Republic Council OK’s slew of zoning changes
Republic Mayor Matt Russell and City Administrator David Cameron handle questions from speaker and concerned landowner Michael Lacobee during a public meeting regarding the Shuyler Creek Trail Extension following the Feb. 22 City Council meeting. Some 90 people were in attendance during the 2 1/2 hour sometimes heated discussion, most in opposition to extending a bike trail that would require privately-owned land from outside Republic city limits. Despite money for the project already being secured by Republic voters on a 2017 ballot, Mayor Russell wouldn’t rule out the possibility of the project not happening as expected, following significant resistance from landowners. Although, not spending the money as specified on the ballot would be an abuse of the wishes of the 2017 voters. (Photo by Ryan Squibb)
City catches heat from nearby landowners over proposed bike trail during public meeting
Republic City Council members made quick work of several rezone propositions at the council’s Feb. 22 meeting.
The council, seven strong in the absence of Council Member Gerry Pool, first heard from locals in opposition to a rezone on Republic’s south side. After citizen input on the matter, the council voted 6-0, with Council Member Eric Gerke abstaining, to rezone 15.09 acres at the 6800 block of South Farm Road 89 from agricultural to high density single-family residential.
By the same tally, the body passed an ordinance to rezone 7.86 acres located at the 8000 block west of Farm Road 194, from The Lakes at Shuyler Ridge Planned Development District to high density single- family residential; and the reclassification of 29.39 acres at the 2500 block of South State Highway MM from general commercial and agricultural to Iron Grain District Planned Development District.
With a 7-0 vote, the council voted to:
- Pass an ordinance reclassifying 62.90 acres at 2561 South State Highway MM from Eclipse Event Center Planned Development District to Hankins Farm Planned Development District.
- Rezone 10.20 acres at 7294 West Farm Road 144 from agricultural to heavy industrial.
- Rezone 40 acres at 3445 East Hines Street from medium density single-family residential to high density single-family residential.
- Pass a resolution authorizing the Republic Police Department to apply for two reimbursable traffic safety grants in the amount of $8,000 and $10,000.
- Pass a resolution to authorize the Parks and Rec director to enter into a contract with Sapp Design Architects Associates for architectural services.
New trucks for Parks and Rec
As part of the consent agenda, the council—with a 7-0 vote—authorized the purchase of three new vehicles for the Parks and Recreation Department totaling $93,132 from Corwin Ford Lincoln Republic. The new rigs to the fleet are two 2022 standard cab F-150 trucks, and the third, a 2022 F-150 crew cab truck.
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