By By Kerry Whipple Bean – publisher
Despite opposition from nearby residents, the Brewton City Council is on track to approve a rezoning for a parcel of property just north of the new Wal-Mart Supercenter from rural residential to general business.
Realtor Jack Hines, representing the property owners at 2920 Douglas Ave., said Tuesday the land is of little value as residential property.
Landowner Earl Lambert, who has also been at odds with developers working on the Wal-Mart property because of water runoff problems, said he is worried about the effects development of the smaller Douglas Avenue parcels will have on his land, which includes a small pond.
The planning committee voted unanimously to recommend the rezoning. The city council will take up the vote at its next meeting.
Council members took a vote Tuesday on whether to consider the rezoning immediately, but Councilwoman Ann Marie Sasser abstained because of her husband's connections to Hines Realty and Councilman William McGhee abstained because he said he was undecided.
Both Sasser and McGhee said they wanted to see the council study the issue further to get more information.
In other business, the council agreed to seek proposals from area banks for a $500,000 loan for a gas line from Keego to Georgia-Pacific. Earlier this year the city contracted with GP to provide natural gas to the plant.