Alexander Planning Commission sends rezoning ordinance to council, recommends construction of office building

During a special meeting the Alexander Planning Commission agreed to recommend to the city council that an ordinance be approved that will rezone a vacant lot from R-1 Single-Family to
R-2 Multi-Family. The one-acre property is surrounded by E. 1^st Street, E. 2^nd Street and A.C. Wallace Street.

Only one person who lives near the lot attended the public hearing, which was held prior to the planning commission meeting Thursday evening November 15. He had no objection to the rezoning.

The construction plans were presented by Jonathon Hope of Hope Consulting, Benton, representing Heritage Homes & Development of Central Arkansas. The plan is to build three one-story buildings that will provide a total of 14, two-bedroom, apartment units. A building with five-units will face E. 1^st Street, a seven-unit building will face A.C. Wallace Street and a duplex will face E. 2^nd Street. There will be a parking area in front of each building.

According to Hope, a new waterline will be connected to the existing line at E. 2^nd Street and extended along A.C. Wallace ending near E. 1^st Street. Besides providing water service to most of the apartments, the end of the waterline will include a fire hydrant. Drainage improvements are also included in their plans. Actual construction is expected to begin January.

Planning commission members also heard from Robert Hale of Hale Steel, which owns the property on the southeast corner of E. Azalea and South Alexander Road. Hale has applied for a building permit to construct an office building for the company. Currently, Hale Steel is leasing office space in North Little Rock.

Hale Steel is known for constructing steel buildings. In 2013 Hale built a fabrication shop on the rear of the property. With the addition of the office building the entire company will be in one location. Once the new building is in place Hale said they plan to build an entrance driveway off South Alexander Road for the trucks. They will then exit onto E. Azalea.

Street Superintendent David Durham attended the meeting to discuss drainage concerns. Durham said the street department already has plans to replace the culvert, which is under Alton Drive where it connects with South Alexander Road. Alton Drive is on the opposite side of the property from E. Azalea.

Planning commission members approved a recommendation to the city council that the building plans be accepted and the building permit be issued. The council’s next meeting is this Monday, November 19. It’s expected the mayor will sign the permit Tuesday.

The council meeting is at 6 PM in the courtroom at city hall. The public is encouraged to attend.