way today

The one-way street currently on Third Street between Main and Santa Fe streets within the city of Marion will open Wednesday, April 6, to two-way traffic.Two-way traffic for motorists using North Third Street, between Main Street and Santa Fe in the city of Marion, goes into effect April 6 following approval at the March 28 council meeting.

City Administrator Roger Holter said the change affects only one block.

?(The city) has experienced out-of-town motorists trying to get to the community center finding themselves going the wrong way on the one-way street,? he said.

Years ago, the one-way streets were advocated by the Marion Chamber of Commerce to alleviate traffic concerns downtown, he said.

Police Chief Tyler Mermis said he, too, thought it would be a benefit to open Third Street to allow northbound and southbound to flow easily between Main and Santa Fe streets.

The decision to leave the other two one-way streets was based on width restrictions and loss of parking spaces, according to information presented by EBH & Associates, city engineering firm.

?On South Second from Main to Water streets, we would need to remove six parking places in order to make a 25-foot roadway,? said Darin Neufeld of EBH. He said the current width is 19 feet.

Holter said making North Second from Main to Santa Fe two-way would mean a loss of seven parking spaces in that portion of the street.

On North Third, he said, the driving lane is 25 feet wide and would require no loss of spaces.

?The only traffic flow change would be access to Marion National Bank?s drive-thru and not allowing J-turns,? he said.

Motorists would have to enter either on Second or Fourth streets and come around on Third, which would be the safest, Neufeld said.

Regarding North Fourth and Main to Santa Fe streets, the change would require the loss of 10 spaces to make the driving lane 28 feet wide. It currently runs one way north, away from Main Street, Holter said.

By waiting until April 6 to make the change, Holter said, it would allow plenty of time for the legal publication and the opportunity to get the word out so people and get accustomed to it.

Chickens

The council heard from a concerned citizen at its March 28 meeting on the topic of chickens within city limits.

?We have at least one household in town that decided the number of chickens (on their property) doesn?t really matter,? one person said.

The citizens presenting the concerns said residence has turned into a poultry farm.

Neighbors in the South Roosevelt area ask the council to review the ordinances to see if the numbers could be reduced, Holter said.

?Roosters were also drawing a lot of attention,? he added.

City Attorney Susan Robson said she reviewed the chicken ordinance in Derby; that city limits the number to six hens, and only for the production of eggs. No other commercial use or application is allowed.

The concern with the current homeowner, one citizen said, is that the chicken pen has gone from a 20-foot by 20 -foot enclosure to a 30 feet by 70 feet.

The council was told that at least 20 chickens were counted on the premises.

Holter said neighbors also said feathers and waste are being blown throughout the neighborhood.

Residents wanting to learn more about the problem or offer solutions are encouraged to attend the April 11 meeting.

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