EVALUATION AND RESULTS OF MARION AND EASTERN IOWA CORRIDOR PLANNING

EVALUATION AND RESULTS OF MARION AND EASTERN IOWA CORRIDOR PLANNERS

6-11-10

Marion’s growth and mishandling of the traffic round-about captured Iowalive’s attention in the past year. As a result, observations and evaluations of Marion’s planning have been accomplished—especially with respect to how well it meets the Vision Statements in the Marion Master Plan. The comments are herein submitted in response to the Marion Planning Department’s requests for public input.

The following planning integrity table, showing the ranking of Eastern Iowa corridor planning organizations, is included for comparison and perspective. It sets the stage for the following comments--and should be useful for planners across Iowa.

GENERAL COMMENTS

Much better oversight of the Marion Planning Department is desperately needed
1. It is unacceptable to have an outside planning consultant, tell Marion planning committee members what they can and cannot consider. The consultant is obviously trying to avoid any discussion of the round-about mistake etc. he created, regardless of how it impacts planning in other areas. This is unacceptable.
There should be a graphic showing how the various plans, phases and options etc. fit together to meet Marion Vision Statements. The table below shows very little correlation between planning and Vision Statements. It’s as if the Vision Statements were written, cast aside and forgotten by Marion planners.
1. The Vision Statements, Plans, or both--must be fixed. This is fundamental to effective planning.
Performing streetscape planning before traffic planning, as now done, makes no sense. Streetscaping should be based on traffic direction, volume etc., not the other way around.
1. Marion’s traffic problems are much worse than main street’s cluttered sidewalks.
Numbers showing expected impacts on residents and businesses are badly needed, to show that planning is sound and will indeed fix Marion’s traffic problems—without unacceptable side effects. See related tables below, prepared by Iowalive net workers. The tables should have been prepared by Marion planners, to show residents and businesses the expected results and impacts of Marion planning.
1. Marion Planners, and the Chamber, do not even have a list of businesses impacted by round-about etc. planning to date. They obviously don’t care. Iowalive net workers filled the void with the tables farther below.
2. There is no excuse for planners and the Chamber not preparing such tables
3. How can Marion planners, or the Chamber of Commerce, challenge Iowalive’s numbers, when they have no numbers at all?
The bottom line—Marion’s planning is shallow, misguided and incomplete. The following tables show why.

TABLES SHOWING EVALUATIONS & IMPACTS OF MARION PLANNING

MARION PLANNING INTEGRITY RANKS AT THE BOTTOM OF CORRIDOR PLANNING ORGANIZATIONS

TABLE RANKS CORRIDOR PLANNING INTEGRITY AND OPERATING EFFICIENCIES
INTEGRITY RANK	DESCRIPTION OF CONTRIBUTORS, OR OBSTACLES, TO COMMUNITY & CORRIDOR PLANNING PROGRESS	*AVG. INTEGRITY AS OF 1-1-10.	AVG. OP. EFF. AS OF 1-1-10
1	ROBINS	380	66%
2	NORTH LIBERTY	330	60%
3	HIAWATHA	320	58%
4	PALO	260	53%
5	JOHNSON COUNTY	210	52%
6	CORALVILLE	140	43%
7	LINN COUNTY	120	35%
8	IOWA CITY	70	29%
9	CEDAR RAPIDS	50	27%
10	MARION	35	15%
*AVG. INTEGRITY INDEX LEVEL, ON SCALE OF 0 TO 1,000, WHERE SIGNIFICANT INTEGRITY STARTS AT 300, BASED ON ADHERENCE TO MORAL AND ETHICAL PRINCIPLES. GRAND LARCENY IS COMPARABLE TO LEVEL 40.
ANYONE CLAIMING TO HAVE BETTER NUMBERS IS ASKED TO PROVIDE THEM FOR EVALUATION AND COMPARISON

THERE IS LITTLE OR NO CORRELATION BETWEEN MARION PLANNING AND ITS VISION STATEMENTS

NONE OF THE MARION PLANNING DEPARTMENT'S COMPREHENSIVE PLANS HAS ANY SIGNIFICANT INTEGRITY FOR MEETING ANY OF THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT'S VISION STATEMENTS!! AS A RESULT, MARION'S PROBLEMS WILL GROW AS IT GROWS--ESPECIALLY FOR ITS UNSUSPECTING RESIDENTS.
MARION VISION STATEMENTS PREPARED BY THE MARION PLANNING DEPARTMENT AND POSTED ON THE WEBSITE BELOW.	INTEGRITY INDEX LEVEL, ON SCALE OF 0 TO 1,000 TOPS, FOR THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT'S COMPREHENSIVE PLAN MEETING ITS VISION STATEMENTS. SIGNIFICANT INTEGRITY STARTS AT 300.
The City of Marion continues to improve the quality of life for its residents, the quality of the business climate for its businesses, and the quality of the visitor’s experience.	5
The City will strive to attract retail and service providers, enhance its neighborhoods, expand its employment base, and achieve a healthy balance of residential, commercial, office, and industrial land uses.	8
If these efforts are successful, Marion’s future is bright.	4
Uptown Marion will reemerge as a vibrant destination for shopping, dining,	1
The City’s Central Corridor will be greatly improved with a new streetscape and roadway access enhancements and the introduction of a new trail and parks, gateway features and community art, buried utilities, and new design standards.	11
The City will also attract manufacturers and other employers, providing high quality local jobs for residents.	2
A marketing campaign will be successful in re-branding the City’s image and Marion will draw visitors from without the region on a regular basis.	3
As a component of the campaign, Highway 151 will be renamed Marion Boulevard and streetscaping and signage improvements will be used to create a uniform, attractive appearance throughout the corridor.	200
The City’s residential neighborhoods will be enhanced and improved upon through quality infill development that provides a multitude of housing options for those attracted to Marion’s safe streets and high quality schools.	15
In addition to infill development, the City will grow as new neighborhoods comprised of distinct, high-quality housing are built in its periphery.	60
Anyone claiming to have better numbers is asked to provide them.
MARION'S COMPREHENSIVE PLAN IS POSTED ON THIS WEBSITE.
http://www.hlplanning.com/dnn/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=x2G5VNl7zmw%3d&tabid=359&mid=674

MARION’S PLANNING CONSULTANT RECOMMENDED CONCEPT D, THE WORST OF THEM ALL

BASED ON AVAILABLE INFORMATION, CONCEPT B IS BY FAR THE BEST CHOICE FOR MARION RESIDENTS AND 7TH AVE. BUSINESSES
DESCRIPTION	*INTEGRITY INDEX LEVEL ON SCALE OF 0 TO 1,000 TOPS, WHERE SIGNIFICANT INTEGRITY STARTS AT 300	RESIDENT RETURN ON INVESTMENT	**10 YEAR AVG. ANNUAL SALES IMPACT ON AFFECTED BUSINESSES	% OF RESIDENTS SATISFIED WITH TRAFFIC FLOW AFTER 1 YEAR	% OF RESIDENTS SATISFIED WITH PROJECT AFTER 1 YEAR
CONCEPT A	250	-1%	-2%	5%	10%
CONCEPT B	700	0%	7%	70%	60%
CONCEPT C	150	-2%	-4%	10%	5%
CONCEPT D	20	-4%	-13%	5%	5%
*Integrity is adherence to ethical and moral principles.
**Compared to 2009 sales levels.
Anyone claiming to have better numbers is asked to provide them for evaluation and comparison.

MARION PLANNERS HAVE NO IDEA OR CONCERN FOR THESE ROUND-ABOUT IMPACTS ON BUSINESSES

THE BUSINESS LOSSES IN THIS TABLE ARE BASED ON CITY MANAGEMENT OF THE OPTION "D" PROJECT TO BE NO BETTER THAN CITY MANAGEMENT OF THE EVALUATION AND PLANNING PHASES OF THE PROJECT TO DATE!
BUSINESSES--SORTED BY LOSS	5 YEAR TOTAL NET PROFIT LOSS	BUSINESSES--SORTED ALPHABETICALLY	5 YEAR TOTAL NET PROFIT LOSS
Denny's Muffler	100%	1 open area	0%
Klingler Paint	100%	3 Seasons Cable	76%
Marion Auto Parts	100%	7th Ave Center (2 spaces open)	10%
Marion Brush	100%	7th Ave East Plaza (1 space open)	26%
O'Reilly Auto Parts	100%	American Auto Sales	17%
Cedar Auto Sales	100%	Antique Warehouse	15%
Guaranty Bank	100%	APC Emmert	23%
Burger King	100%	Arens Thermal Technology	10%
Grandon Accounting	100%	Barnes Manufacturing	11%
Reliable Auto Body	79%	Barron Storage	6%
3 Seasons Cable	76%	Bell Auto	48%
Livingston Hearing Aid	58%	Borst Construction	37%
Papa John's	51%	Burger King	100%
Bell Auto	48%	Caldmeyers	6%
Domino's Pizza	48%	Casey's General Store	23%
Borst Construction	37%	Cash Advance	22%
Kentucky Fried Chicken	35%	Cedar Auto Sales	100%
Marion Dairy Queen	35%	D & R Engines and Repair	10%
Marion Vet Clinic	35%	Dan Gardiner Drywall	3%
Electric Specialty Mfg. Co.	30%	Denny's Muffler	100%
Hubbell's Self Storage	30%	DMC Storage	17%
Star Appliances	30%	Domino's Pizza	48%
Quality Auto Repair	29%	DSI Automotive	4%
Dummas' Bar	28%	Dummas' Bar	28%
7th Ave East Plaza (1 space open)	26%	Economy Auto Repair	12%
LINCO Water Conditioning	26%	Eddie's Electrical	10%
Rahm Computers	26%	Edward Jones Investments	17%
APC Emmert	23%	EIC Construction	10%
Casey's General Store	23%	Eichorn Tax Preparation	18%
H & R Block	23%	Electric Specialty Mfg. Co.	30%
Cash Advance	22%	Farm Bureau Financial Services	17%
Farmers Insurance	22%	Farmers Insurance	22%
Franks Foreign Car	22%	Franks Foreign Car	22%
Marion Sheet Metal	22%	GMX Waterproofing Systems	3%
NCS Network Computer	21%	God Speed Automotive	4%
Quinn Storage Garages	21%	Grandon Accounting	100%
Subway	21%	Guaranty Bank	100%
Jones Plumbing	19%	H & R Block	23%
Eichorn Tax Preparation	18%	H S Radiator	14%
Larry's Auto Repair	18%	Hawkeye Convenience Store	11%
American Auto Sales	17%	Heskje Painting	11%
DMC Storage	17%	Horizon Realty	11%
Edward Jones Investments	17%	Hubbell's Auto Repair	8%
Farm Bureau Financial Services	17%	Hubbell's Self Storage	30%
Hy-Vee Drug Store	17%	Hy-Vee Drug Store	17%
Marion Iron	17%	Jackson Auto Sales	4%
Pro Auto Wash	17%	Jones Plumbing	19%
Quality Plumbing	17%	Joyals Family Tree Service	10%
Antique Warehouse	15%	Kentucky Fried Chicken	35%
H S Radiator	14%	King Concrete	0%
Marion Motel	14%	Klingler Paint	100%
Economy Auto Repair	12%	L J's Mobile Catering	6%
Sunderman Construction	12%	Lacey Plumbing	10%
Barnes Manufacturing	11%	Larry's Auto Repair	18%
Hawkeye Convenience Store	11%	Lewis Systems of Iowa	6%
Heskje Painting	11%	LINCO Water Conditioning	26%
Horizon Realty	11%	Linn County Physical Therapy	11%
Linn County Physical Therapy	11%	Livingston Hearing Aid	58%
Marion 4-Wheel Drive	11%	Marion 4-Wheel Drive	11%
Wrigleyville Sports Bar	11%	Marion Auto Parts	100%
7th Ave Center (2 spaces open)	10%	Marion Brush	100%
Arens Thermal Technology	10%	Marion Dairy Queen	35%
D & R Engines and Repair	10%	Marion Insulation	4%
Eddie's Electrical	10%	Marion Iron	17%
EIC Construction	10%	Marion Motel	14%
Joyals Family Tree Service	10%	Marion Sheet Metal	22%
Lacey Plumbing	10%	Marion Vet Clinic	35%
Neal Motors	10%	M-B Electric	3%
Hubbell's Auto Repair	8%	Moats Masonry	4%
Porch-Burr Machine	7%	NCS Network Computer	21%
Barron Storage	6%	Neal Motors	10%
Caldmeyers	6%	O'Reilly Auto Parts	100%
L J's Mobile Catering	6%	Papa John's	51%
Lewis Systems of Iowa	6%	Papa Murphy's	6%
Papa Murphy's	6%	Peterson's Health Insurance	3%
R J Construction	6%	Porch-Burr Machine	7%
DSI Automotive	4%	Prince Agriproducts	4%
God Speed Automotive	4%	Pro Auto Wash	17%
Jackson Auto Sales	4%	Quality Auto Repair	29%
Marion Insulation	4%	Quality Plumbing	17%
Moats Masonry	4%	Quinn Storage Garages	21%
Prince Agriproducts	4%	R J Construction	6%
Stonegate Construction	4%	Rahm Computers	26%
Dan Gardiner Drywall	3%	Reliable Auto Body	79%
GMX Waterproofing Systems	3%	Star Appliances	30%
M-B Electric	3%	Stonegate Construction	4%
Peterson's Health Insurance	3%	Subway	21%
The Pet Studio	3%	Sunderman Construction	12%
TPN Floorcoverings	3%	The Pet Studio	3%
1 open area	0%	TPN Floorcoverings	3%
King Concrete	0%	Wrigleyville Sports Bar	11%
TOTAL 5 YEAR NET PROFIT LOSS FOR ALL OF THE ABOVE BUSINESSES TO BE AT LEAST $20 MILLION! IN ADDITION, AT LEAST 56 HOUSES WILL BE DEMOLISHED!
HAD A TORNADO STRUCK MARION AND CAUSED EQUIVALENT DAMAGE, THE MAYOR, COUNCIL, CITY MANAGER, CHAMBER, MEDCO, PLANNING & ZONING COMMITTEE AND EAST EDGE OF TOWN PROPERTY OWNERS, ETC., WOULD BE CLAMORING TO HAVE MARION DESIGNATED A DISASTER AREA!! THESE ARE THE SAME FOLKS WHO PUSHED AND ADOPTED OPTION "D" AND THE ROUND ABOUT!
Anyone claiming to have better numbers is asked to provide them for evaluation and comparison. In the absence of better numbers, these are the best available and as such must be used.

Derivation methods for integrity and operating efficiencies are posted on website: http://www.google.com/