SYLACAUGA — The City Council approved rezoning property on West 2nd Street for residential garden homes following a public hearing Tuesday night.Property owner Perry Andrews said he has approximately 5 acres on which he wants to build individual homes that aren’t connected like townhouses.
Instead, he wants to build 31 garden homes near downtown.
The homes will be between 1,200- and 1,600-square-feet in space, with little yard. The approximate cost will be between $110,000 and $149,000.
“There is nothing like these homes in downtown. As you get older, yard area becomes less important. This property is in a nice place and good location,” Andrews said.
The Planning Commission had recommended to the council that the property be rezoned to accommodate the subdivision.
Prior to the meeting, Mayor Sam Wright congratulated the Parks and Recreation Department 12-year-old basketball all-stars for becoming state recreation champs.
He also thanked Connie Joiner for working to get the old Kmart property cleaned up.
The mayor presented four skateboards to winners from Pinecrest, Indian Valley and Nichols-Lawson schools to promote the city’s new skate park.
In other business, the council:
o Approved a resolution closing out the senior center project using Community Development Block Grant funds.
o Ratified the mayor’s signature on a change order adding 30 yards of concrete to the Community Development Block Grant drainage project, at a cost of $2,250.
o Following a public hearing, closed out the Community Development Block Grant project for drainage improvements and paid $8,140 to Goodwyn Mills & Cawood for additional engineering fees incurred because of design changes required for the construction project.
o Sought citizens’ input in a public hearing on future Community Development Block Grant projects.
o Approved a change order for runway safety area improvements at the airport with Joseph Lumber Forestry Enterprises Inc. with an increase of $7,800 for installation of a junction box, riser and manhole.
o Accepted the annual audit for the fiscal year ending Sept. 30, 2006.
o Approved a refund for overpayment of a 2007 business license fee for $75 to Joseph Lumber.
o Approved a request from shop superintendent Ed Ford to hire a temporary clerical employee at a rate of $8 an hour for a period of up to six months, effective immediately.
o Authorized the expenditure of $8,750 from the Correction Fund to Colonial Design and Woodwork for construction and installation of desk fronts and podium façade at the courtroom.
o Took no action on a first time request fro an application from Parveen Fayyaz of IQRAA Food Mart Inc. at 815 West 4th Street for the sale of retail wine and retail beer off premises only.
o Approved expenses for Airport Board member Preston Goodwin to attend the 2007 Alabama Airport Conference in Birmingham, with a registration fee of $125, and for Kevin Jensen, James Wimmer and Paul Drake with the Police Department to attend street crimes training in College Park, Ga., with a registration fee of $345 per employee.
o Approved accounts payable of $110,881 and payroll of $348,539 for February.
The next scheduled council meeting is Wednesday, April 4, at 9 a.m.
