Shoppes at Capps Farm on agenda

By Beverly Harvey

Published: June 2, 2008

Requests to advertise the proposed rezoning of the Shoppes at Capps Farm and a public hearing on the proposed budget for a federal grant are among the items listed on tonight’s Opelika City Council work session agenda.

A change in the master plan for Shoppes at Capps Farm by developers Capps Family Partners prompted a subsequent zoning change request from a planned unit development to commercial office/retail gateway corridor overlay.

The new master plan for Shoppes at Capps Farm removes a proposed amphitheater, and features 13 outparcel lots, a movie theater, five anchor stores.

The Opelika Planning Commission has recommended approval of the rezoning of the 63-acre development on Gateway Drive near Interstate 85, subject to the developer completing a comprehensive traffic operations study.

The city council is also expected to hear a request by the Opelika Public Works Department to advertise a June 17 public hearing on the Community Development Block Grant $252,000 proposed budget for the fiscal year 2009.

The FY 2009 proposed budget includes: $91,600 in housing services, $65,000 in public facilities improvements, $35,000 in public services and more than $50,000 toward program administration, according to documents provided by the city. Those funds would go toward sidewalk reconstruction, emergency home repair and area nonprofit organizations, among others.

The CDBG federal program is geared toward benefiting low- and moderate-income populations in qualified urban communities. The grants can only be used for projects and activities that promote economic development or improve community housing, facilities and services.

The Opelika City Council will have a work session at 6:30 p.m., immediately followed by its regular meeting at 7 p.m.  Both will be held in the council chambers at City Hall, 204 S. Seventh St., and are open to the public.

Members of the public are able to speak for up to five minutes each during the citizens’ communication portion of the regular meeting.

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