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New boundaries plan keeps industries in county |
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Tuesday, 14 October 2008 |
An agreement between the city of Benton and three industries that would have been adversely affected by a proposed island annexation has been drafted to appease the industries’ concerns.
Working in their capacities with the Saline County Economic Development Corp., state Sen. Shane Broadway, D-Bryant, and Eddie Black, interim director of the Benton Area Chamber of Commerce, presented the agreement Monday night to the Benton City Council’s Economic Development Committee.
Black said today that basically, the agreement draws a boundary between Benton, Bryant and Bauxite.
“It takes pressure off the island annexation, so in the future annexation can go in its own necessary pace,” he said, adding that the agreement “puts property in the city that goes along the Parkway and Alcoa Road that will be zoned as light industrial. It gives for more prospects for future economic development.”
Industries that are part of the agreement include Alcoa, Almatis and Saint-Gobain.
Alcoa has agreed to voluntarily annex about 300 acres of its land, mostly timber, into the city, Black said.
Broadway noted that the most important aspect of the agreement is that the industries will remain in Saline County’s jurisdiction.
“Our primary mission was to preserve the local self-supporting industries,” Broadway said. “There was no gain by being annexed into the city. We wanted to preserve jobs and serve as a mediator.”
Black noted that if the companies had been annexed, operating costs for Almatis, for example, would have jumped by $1 million.
By setting the boundaries now, the borders of Benton, Bryant and Bauxite are protected within the island, Broadway said.
Following are some guidelines set forth by the agreement concerning Exhibit C on the map, which shows the exclusion of the Alcoa, Almatis plant site and Saint-Gobain properties, that would establish the area as a mining district for zoning:
•The industries would not be required to purchase any type of permit for existing structures on the annexed property in the district.
•The industries would not be charged a franchise fee for utilities that are metered outside Benton, but would cross Benton land, unless or until the annexed lands are developed for new or additional industries.
•Benton will allow mining and timber activities that are not otherwise restricted by state or federal law, and the city wouldn’t charge any special tax or fee on mining and timber.
Regarding the land in Exhibit D and parts of Exhibit B, which includes north of Wilkerson Road, that would be annexed into Benton as Light Industrial for zoning under the existing classification:
•The same provisions as above would apply to this land, with the addition that when these lands are developed or new structures added, the regular building permit process and fees would apply.
Regarding land in Exhibit E and parts of Exhibit B, which excludes Alcoa, Almatis plant and Saint-Gobain properties, that would not be annexed by Benton unilaterally for 25 years:
•The same provisions as above would apply if the land is ever annexed, and the city would provide incentives similar to those offered other industries in similar situations.
•All current uses would be grandfathered in, with the exception that if people work in the buildings, building permits would be required.
The annexation agreement sets zoning for property of three various parts, Broadway further noted. “It deals with how the industries will continue to operate. We wanted them to not have to fight this fight all the time.”
Benton Alderman Doug Stracener, chairman of the Economic Development Committee, said the next step is to have the mining district added to the city of Benton’s zoning guidelines.
“The Planning and Zoning Commission will look at adding that and then there will be a public hearing,” he said. “Then an ordinance to establish a mining district will be voted on and then the council will vote on agreement.”
Stracener said the island annexation started because “originally we were looking at encroachment from Bryant, but no one wanted to take repsonsiblity for putting the industries out of business.”
He noted, “[Broadway’s] idea to establish a buffer is brilliant. I’m glad all three parties and industries got together and worked it out.”
The agreement makes it so the local VFW post can remain in the county. It also makes it so county residents no longer face pressures of annexation. The agreement also gives part some land north of Sleepy Village Road to Bryant so that the city can have more access to Bishop Park, a new park now being developed off Boone Road. The agreement also appeases Bauxite by protecting the area around the city’s sewer plant near Pine Haven Elementary School.
People living in the Northshore Drive area were the loudest opponents of the annexation when it came to light in the spring of this year.
Marsha Guffey, director of community development for the city of Benton, noted the problems with the businesses are what caused the city to back off.
The area is protected from encroachment by the city of Bryant, Guffey said, adding that “more than likely we’ll go back to voluntary annexations” for residents of the area who want to be part of the city.
She said it appears the city won’t try to do anymore island annexations at this time.
The agreement is “a win for everybody,” Black said.
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