The Alexander city council approved the preliminary plat for the “Alexander and Five” commercial development. The plan is to build a convenience store/gas station at the corner of Highway 5 (Old Stagecoach Road) and Alexander Road; north of the I-30 interchange.
Two other projects
are in the early stages of development. One proposal is to build a
gated apartment complex, with a commercial area, across from the
Meadow’s Edge Subdivision along Highway 111. The other is the
development of the former Human Development Center, also along
Highway 111, now owned by the city.
Timothy Daiters, of
White-Daters Engineering in Little Rock, presented the preliminary
plat for the “Alexander and Five” project to members of the
Alexander Planning Commission at their regular meeting Tuesday,
October 8. After discussing the proposal commission members voted to
recommend approval to the city council.
The property will be
divided into two parcels. One for the convenience store and the other
will retain the former funeral home building, which will be converted
into a medical marijuana dispensary. The dispensary will be operated
by Natural State Medical Group, which is also purchasing the
property. They will sell the eastern half to the convenience store
developer.
There is some
question as to whether the store will be a Circle K or a Casey’s
General Store. While it was originally presented as a Circle K,
Daiters told planning commission members the developer operates both.
So, he’s not sure which it will be. It’s unknown when
construction will begin.
According to Bing
Maps there are two Circle Ks that could be considered near Alexander.
One is along I-440, while the other is on Maumelle Boulevard. Both
sell Valero gas. The nearest Casey’s General Store is in Cabot,
which sells Casey’s brand gas.
During his report at
the city council’s October 21 meeting, Planning Commission Chairman
Michael Huck said developers of the Meadow’s Edge Subdivision are
ready to present a preliminary plat for an apartment complex and
commercial development to the planning commission. The development
will be across from Meadow’s Edge along Highway 111. It’s the
remainder of the property that was once operated as a cattle farm.
Huck said a special
meeting has been scheduled with Walter Woodward for November 12, 6:30
PM in the courtroom at city hall. At the meeting commission members
will review the preliminary plat and set a date and time for a
re-zoning hearing.
Currently, most of
the property is zoned for agriculture while a small section near the
highway is zoned residential. The area along Highway 111 will be
re-zoned Highway Commercial while the remainder of the property will
be zoned Apartment Complex.
During the public
comment portion of the city council meeting developer Ben Hanford
spoke to the council concerning his desire to develop the former
Human Development Center for both commercial and residential use.
Mayor Paul Mitchell has been getting legal advice from a real estate
attorney concerning the city’s plan to deed the property to a
developer in exchange for extending Brookwood Road to Highway 111 and
turning it over to the city.
The former Human
Development Center was originally built as a tuberculosis sanitarium
for African-Americans. Once a cure was found for the disease the
sanitarium was converted into a children’s home. During its final
years it was the home for individuals with developmental or physical
problems that required adult supervision.
Hanford’s plan is
to renovate the former hospital into an apartment building. Land
behind the building will be turned into a residential area. The
remainder of the property will be developed for commercial use.
Hanford says he has contacts with developers for Harps Foods and Big
Red.
Hanford asked the
council what he needs to do to get approval for the proposed
development. Council Member Joy Gray said she wants to see a
“Business plan” spelling out the details of his proposal.
Huck told Hanford if
he can have a preliminary plat ready in time the next regular meeting
of the planning commission is the second Tuesday in December
(December 10). Hanford said he could be ready by then.
In other business:
Council
members approved three ordinances. The first two were in the category
of “Unfinished Business.” During the September meeting each
ordinance could have only one public reading because only four
council members were present. It takes six for a two-thirds vote to
suspend the additional two public readings required under state law.
It also takes a two-thirds vote to pass an emergency clause for the
ordinance to go into effect immediately.
The first ordinance
establishes “Fees for Subdivision and Zoning Regulations.” This
ordinance is a supplement to the Subdivision Rules and Regulations
Ordinance and the Zoning Ordinance approved earlier this year. Both
ordinances reference fees, which did not include a dollar amount.
The second ordinance
established the Citgo/Flash Market on I-30 as another location for
posting city notices. The ordinance establishing locations to post
meeting announcements and ordinances for public viewing is an option
used by cities and towns that don’t have a local newspaper. Under
the previous ordinance public notices were posted at Alexander City
Hall, the Alexander Post Office, Hess Gas Station, Elmo’s Grocery,
and the Dollar General Store. The new ordinance keeps those five
locations and adds the Citgo.
After adding Dollar
General to the list, with local permission, Mayor Paul Mitchell says
someone higher up at Dollar General decided to ban postings at their
stores. Because five locations are needed the Citgo/Flash Market was
added. Mitchell says Dollar General will remain on the list while he
works his way up the corporate ladder seeking approval to post city
announcements.
The third ordinance
was approved under New Business. As Huck explained during his report,
the ordinance entitled “Ordinance Establishing A Planning Area
Boundary” gives the city some control over development within a
mile of the city limit.
Once the ordinance
is registered with the recorders of Pulaski and Saline counties the
City of Alexander can require anyone wanting to develop within the
planning area to meet any city development standards that are
stricter than county standards. Huck said this is done to alleviate
any future problems if the development is later annexed into the
city.
Council
members also approved the “Resolution For Overlay On Roads.” The
resolution gives the Arkansas Department of Transportation (ArDOT)
the authority to accept bids for the city to pave designated streets.
Also in the resolution ArDOT is responsible for management of the
project while the city accepts the responsibility of paying any
additional costs and maintaining the streets after they have been
resurfaced. Under the “Arkansas State Aid City Street Program”
Alexander was approved for the maximum $250,000.00 grant earlier this
year.
Streets on the list
for re-paving are A.C. Wallace (between the railroad tracks and city
park), E. 4th Street, Jason Drive, Kent Drive, Alton
Drive, Regency Drive, and Lindsey Drive. ArDOT engineers have
estimated the cost of the 1.79-mile project at $257,550.00. It is
unknown where the state is in the biding process, but if the estimate
is accurate the city will have to pay the remaining $7,550.00.
Council
members approved a maximum of $50,000 to make renovations to the city
court room. Mayor Paul Mitchell said he’s been wanting to do this
since becoming mayor and as long as there will be no court
proceedings in November now seems like a good time.
Currently council
members sit at one table, which is also used for the court. His plan
is to build two long desks on either side of the judge’s bench.
Council members will sit facing each other from the two desks.
Attorneys will also be able to use both desks during court hearings.
Mitchell expects the
costs to be shared by the court fund and the general fund. Only the
judge, however, can sign-off on spending from the court fund.
Council
members agreed to spend $18,000 for two refurbished police cars.
Police Chief Robert Burnett told the council both vehicles are 2012
models, black and fully equipped. The cost of each car is $8,000 but
$2,000 was added to pay for pin striping so they match the rest of
the fleet and to drive them from Colorado to Alexander.
Mitchell presented a
full size mock-up of the proposed city seal that was actually
designed two years ago by local resident Antonio McKnight. Council
member Juanita Wilson said he drew it one day while waiting in city
hall.
Mitchell explained
how the train engine represents Alexander’s founding as a railroad
construction camp. City hall represents the city’s growth.
Council member
Harold Timmerman suggested adding the artist’s initials within the
body of the engine. Mitchell asked about giving McKnight something
for his effort. Wilson suggested $100. Council members voted to
accept the design as the city’s official seal, with the addition of
the initials and the $100 payment.
The next
meeting of the Alexander city council is Monday, November 18 at 6:00
PM in the courtroom at city hall. The public is invited to attend.
