Council Rezones for Commercial Expansion, Approves Garage Planning Work

Decatur city council members voted unanimously Monday night to rezone property on the city’s east end to allow for additional commercial development and amended an agreement to provide design work repair two long standing downtown parking garages.

Members voted 6-0 to rezone a 13.7-acre parcel located at 4967 E. Lost Bridge Road from R-1 Single Family Residence district to B-2 Commercial district. The property formerly housed the Big Creek Riding stables and was owned by the Decatur Park District, however ownership was transferred to a private developer in recent years.

Although the property was rezoned, no project that has been identified for the site at this time.

In other business council members approved an amendment to an agreement with Carl Walker, Inc. to provide additional design services for improvements to Parking Garages B at North and Water streets and Garage C located at Franklin and Wood streets. The amendment was necessary to narrow the scope of work to be done after bids came in higher than expected for work that had been originally targeted. The amendment adds $13,138.75 to the original $30,000 agreement with Carl Walker Inc.

Council members on Monday also voted to amend ordinances related to possession of cannabis and vehicle impoundment in situations when a vehicle is used in the possession or delivery of cannabis and other controlled substances to reflect recent changes to state law.

Under city code, it shall now be unlawful for a person to possess thirty (30) grams or less of any substance containing cannabis and a vehicle may be impounded when used in the possession or delivery of more than 10 grams of cannabis.

Contact Billy Tyus at 217-424-2727 for more information.