Stockbridge has extended a development moratorium on certain businesses for most of 2021.
The City Council voted unanimously at its April 12 regular meeting to approve a 180-day extension on the moratorium already in place on hookah bars/lounges and cigar bars/lounges. According to the resolution, the city’s development and zoning ordinances as well as its comprehensive land use plan need further review before allowing new businesses of this type.
The moratorium could end earlier if the council adopts a revision to the city code related to these uses. In the meantime, no applications are being accepted at any city department.
In other business, a plan to plant just over 50 crepe myrtle trees along a section of the median on Campground Road went nowhere, as no fewer than four motions were made without a vote before one was finally approved. The staff recommendation to spend nearly $26,000 on this project and then another $25,000 to include a similar beautification initiative on Hudson Bridge Road was brought up, but a motion in that regard failed for lack of a second.
Three subsequent motions to get new solicitations for landscaping maintenance in various locations were seconded but no vote was taken in any of them. The measure which ultimately passed calls for proposals to be received regarding the installation of beautification projects on Campground Road, Hudson Bridge Road and any other areas identified by city staff.
Three contracts for various city services were approved at the meeting. A $159,390 expenditure for annual on-call water and sewer emergency, operational repair, maintenance and construction services was approved, as well as an $89,280 allocation for janitorial maintenance services and a separate agreement for professional permitting and building inspection services. On all three motions to approve, council Yolanda Barber voted in opposition and stated for the record that it was due to there being no cost proposals or criteria for the bid rankings provided to the mayor and council.
Appointments to two separate city boards were approved. Stanley Dumas, Kathleen Nelson and Askia Abdullah were reappointed to the Planning & Zoning Commission for four-year terms that expire December 31, 2024. Appointments to the Citywide Development Authority include Kalpesh Patidar, Mark Glenn, Frangela Merritt and Samantha Samuels. Their terms were not specified.
The council discussed a proposed intergovernmental agreement regarding the county aquatic center set to be built along the Jodeco Road corridor. It is being reviewed by city attorneys and will be brought back to the council in the future for possible approval.
