Auburn council annexes Mitchell Farms, adopts five-year comp plan update and approves contracts, tax abatement

Mayor Ron Anders summarized actions taken by the Auburn City Council at its April 15 meeting, including an appointment to the Auburn City Schools Board, reappointments to the Historic Preservation Commission, several contract approvals, approval of an annexation, denial of a rezoning request and adoption of the city’s five-year comprehensive plan update.

Anders announced the council appointed Brad Chenoweth to the Auburn City Schools Board of Education and thanked outgoing member Melanie Chambliss for “serving 2 full terms” and for serving as board chair during the final years of her second term. “Melanie did an outstanding job,” Anders said.

The council reappointed Gorham Byrd and Maven Beard to the Historic Preservation Commission for second full terms. City staff announced a forthcoming vacancy on the Board of Zoning Adjustment for an unexpired term beginning in May and running through January of next year; the city manager invited interested residents to apply through the city website.

On contracts and purchases, the council approved a contract with Kellis Vegetation Management for agricultural spraying of parks and recreation properties, described in the meeting as $152,000. The council also approved the purchase of 1,248 96-gallon rollout garbage carts to replace damaged carts and serve new residents, and approved a contract with the WDE Officials Association for spring and fall baseball and softball officials, described in the meeting as $104,000. A separate real-estate purchase item for a North College Street easement was pulled from the agenda on the advice of the city’s legal counsel.

The council reauthorized three existing ad valorem property tax levies — two at 5 mills and one at 11 mills — and the mayor emphasized that “These are not new property taxes.” The meeting record indicates these reauthorizations were placed on the ordinances portion of the agenda.

On land-use matters, the council approved the annexation of Mitchell Farms 2, described in the meeting as approximately 210 acres along Lee Road 146 (Moores Mill Road) near the Society Hill Road intersection; the annexation passed 8–1. The council unanimously denied a rezoning request for property at 615 South College Street associated with the Spring Creek Estates project, described as about 1.1 acres.

The council approved conditional-use permits for two developments: a performance residential use at the terminus of Giddens Street as part of Boulevard Phase 8, and a reinstated conditional use for the Grand Junction mixed-use development at 1027 East Glen Avenue (the conditional use had previously been approved and allowed to expire; the council reconsidered and approved it again). The Grand Junction site is described as mixed-use with residential, commercial and a restaurant component.

The council approved a tax abatement for an entity described in the meeting as “2 a USA,” noting the company plans a $2,700,000 capital investment and the hiring of four new employees. The council also unanimously approved the city’s five-year comprehensive plan update; Councilman Tommy Dawson offered two amendments that the council approved before adopting the plan.

The mayor closed with community announcements including a fundraising event for Special Olympics, downtown beautification work on hanging baskets, City Fest at Keesel Park on April 26 and a National Day of Prayer ceremony at Courthouse Square in Opelika.

Votes at a glance • Annexation: Mitchell Farms 2 (approx. 210 acres) — approved, 8 yes, 1 no. • Rezoning: 615 South College Street (Spring Creek Estates, ~1.1 acres) — denied, unanimous (tally not specified). • Conditional use: Boulevard Phase 8 (performance residential at Giddens Street terminus) — approved (tally not specified). • Conditional use: Grand Junction, 1027 East Glen Avenue — approved (tally not specified). • Tax abatement: “2 a USA” — approved (tally not specified); company described as committing $2,700,000 capital investment and hiring four employees. • Ordinances: Reauthorization of three ad valorem levies (5 mills, 11 mills, 5 mills) — approved (tally not specified). • Comp plan: Five-year comprehensive plan update — approved unanimously after two amendments by Councilman Tommy Dawson. • Contracts/purchases: Kellis Vegetation Management contract ($152,000), purchase of 1,248 96-gallon rollout carts, WDE Officials Association contract ($104,000) — all approved (tallies not specified).

No motions, mover/second names or detailed roll-call tallies beyond the Mitchell Farms 8–1 vote were provided in the mayor’s summary.