2 weeks Ago By Alex Husting/ [email protected]
The City of Opelika approved a rezoning during Tuesday's council meeting that has paved the way for a new section of single-family housing for the Hidden Lakes subdivision. The council unanimously voted in favor of rezoning of almost 70 acres of property on the north side of Sportsplex Parkway on Tuesday. The zoning ordinance and map has been amended for 68.
4 acres at Sportsplex Parkway from R-1 (low-density residential district) to a Planned Unit Development. Ward 1 Councilman George Allen and Ward 5 Councilman Todd Rauch were absent for the meeting so the vote was 3-0. Carole Lowe Raymer, the owner of record of the property, submitted a development plan to the City of Opelika through her authorized representative Barrett-Simpson, Inc.
It calls for a planned unit development consisting of approximately 68.4 acres, designated as the Hidden Lakes North -Lowe Property Planned Unit Development. The proposed development will feature approximately 132 single-family home lots, open space areas, amenity areas and on-site detention, according to the ordinance.
The proposed density is less than 2 units per acre. The development plan also shows two entry points into the development from Sportsplex Parkway and one entry point from Andrews Road. The development plan also shows cross-access to the adjoining Hidden Lakes North development.
According to the master development plan narrative in the council's agenda packet, the Hidden Lakes North development has been master planned to be consistent with the existing Hidden Lakes subdivision south of Sportsplex Parkway. The entrance to Hidden Lakes development appears on the south side of Sportsplex Parkway on Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024.
There are plans from the developer to expand Hidden Lakes North on the north side of the Opelika Sportsplex. On July 23, the Opelika Planning Commission held a public hearing of the proposed development and later gave the Opelika City Council a recommendation for approval. The council unanimously approved awarding the contract for the Grandberry Drive Extension project to JLD Enterprises, LLC in the amount of $335,145.
The council unanimously approved a waiver of all building and construction permit fees for the house being constructed at 205 Brannon Ave. by Auburn-Opelika Habitat of Humanity. According to the resolution, the organization requested waiver of those fees for all houses being constructed by them within the Opelika city limits.
According to the resolution, AOHFH is dedicated to building simple, decent and affordable housing for low and moderate income persons and helps those selected become responsible homeowners and citizens. City Attorney Guy Gunter III said the council had approved the waiver for a building at 513 Ermine Street, but AOHFH could not build the house at that address and chose 205 Brannon Ave. as a replacement.
The council approved a retail wine and beer on premise and retail wine and beer off premise alcohol license for Sante Opelika, LLC.. The council unanimously approved refunding $12,300 worth of cemetery monument sitting fees that were collected between April 4, 2023 and July 2, 2024.
According to the resolution, the council imposed a $200 sitting fee for the installation and approval of monuments on April 4, 2024 and later eliminated and repealed it on July 2. The council unanimously approved a downtown street closure for First Baptist Church of Opelika's Fall Festival on the Square on Oct. 27.
The map of road closures can be found in the agenda packet. The council unanimously approved a request for the Annual Lee County Life Chain event, which will be held on Oct. 6 from 2:30 p.
m. to 4 p.m.
The event is an anti-abortion peaceful protest planned at the crossroads of Gateway Drive and Frederick Road along the right-of-way at Regions Bank. Earlier in the meeting, Fuller recognized Opelika High School career tech instructor and chef Judy Eldred for earning the 2024 Green Runner-up Award. The national award is sponsored by the United Soybean Board and the Center for the Advancement of Foodservice Education, and Eldred received it for her commitment to teaching sustainability and its importance in culinary education.
Fuller also recognized Opelika Parks and Recreation employee Cornelius Pink with the Attaboy Award for his work during Labor Day weekend. The council unanimously approved awarding the contract for the removal of dead, dying, or dangerous trees and stumps with pruning for the public works department to Hall’s Tree Service, LLC. The council approved applying for a grant through the SEEDS program to assist with a project at a 125-acre site south of Halawakee Creek within the Northeast Opelika Industrial Park.
According to the resolution, the City of Opelika sees the value in the clearing of trees, grading, grassing and providing a culvert crossing and gravel road to access the site and leveling and making padready a 5-acre site. The total cost of the project is estimated to be just over $1.5 million.
The city will apply for grant assistance to the Alabama State Industrial Development Authority and if approved, the grant requires a 1-to-1 match with an estimated grant award of $763,625. The council approved a consent agreement for the City of Opelika to participate in the State and local Cybersecurity Grant Program. The program is meant to assist local governments with managing and reducing systemic cyber risk and there is no cost for the City of Opelika to participate in the program.
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