Since 2021 the Alexander Planning Commission has been working on the writing of a new Master Development Plan for the city. The current plan dates back to 1980.
Many steps are involved in writing a plan that will guide current and future administrations in how to develop Alexander. Getting input from the general public has been accomplished through a variety of methods. A survey was taken and a public meeting was held in June of this year. One of the other methods being used is a Citizens Advisory Committee.
Since the committee was formed in December, 2021; Committee members have been attending Commission meetings providing input during various phases of the Master Development Plan writing process. The three original members are Angela Griffin, Lorinda Peoples and Gene Derline. All three live in the Meadow’s Edge Subdivision.
Griffin was elected to the city council during the November General Election, making her ineligible to serve on the Advisory Committee. Peoples has removed herself due to health reasons. Derline was removed by Planning Commission members due to his inconsistent attendance record. Griffin was the most reliable of the Committee members attending nearly, if not all, the Planning Commission meetings.
The three are being replaced by Jean Kelley, Maggie Miller and Karen Jeffcoat. All live in what is commonly referred to as South Alexander. Kelley and Miller live in Ward-4 and Jeffcoat lives in Ward-3.
This second iteration of the Citizens Advisory Committee isn’t expected to last very long. Now that the second version of the draft Master Development Plan is out, the next step is to hold a public hearing to receive official input from the public. The Planning Commission and City Council must establish a date, time and place for the hearing.
Also at the December 13 meeting:
Bylaws approved for 2023
Planning Commission members approved new bylaws for 2023. The only change is the schedule for the regular meetings. In the past regular meetings were scheduled every other month beginning in February. Since state law requires one meeting be held every quarter, the new meeting schedule is based on having meetings during the first month of each quarter. In 2023 regular meetings will now be held in the months of January, April, July, and October on the second Tuesday at 6:30 PM in the courtroom at the Alexander Municipal Complex. The annual administrative meeting will still be held on the second Tuesday in December.
Officers elected
The current officers of the Alexander Planning Commission were re-elected to their current positions. In 2023 Michael Huck will continue as Chairman, Stephanie Beck will remain as Vice-Chairman and Tonya Prows will continue as Secretary.
Resolution recommended to City Council for approval
Planning Commission members voted to send a resolution to the City Council for approval. The resolution will replace an earlier resolution that gives the Little Rock Water Reclamation Authority (LRWRA) the power to enforce Little Rock’s ordinances concerning sewage disposal. The new resolution expands the definition of ordinances to be enforced and adds residences as a source of waste water. The current resolution only mentions industrial and commercial as waste water sources. LRWRA provides sewage disposal for the Pulaski County portion of Alexander and a small area of Saline County inside the city.
Billboard Ordinance
Commission members were given a draft of a billboard ordinance to study before the next meeting. The ordinance establishes the type and size of billboards that will be permitted. It also limits billboards to commercial and industrial zones. The ordinance is mostly based on Federal and State billboard requirements. As of now Alexander does not have a billboard ordinance.
Next Meeting
The next meeting of the Alexander Planning Commission is scheduled for Tuesday, January 10, 6:30 PM in the courtroom at the Alexander Municipal Complex (City Hall). The public is invited to attend.
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