Alexander council receives good news from planning commission

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.