After nearly two years of writing, proofreading, rewriting,
additions, corrections, and legal reviews the Alexander Planning
Commission has scheduled two public hearings for Tuesday, May 7.
Planning Commission Chairman Michael Huck gave council members the
good news during the city council’s April 15 meeting.
The public hearings
are the next legal step in approving two ordinances dealing with city
growth. The first, entitled “City of Alexander Subdivision Rules
and Regulations,” establishes standards and practices as to how
land within the city can be subdivided and developed. The second,
entitled “City of Alexander, Arkansas Zoning Regulations,” will
replace the current zoning ordinance approved in 1982.
The new zoning
ordinance will include a zoning map. As best as city officials have
been able to determine, Alexander currently does not have a zoning
map.
The public hearing
for the ordinance establishing subdivision rules and regulations will
be held Tuesday, May 7, at 6:30 PM in the courtroom at Alexander city
hall. The public hearing for the ordinance establishing new zoning
regulations will be held that same Tuesday evening, May 7, at 7:00 PM
in city hall. Anyone interested in, or with concerns on these two
topics are invited to attend the public hearings.
Anyone wanting a
digital copy of either ordinance, or the zoning map, may send their
request to the planning commission chairman by E-mail to
mhck52@outlook.com. Hard
copies will be available at city hall for review.
Following both
public hearings the Alexander Planning Commission will conduct a
special meeting; probably some time after 7:15 PM. At that meeting it
is expected commission members will approve both ordinances, which
will then be sent to the city council for final approval. The
ordinances should be on the council’s May 20 agenda.
Also during the
April 15 meeting;
Council
members approved an ordinance annexing approximately 1.73 acres of
land along the southern edge of property owned by Ample Storage,
located along Highway 5. With the planned widening of Highway 5
owners of Ample Storage must move buildings, currently along the
highway, to another location. The annexed property must now go
through the process of being zoned for commercial use.
Amending
the 2019 budget was
approved.
At the
recommendation of Mayor Paul Mitchell council members approved
reappointing Council Member Juanita Wilson and city resident Michael
Huck to three-year terms on the Alexander Planning Commission.
Currently, Wilson serves as vice-chairwoman on the commission and
Huck serves as chairman.
During the
“Announcements” portion of the meeting Mayor Mitchell announced a
second developer is interested in developing the former Alexander
Human Development Center property, located along Highway 111. The
first proposal, presented by Hope Consulting of Benton, will convert
the former hospital building into high-end apartments and include
additional multi-family units on the grounds behind the hospital. The
remainder of the property will be developed for commercial use. None
of this has come before the planning commission.
Mitchell said he
welcomes the, “Competition.”
Mitchell said he has
been consulting a real estate attorney. Since the plan is to deed the
property to the developer in exchange for connecting Brookwood Road
to Highway 111, by going through the property, and developing the
property for commercial use a contract is being written that allows
the city to regain ownership if a developer fails to meet
expectations.
As for the concerns
expressed recently about asbestos in the former hospital, Mitchell
said an expert has inspected the building and estimates it would cost
around $450,000 to remove it. That cost, however, will be borne by
the developer as part of any renovation done to the former hospital.
The next meeting of
the Alexander city council is 6 PM Monday, May 20, in the courtroom
at Alexander city hall; along Highway 111. The public is invited to
attend.