BY HANNAH GOLDFINGER
HGOLDFINGER@
OPELIKAOBSERVER.COM
AUBURN —The Auburn City Council spent most of its time Tuesday night discussing a potential development and hearing from residents.
Two items regarding a potential development, The District, were before the council.
Following a public hearing, the council heard from the developer and the city. The council approved Planned Development District zoning for The District at Richland Road for property located at the northwest corner of Shug Jordan Parkway, and Richland Road. It also gave conditional use approval for the project.
The development will be 225 multi-family units. The developer said that these will be sold by the unit, not bedroom, unlike many other student housing developments.
Residents approached the council, concerned with construction noise, development, the project being student housing and traffic being an issue once completed. Other residents said they didn’t believe the completed traffic study told the whole story and without living in the area, it would be hard to understand.
Ward 2 Council Member Kelly Griswold asked if installing traffic signals had been considered, and the city said no because it would not meet signal warrants.
Ward 3 Council Member Beth Witten said that this is one of the more thought-out developments, so far, that she’s seen during her time on council.
Auburn Mayor Ron Anders said that upon first seeing the project he was disappointed, because he would have preferred to see more commercial use there, instead.
However, the developer worked with the city, listened to residents and with the project as is, the city has some say-so. So, now Anders said he is favorable toward the project.
The project passed at a vote of 8 to 0.
OTHER BUSINESS:
- The council announced three vacancies on the tree commission.
- The council approved a restaurant retail liquor ABC license for UW Auburn LLC doing business as Urban Wok for 234 W. Magnolia Ave., Suite B.
- The council approved a retail beer (on or off premises) ABC license for WNB Factory Auburn LLC doing business as WNB Factory Auburn 2 at 2900 E. University Drive, Suite 160.
- The council designated the trash amnesty 2024 to waive residential trash collection fees for March 4 through 29, 2024.
- The council authorized a temporary street closure for the Downtown Holiday Fair on Dec. 1, 2023.
- The council approved an agreement with Alabama Power for lighting services for the Boykin‐Donahue Campus Recycling Center Project for over $30,400.
- The council approved a renewal of Swagit public meeting live streaming and captioning services through Granicus for over $51,900.
- The council approved a software license renewal for Hyland Software Inc. for OnBase record management solution for over $96,500.
- The council approved a development agreement with LandSouth Construction LLC for the North Donahue Cottages Development for $64,600.
- The council approved a purchase from Stivers Ford Lincoln for a 2024 Ford F‐550 4WD Crew Cab with chassis cab for the Water Resource Management Department for over $70,200.
- The council approved sidewalk, lighting, utility and drainage easements for the Boykin‐Donahue Campus Project at 415 N. Donahue LLC for $21,000.
- The council accepted drainage and utility easement as shown on the plat: The Gardens at Gatewood first revision of parcel A redivision of parcel A‐1 for CL and S Subdivisions LLC at 1630 Academy Drive.
- The council accepted public sanitary sewer easement, drainage and utility easements and right‐of‐way as shown on the plat: Woodward Oaks Subdivision, Phase 4‐B‐2, final plat at the northern terminus of James Burt Parkway for Clayton Properties Group Inc.
- The council accepted a temporary construction easement for the North Dean Road and East University Drive intersection improvements project for Mr. and Mrs. Robert Bruce Recknor and Mr. and Mrs. Robert Hollis Cochran.
- The council accepted a public sanitary sewer easement for property located at 2601 E. University Drive for John Ronney Watson.
- The council approved an appointment to the Educational Building Authority.
- The council approved two appointments to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board.
- The council gave conditional use approval for Stivers Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram for the purchase of 23 Dodge Durango pursuit SUVs for the police pepartment for over $966,300.
- The council approved a transfer of budgeted funds in the amount of $2.8 million to the Industrial Development Board for additional industrial property. The parcel is located along Lee Road 009, adjacent to the existing board owned property near Auburn Technology Park West.
- The council authorized a $525,000 loan to Indian Pines Public Park Authority for additional construction and operating costs related to Pines Crossing Golf Course improvements.
