Greenbrier moves toward annexation

GREENBRIER -- The city council's busy meeting Monday night ended with the approval of a preliminary plat for a residential development and the intention of annexing it and surrounding lands into the city limits.

The Cedar View and Cedar Knoll subdivisions, located southeast of the city limits, will not only be constructed, but it appears that residents there could become a legal part of the city, and can thus obtain city water and sewer service, as well as fire and police protection.

The council voted 5-0, with Alderman David Osborne abstaining, to petition the county for annexation of the property, which lies north of Lieblong Road.

The development will consist of 90 lots of about one-half to three-quarters of an acre each. Representatives from Clayton Engineering Inc. submitted the plat and requested a variance, which the council approved 5-1, with Osborne dissenting.

The variance allows the builders to construct two streets that are offset by roughly 30 feet, although the city's minimum requirement is 125 feet from center line to center line. The council also approved, by the same vote, to grant a variance allowing the developers to curb and gutter the streets.

The council voted 6-0 to amend the city's master street plan, another decision made with regard to the subdivision in question. A road will be moved slightly by the developers, who have already received approval from the landowner, for convenience and safety.

Regulation changes

The council made several changes to the city's subdivision regulations after recommendations by the planning commission. The alterations were all approved unanimously after the required three readings were done by City Attorney Bill Velek.

Ordinance 02-99 requires developers of residential areas to erect street lights to spare the city the expense and for safety reasons. After some discussion, the council approved the minimum height for lights at 15 feet and the minimum distance between lights at 200 feet.

Velek also noted that the quality of the lights must be at least as good as those most recently installed by the city.

Ordinance 03-99 allows developers to obtain state Health Department approval of water and sewer lines for the final plat. Previously, developers were required to get the department's approval for the preliminary plat, and Cotton said that has presented an inconvenience and simply slows the process of approving the subdivision.

Ordinance 04-99 makes commercial and residential developers constructing sidewalks on property obligated to provide sloping onto driveways for handicapped access. The ordinance also implements a $50-per-day fine for those who do not comply.

Other Business

In other matters, the council:

* Approved Resolution 04-99, which adds accident and cancer coverage to the city's cafeteria insurance plan. Previously, the plan only covered medical and dental issues.

* Voted unanimously to put speed bumps in the Magnolia Court subdivision. A petition signed by 41 residents there prompted the move.

* Voted unanimously to rent a Grade-All this summer, which will clear ditches and do other road maintenance for the city. Cotton said the city rented one for a week a few years ago, and the cost was roughly $6,000.

* Voted 6-0 to put a city-owned, 1979 Chevrolet pickup up for bid.

All aldermen were present.