Sights set on major Republic retail, residential build

A major development may be coming to the east side of Republic, one that includes not only apartment rooftops but also store fronts. The proposed $15-million build would boast some 110 apartments and 12,800 square feet of commercial space in a three-building development on the southeast corner of the intersection of Highway 60 and Highway M.
The idea—and its required rezone—was brought forth to the Republic City Council at the council’s June 18 meeting.
Landowner and developer Sean Coatney, who spoke on behalf of the 5.75-acre upgrade, told council that he’s owned the property for more than a decade and it never really took off like he expected after building Old Stone Apartments. But that might be about to change.
“This is not your normal apartment community,” Coatney said, “ … This is going to be visually beautiful.”
To move forward, Coatney is requesting a new planned development district called Field Stone PDD, freeing itself from its original designation Old Stone PDD.  
The city of Republic staff and the Planning and Zoning Board all recommend approval of the rezone.
The council will likely decide the fate of the potential eastside construction at its next meeting, July 2.
In other action during the meeting, the board voted 8-0 to:
- Accept the appointment of Leo Clanton to the Republic Housing Authority for a term ending in 2023; Ashley Grant for a term ending in 2022; and Cynthia Hyder until 2023.
- Change the municipal code by creating Chapter 525 Small Cell Wireless Deployment as required by the Uniform Small Wireless Facility Deployment Act.
- Approve an audit report from KPM’s John Cummings regarding a city audit for fiscal year ending Dec. 31, 2018, that gave Republic an unmodified or clean opinion (the best the city could’ve received).