The property at 15004 E. Azalea Dr. has been rezoned from R.2-MU (Mixed Use Residential) to Neighborhood Commercial. The rezoning will allow the construction of a building, which will be used to operate a “Lash/Salon” business. The rezoning ordinance was adopted at the April council meeting.
Prior to the council meeting a public hearing was held where property owner Hannah Clinton provided some personal and business background information.
About the business she said, “It's appointments only. There's a lot of community walk-ins. I do facial, lashes, relaxing, stuff like that.”
About the property Clinton said, “We have ample parking there. And that road (E. Azalea Dr.) gives a huge amount of traffic.”
“I'm very excited and I really hope it all works out there,” Clinton said. “I do have about 20 clients right now.”
Clinton moved to Alexander in January. “Well, first, we lived in Bryant, and then we moved to Maumelle. And I was living on family land, but that house just didn't work out very well.”
“And to be honest, to have an additional small business in our city, I think would be a wonderful thing,” Mayor Crystal Herrmann said. “And I appreciate you actually coming to the city and doing it the right way.”
Explaining the process Office Manager Jennifer Hill said, “We've done everything. We did a certified letters, we did the sign, we did the postings and all of that.”
None of the neighbors attended the public hearing opposing the rezoning. Hill said no one responded to the notification letters. She also said placement of the building will meet the setback requirements.
One question from Council Member Juanita Wilson concerned the speed of traffic on East Azalea Dr. and the danger it will cause to vehicles backing out of the parking area. East Azalea Dr. connects South Alexander Road to Shannon Hills.
“You're, you're sitting really close to the road,” Wilson said. “And down that hill, people drive like crazy.”
Wilson suggested placing a “Slow” sign along E. Azalea.
“We're talking about doing a circle drive. So then they're not having to back up or do anything like that,” Clinton replied.
In other business at the April 20 council meeting:
Change in cottage rent adopted
The rental rates will be $450 per month for cottages B, C, D, and E and $500 a month for cottage A. Renters are currently paying $100 per month.
Auditors with the Department of Legislative Audit and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) have expressed concerns that a low $100 per month will require the city to account for the remaining value of the rent as a fringe benefit on W2 forms. It would then be taxed by the IRS.
Employees will now have two options.
In 2022 the former HDC property was being vandalized after Pathfinders, Inc. moved to a new location outside Alexander. Pathfinders provided specialized services to those with physical and mental needs. The cottages were used to house the patients.
With no one on the property at night, vandalism began to become an expensive problem. Former Mayor Paul Mitchell decided it would be beneficial to allow city employees, who live outside Alexander, to live in the cottages in exchange for providing both security and keeping the grass mowed in the cottage area. At the time, no city employees lived in Alexander.
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