Council members consider permit, rezoning
GRAVETTE — Members of the City Council held February’s Committee of the Whole meeting Feb. 11 at the Civic Center.
David Keck, building inspector and code enforcement officer, said two items will be considered at the Feb. 25 council meeting, a conditional use permit for property at 14823 Cash Springs Road and a rezoning of 32 acres on North Mount Pleasant Road, south of the Mount Pleasant Church and cemetery, from A-1 agricultural, to C-2 commercial.
Norma Mendez, the applicant for the permit, has applied in order to be able to park three dump trucks and other heavy work vehicles on the Cash Springs property owned by Dennis and Brenda Burk.
Mayor Kurt Maddox noted there has been some objection from neighbors who feel the property is too small for such use and the heavy vehicle traffic would be too hard on Gordon Hollow Road, which is off Cash Springs Road and is already in poor condition.
Sam W. Kerr and Marlene Kerr Bush, owners of the North Mount Pleasant Road property, request the rezoning in order to convert 20 acres of the property for use as a landscaping business. The remaining 12.15 acres would remain pasture for now.
Phil Sciumbato, who lives at 13348 N. Mount Pleasant Road, and Dewayne Wilson, who lives at 13388 N. Mount Pleasant Road, were granted a few minutes to speak regarding the proposed rezoning. Both were opposed to the action.
Sciumbato requested the city not allow commercial development across the road from his home. He said he had a $200,000 investment in his 10 acres and he wanted to “keep it country.” He said he first bought the property in order to have a country lifestyle and he wanted to keep it that way.
He argued he worked for a landscaping business and it shouldn’t take over 5 acres for such a business, so the rest of the property would probably be used for other enterprises, he said. He feared the rezoning would destroy the value of surrounding property, would cause taxes to increase and would start a “domino effect” where other property down the road would also become commercial.
Wilson said he has lived on his property for 28 years and he enjoys the peace and quiet of his surroundings. He wants to continue to see the cattle on the neighboring property as well as the many deer, raccoons, bobcats and other wildlife.
Keck pointed out the Planning Commission has looked at the rezoning but has made no recommendation. He said the city’s proposed future use for the surrounding property is residential development.
Keck said phase two of the walk/bike trail is significantly complete with only final touchups needed.
Tim Dewitt, Streets and Parks departments head, said employees have been attempting to keep up with the work involved during bad weather. He said planning is already being done to line up lifeguards for the city pool this summer and reported a grant has been received to help fund the construction of new bathrooms at Kindley Park.
The third reading of the proposed city unified development code and a discussion of the renewal of the city’s contract for trash removal and recycling service will be on the agenda for the Sept. 25 council meeting.
Carl Rabey, finance director, gave financial reports for both December and January since he was in the hospital at the time of the January meeting. There was a $109,000 shortfall in December because of two extra payrolls and the employee covid payout.
The city “basically broke even” in January, he said, with a $725 surplus for the month.
Two resolutions will be passed at the Feb. 25 council meeting, one to approve an adjustment and close out the budget for 2020 and one to approve adjustments for the 2021 budget to allow for grant money left over from 2020 and for one new grant.
Rabey gave an updated report on the bond funds and reported the latest audit has been posted online and is the city’s best ever. There were only two minor issues, neither of which was operational.
There is continuing strong interest in both commercial and residential development, he said, and Razor Box Storage has submitted its largescale development plan for property on Banks Lane in Hiwasse. Planning Commission approval has been granted for the project and development plans are now being reviewed.
Council members Rod Clardy and Margo Thomas attended remotely and the remaining four members attended in-person.