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Rezoning for proposed apartments sparks controversy in Bryant |
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Tuesday, 25 August 2009 |
A Saline County businessman is trying to build a new apartment complex near Razorsharp Carwash in the heart of Bryant, but residents and a few members of the city planning commission are taking issue.
Jeremiah Oltmans, a real estate agent, wants to build the 22-unit Arbor Creek Apartment complex on 1.404 acres of undeveloped, vacant land at 1930 N. Reynolds Road.
Before he can begin construction on the apartments, the Bryant City Council has to approve an ordinance rezoning the property from highway commercial property (C-2) to a Planned Unit Development.
But that is far from a sure thing. Residents have said they are concerned about traffic issues on Neal Street and Evans Loop if the complex is built.
“Some [residents] are just wanting the apartment complex to have only one entrance off Reynolds Road,” Bryant Planning Coordinator LaVenia Jones said. “A few people don’t want the complex built at all. The main concern, I believe, is that Neal Street and Evans Loop are too small of roadways and both need to be widened. The concerns are justified, and I do agree that both roadways need to be widened out.”
The rezoning ordinance was first presented to the planning commission on July 13, and a public hearing was held on Aug. 10. The ordinance was brought before City Council on Aug. 13. However, Planning Commission Secretary Tina Davis asked the council to table the ordinance for a special Aug. 17 planning commission meeting.
Jones said she did not attend the Aug. 17 meeting, but she did acknowledge that the commission voted three yes votes to three no votes to recommending passing the ordinance. Though the votes ended in a tie, City Attorney Nga Mahfouz said the ordinance would still be presented to the full council for its vote.
The minutes of the special planning commission meeting were not available as of press time.
The members of the planning commission are Chairman Lance Penfield, Vice Chairman Jonathan Long, Fred Foster, David McCorkel, Louis Kealer, Ken Brunt, Rob Roedel and Michael Sebren. Councilman Danny Steele is the city liaison to the commission.
“The commission can only recommend the ordinance to the City Council,” Jones said. “It is now up to the councilmen to determine what happens with this project.”
The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 10 at Boswell Municipal Complex, 210 SW Third St. in Bryant. Members of the Bryant council are Adrian Henley, Chris Tipton, Ken Green, Steve Gladden, Robby Young, Ed Collins, Danny Steele and Scott Curtis. Mayor Larry Mitchell presides over the meeting.
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