Special Use Permit, Main Street Gateway on Tap for Council

The at its Thursday meeting could decide on a special use permit application that generated a lot of .

While the planning commission recommended approval—by a slim margin—of Russell Hawkinson's request to use his home on South Avenue for events, such as weddings and receptions, a number of nearby residents object, citing various concerns, including traffic, lighting and safety.

The council is expected to conduct a second public hearing on the matter and could vote during the regular meeting, which begins at 7 p.m.

In addition to several purchases and contracts, the council is set to eye moving forward on the Main Street Gateway project, which would make improvements and add landscaping to Main Street from Interstate 75 toward U.S. 41.

C.W. Matthews Contracting was the low bidder, at nearly $2.2 million, but the city is expecting reimbursement for about $775,000 in state transportation funds. The remainder is slated to be paid with 2003 Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax dollars.

See the .pdf attached to this article for the full agenda and more information.