City takes steps to implement Calhoun Urban Redevelopment Plan
The Calhoun City Council on Monday took first steps to implement a Calhoun Urban Redevelopment Plan by passing a Resolution of Necessity Prerequisite, which would allow the city to invoke the Georgia Redevelopment Powers Act..
A URP is a plan for redevelopment where required components include a statement that the URP is consistent with the city’s comprehensive plan, clearly defined boundaries of the redevelopment area, an explanation of negative conditions in the area necessitating redevelopment. and the city’s land use objectives for the area (types of uses, building requirements, zoning changes, and development densities) and a financial strategy for implementing the plan, among other things.
The Council will next hold a public hearing for the adoption of the Calhoun Urban Redevelopment Plan.
Having a URP in place makes the city more competitive for grant money. The city would also be able to partner with the Calhoun Housing Authority for redevelopment projects by applying for grants such as the Community Development Block Grant.
Gail Brown, executive director with the Calhoun Housing Authority, was on hand at the meeting, as well as several members of the Calhoun Housing Authority Board. The Council recognized the hard work of the Calhoun Housing Authority spearheading the project and funding the plans with help from their grant writer.
City Administrator Eddie Peterson also addressed the Council concerning the fiscal health and credit worthiness report from Moody’s Investment Service. According to Peterson, Calhoun’s credit position is recorded as “High quality. The City has a robust financial position with the available fund balance after the percentage of operating revenue is 95.2 percent, which is far superior to the U.S. median,” said Peterson.
“We saw an impressive increase from 2013 to 2016, and Calhoun’s net cash balance as a percent of revenue is 127 percent. That is much stronger than other cities that Moody’s follows. The City also has an exceptionally low pension liability compared to other entities with pension programs.”
Peterson told the Council that overall, Moody’s has given the City bond rating of Aa3, which is, as Peterson said, unheard of for a city the size of Calhoun.
In other city business, a second reading of a building height variance for Calhoun Hospitality, LLC at a location on Lovers Lane Road was held. The applicant is requesting to exceed the maximum building height of 50 feet per zoning code to allow a proposed building height of 60 feet. The Zoning Advisory Board will meet on March 9, and a public hearing will be held on March 13.
A second reading was also held for a zoning change request for the existing zoning of Ind-G, to be rezoned to a Tower Site for 0.2296 acres at a location on CL Moss Parkway for Skyway Towers, LLC. The zoning change request is for a new 190 foot cell tower in order to help improve coverage and capacity issues. The Zoning Advisory Board will meet on March 9 with a public hearing to be held on March 13.
The Council also approved a parade request for Calhoun High School’s Homecoming Parade on Thursday, Sept. 28 at 6:30 p.m. The traditional parade route will begin on Wall Street, turn right onto Hicks Street, turn right onto Park Avenue, turn left onto Oothcalooga Street, ending at the campus of Calhoun High School.
A bid award in the amount of $217,388 for a new set of mechanical bar screens and conveyor for the Wastewater Treatment Plant was also approved by the Council.
The next meeting of the Calhoun City Council will be held at 7 p.m. on Monday, March 13 at the historic Depot building in downtown Calhoun.