It was all about planning a better Brewton as city council members heard proposals to stimulate economic growth Monday.

In addition to a plan to construct a tier 1 hotel, land use plans for Brewton’s industrial park and Dogwood Hills Municipal Golf Course were discussed.

Bob Carter of Goodwyn, Mills and Caywood engineering firm, presented two proposals to do just that.

Carter said the $117,000 land use plan would be developed to have the city’s 120-acre industrial park designated as an “AdvantageSite.”

Currently, there are 36 sites across the state that utilized the program that “lays the groundwork” to recruit businesses.

A site awarded AdvantageSite designation has met standards related to ownership, accessibility, infrastructure, planning and zoning, and environmental and geotechnical due diligence – which means companies have less time and shorter deadlines in which to evaluate sites.

Carter said at those 36 sites, some 4,000 new jobs were created.

“There’s a lot of work in getting this done, but it’s a good thing if industry wants to come to your area,” Carter said. “All the work is done. When an industry says they need a site with these certain characteristics, you know exactly what you can offer them because the work is done.”

Secondly, Carter proposed developing a master land use plan for the 90-acre Dogwood Hills Municipal Golf Course property.

“I understand there is an interest in developing that property,” Carter said. “The purpose of this study is to determine the best use of the property going forward for the city.”

The public will be involved in the process, Carter said. Estimated cost is $8,500.

The council will vote on the proposals at a future date; however, the council agreed to pursue another Transportation Alternative Program grant. The estimated $230,000 project would construct sidewalks down Appleton Road from Tiger Drive to Alexander Drive.  If awarded, the project will require a 20 percent match as well as an estimated $30,000 in design fees.

In other business, the council approved a new bed and breakfast ordinance, which outlined the guidelines for operating a B&B establishment within the city limits.