Alexander council approves preliminary rezoning along Hwy 111

NOTE: DQ/Sonic voting has been moved to top of right-hand column.

(Edited to include farm zoning. 10/31/17)

The Alexander City Council voted to rezone around 6.8-acres for commercial development and 51.53-acres as multi-family housing along Highway 111. The vote is only an interim step that will allow developers to begin selling the commercial area to potential businesses. An ordinance to rezone the property from farming to commercial and multi-family housing still has to be written and approved by the council.

The property was part of the original farmland purchased to develop the Meadow’s Edge subdivision along Highway 111. Rausch-Coleman of Little Rock is developing Meadow’s Edge and now wants to extend the development to the other side of the highway.

Rick Ferguson, representing Rausch-Coleman, explained the development plans to council members at their regular October 16 meeting. The plan is to develop a commercial area fronting Highway 111 (Above, shaded green). To the east and north of the businesses will be a gated complex of two-story, multi-family units (Shaded red). A third section, 4.59-acres south of the commercial area (Shaded red), is expected to be developed for one or two single-family homes. Ferguson said the water and sewer lines for the new development will go under the highway and connect to the Meadow’s Edge system.

Ferguson noted they are having no problems selling homes in Meadow’s Edge. Between the number of new homes in Meadow’s Edge and nearby St. Joseph’s Glen he said there are enough “Rooftops” to show business owners the commercial potential of the area.

“There’s a friend of mine that has a Dairy Queen franchise, he’d be a good candidate,” Ferguson said discussing potential occupants for the commercial section. “Or, Sonic … whoever gets there first,” he added; noting you usually don’t see both near each other.

At the time of the meeting development drawings weren’t available to answer some of the questions posed. Before taking questions Ferguson explained the topography of the 51-acre site doesn’t allow for single-family construction.

Fire Chief Mark Ridgeway questioned the height and spacing of the multi-family units. His concern was whether existing fire trucks could handle any fire. Ferguson assured Ridgeway the buildings would not be higher than two stories and that he can work with the engineer during the design phase to work out any of his concerns.

Alderwoman Joy Gray asked about the size of the apartments. Ferguson said the next step is to do a demographic study of the area to determine the need for one, two and three bedroom apartments.

Voting “Yes” for the interim rezoning approval were council members Joy Gray, Joe Pollard, Melissa Ratliff, Harold Timmerman, and Juanita Wilson. Council members Elizabeth Bland, Dan Church and Jeffery Watson were absent and counted as “No” votes.

The next regular meeting of the Alexander City Council is Monday, November 20. Meetings start at 6 PM and are held in the courtroom at the Alexander City Hall. The public is invited to attend.

EDITOR’S NOTE:

Voice your opinion at the top of the right-hand column; DQ or Sonic.