Conway leaders will endeavor to make the city bicycle friendly, it was decided at Tuesday night's regular Conway City Council meeting.
The decision to pursue League of American Bicyclists bicycle-friendly certification came immediately after a unanimously approved resolution to dedicate all natural gas severance tax city turn-back proceeds, estimated to be over $230,000 when the first installment arrives in 2009 and projected to rise to over $400,000 in coming years, to identifying, enabling and promoting alternatives to automobile transportation.
"Conway's already pretty bicycle-friendly," a University of Central Arkansas student cycling down Front Street said when told of the decision minutes after the council adjourned. "If they're going to make it even better, that's awesome."
The council, which was missing two members, also considered a request by the potential developers of Campus Crest, an apartment community planned for 2730 Dave Ward Drive, to bring a rezoning necessary for development back before the planning commission, which had previously voted to recommend the zoning be denied. Several changes had been made to the preliminary plat that included trails to make the planned tenants of the apartment, more than likely mostly University of Central Arkansas students, more apt to consider non-motorized transportation to and from class and some businesses, local attorney Frank Shaw told the council in the hopes of persuading them that his client's development deserved a second shot at approval.
To bring the issue again before the commission before the stipulated one-year waiting period would have required a "supermajority" of six of the eight council members. Alderman Theodore Jones Jr. said during discussion of the issue Tuesday that he would not be voting in favor of the request, thereby effectively defeating the position of the developers before a vote could be reached.
A motion to hold discussion of bringing the rezoning back before the commission was made and passed unanimously, and the issue will likely appear before the council within a few weeks.
Mayor Tab Townsell also presented young Robbie Powell with a key to the city and declared Aug. 12, 2008 to be Robbie Powell Day in recognition of his fundraising "Live 4 Ben" bracelets sold to raise money for research to find a cure for the disease that killed his close friend. Townsell's daughter, he also said, is doing "as well as she can be" following a surgical procedure to remove a tumor. He expressed gratitude for the "overwhelming" support he and his family have received and said they need "a lot more prayers," as his daughter will continue chemotherapy for some time.
In other business, the council held consideration of a conditional use permit for an adult day care providing professional services to the mentally ill for property located at 132 Lower Ridge Road, and approved:
A resolution certifying local government endorsement of businesses to participate in tax back programs;
Accepting the low bid from J's Construction for Sturgis Road Improvements pertaining to The Meadows Technology Park;
An ordinance to rezone property located at 1827 Hairston Ave. from R-2A to R-2;
An ordinance to rezone property located at 805 Donaghey, 809 Donaghey and 2106 Robinson from R-2A to O-2;
A conditional use permit for an eating place with pickup window for property located at 805 Donaghey, 809 Donaghey and 2106 Robinson;
An ordinance amending street design standards and sidewalk requirements of the Conway Subdivision Ordinance;
Pursuing certain debts owed to the Conway Sanitation Department;
Providing compensation to Limestone Partners, LLC for damages caused to property located in downtown Conway between Mike's Place and Quinn Insurance buildings;
An agreement with Steve Robertson to provide an after-hours presence at Cadron Settlement Park;
Amending an agreement with KONE for the service of the elevators in City Hall and at the McGee Center and Don Owens Sports Complex;
An ordinance appropriating donated funds from First State Bank to the Parks and Recreation Department;
Increasing the reservation fees of City Park Pavilions operated by the Conway Parks Department;
Appropriating funds for leased space for on South Donaghey (Station 6) for the Conway Fire Department;
An ordinance accepting insurance proceeds from the AR Municipal League vehicle program for the Conway Police Department;
An ordinance accepting court ordered forfeiture assets for the Conway Police Department;
And authorizing the Mayor to pursue an agreement with ESG for energy savings methods for the City of Conway.
(Staff writer Joe Lamb can be reached by e-mail at joe.lamb@thecabin.net or by phone at 505-1238. Send us your news at www.thecabin.net/submit)
