City Center ‘Overlay’ Zone Being Planned

Council Reluctant To Grant Rezoning Until It Sees Plan

by Woody Jenkins, editor

CENTRAL — The City of Central could receive a proposed plan to create a City Center Overlay District by January 2013, according to David Barrow, executive assistant to Mayor Mac Watts.  Barrow said the plan, which is costing $350,000 in Block Grant funds, would include a development plan for the zone, which would include the area bounded by Hooper, Sullivan, Gurney, and Joor, plus additional areas nearby, such as the four corners of Hooper at Sullivan roads and the four corners at Hooper and Joor roads.

Barrow said the plan, which is being drafted by Moore Planning Group, would provide guidelines for future development of a Town Center.  An area as small as 20 acres could provide a start, he said.  The City Center Overlay District plan would include regulations on future development in the area, Barrow said.

The Town Center could include a City Hall, School Board office, Post Office, City Auditorium, Library, residential and commercial areas, and a sports complex, depending on the development plan.

The City of Central would have no means to expropriate property for such development but could encourage property owners who chose to participate in the plan.

The anticipated plan resulted in the Central Planning & Zoning Commission deferring the proposed rezoning of the service station on the southwest corner of Hooper and Sullivan roads in 2010, when commissioners said they wanted to wait to see the overlay district plan.  This month, the City Council rejected a proposed rezoning of the northeast corner of Hooper at Sullivan.  Mayor Pro-Tem Ralph Washington said the Council should be consistent.  “If we reject the rezoning of one corner of an intersection pending receipt of the proposed overlay plan, we shouldn’t approve the rezoning of a lot right across the street when the proposed plan hasn’t yet arrived,” he said.