Alexander Planning Commission recommends zoning change to council

The Alexander Planning Commission approved a recommendation to the city council that the zoning for a vacant lot at the northeast corner of East 2^nd Street and Main Street be changed to allow multi-family housing. Current zoning allows the placement of site-built single-family homes, site-built duplexes and factory-built homes. The property is across from Fire House 2 in the original part of the city.

The rezoning hearing was held Tuesday evening, June 9, prior to the planning commission’s regular meeting. Attending the meeting was William McFadden representing Hope Consulting in Benton. Also in attendance was property owner Joel Green.

The hearing was to give city residents and property owners an opportunity to express their opinions for or against the proposal. One of the requirements for a request to change a property’s zoning is to notify, by certified mail, property owners and residents within 300 feet of the area to be rezoned. A legal notice was also placed in the Saline Courier. No one other than McFadden, Green and three members of the planning commission were in attendance.

The developer, Heritage Homes & Development of Central Arkansas, is currently constructing three multi-family structures in Alexander on property surrounded by East 1^st Street, A.C. Wallace and East 2^nd Street. When completed the three single-story buildings will house 14 apartments. This new project will consist of two single-story buildings, housing a total of nine apartments, built in the same style as the apartments along A.C. Wallace.

Planning commission members had already heard the development proposal at a special meeting held in May. It was at the May meeting the June public hearing was scheduled.

With no need to hear the proposal again planning commission members adjourned the public hearing and moved on to the regular June meeting. Planning commission members Stephanie Beck, Michael Huck and Juanita Wilson approved sending the ordinance for rezoning the property to the city council for approval.

The next regular meeting of the Alexander Planning Commission is August 11, 6:30 PM in the courtroom at city hall. The public is invited to attend.