S. Main St. speed limit lowering sparks debate at Marion City Council meeting

Marion City Council began hearing debate on Monday about changing the speed limit on one street in the city's designated outdoor refreshment area (DORA).

During its Aug. 1 meeting, the Marion Traffic Commission approved Ordinance 2022-066 which would "amend the existing speed limit" on South Main Street between Church and Center streets from its current 25 mph to 15 mph. According to the text of the ordinance, the proposed change "is in the best interests of the community given the unique configuration of traffic flow and parking in this specific area of the City of Marion, Ohio’s DORA (Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area)" and comply with the regulations outlined in the DORA ordinance approved by city council in 2020.

Under terms of the DORA ordinance, people can carry open containers of alcoholic beverages within the boundaries of the area. The drinks must be in the specially-designated cups that are only provided by participating license holders within the DORA district.

At this past Monday's regular meeting, Councilman Ayers Ratliff, 2nd Ward, said he was opposed to the idea of the DORA from the beginning and continues to be opposed to it today, noting that, in his opinion, "the only thing we're promoting is people being able to carry around alcohol outside." Ratliff said he believes the city has made too many unbeneficial concessions for the sake of people being able to legally carry open containers of alcoholic beverages in public.

"We've already given up an entire lane of traffic (along South Main Street) so people can openly drink more," he said. "So we've given up a whole lane of traffic to where we're now having more traffic turn onto other streets. Putting more traffic on other streets that makes even less advantageous for some other businesses because (motorists) may not want to park on that section now because there is increased cars. Then we've got more concessions that we're going to give so that people can drink, to have 15 miles per hour, which is going to put more cars onto streets like Center Street.

"And we have this absolutely asinine parking over here (in front of the Marion County Building), which I thought was completely ludicrous since it went in to have back-in parking. I don't know where it stops that people have to give up concessions so that people can carry around alcohol outside. ... I think we are creating a less family-friendly environment when we do this kind of stuff. I have not supported anything with the DORA from the start and I will continue that."

Downtown Marion, Inc. Board Chairperson Lois Fisher said Ratliff "made a perfect case for (expanding) the DORA" in his comments on the issue.

"We do need to expand it. We do need to extend it onto Center Street. We do need to extend it onto North Main (Street)," Fisher said. "Because it is not about the alcohol, it's about the shop owners, the moms and the pops that have out their life savings, their heart and soul, into the shops so that our downtown can thrive. And that is what it takes. ... We do have to take into account, it's not just the general opinion of what we think or what I feel, it is the opinion of the people that have invested into downtown. You can say downtown all you want, but it is the shop keepers, the people who own those shops.

"I am a (downtown) building owner. I lease to some of them and I do know that it is a struggle at times to meet the rent. And if we don't do everything we can to help them meet the rent, our downtown is going to be no more, and we do not want that because we are on an upward, upward recognition."

Fisher went on to state that because of its recent growth, downtown Marion is becoming an area of interest for real estate developers.

"As a person that owns buildings in downtown, I know that there are so many people that want to be a part of this explosion that's happening," Fisher said. "And we talk about all these other communities, we're there kids. I mean, we are there. This is an exciting time for us."

Fairgrounds Street resident Christian Dunston asked if the city had to secure approval from the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) to change the speed limit. Mayor Scott Schertzer said that was not necessary because South Main Street is a city street and not a state route or part of a state route governed by ODOT.

Schertzer also noted that changing the parking alignment along South Main Street from parallel to diagonal spaces actually created more parking spaces in that area.

The DORA ordinance established the district boundaries in downtown Marion as an area bounded by "the (eastern-most) curb of S. Prospect St. on the west; the (southern-most) curb of Center St. on the north; the western edge of the north/south alley between S. Main St. and State St. on the east; and, the (northern-most) curb of Church St. on the south."

Under regulations outlined in the DORA ordinance that was approved by Marion City Council in 2020, the posted speed limit on streets within the DORA boundaries "shall not exceed 15 MPH, which shall be maintained from commencement of the operation of the DORA until its dissolution."

A motion to suspend council rules and pass Ordinance 2022-066 on its first reading was voted down by a 6-2 count. Councilmen Joshua Feliciano, 5th Ward, and Mike Thomas, At-large, supported passing the ordinance on its first reading.

Marion City Council will hear the second reading of the ordinance at its next meeting on Aug. 22. Council will meet at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall.

City council committee meetings are scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on Aug. 15 at City Hall.

For information about upcoming Marion City Council meetings, go to the City of Marion website www.marionohio.us.

Email: ecarter@gannett.com | Twitter: @AndrewACCarter

This article originally appeared on Marion Star: Speed limit ordinance sparks debate at Marion City Council meeting