All:
The Helena-West Helena planning commission will not meet tonight. Tonight would have been the regular scheduled meeting for the planning commission; however, though the Helena-West Helena City Council has had the land use plan, maps, and zoning code for more than one hundred twenty (120) days, it refuses to act regarding the land use plan.
Code Enforcement has received numerous complaints regarding issues that were not contemplated by the current zoning code. A committee comprised of representatives from the planning commission, the historic district commission, main street, both code enforcement officers, the building inspector, the mayor, the city clerk, the city attorney, and one of the State of Arkansas foremost experts on zoning and planning, met for several hours every 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month for at least five months and discussed changes that are needed in the zoning code. The City, through a grant that it received in the amount of 12,000, retained the services of that expert and he, along with his staff, has worked diligently to attempt to move this process forward.
The land use plan is the statement of intent of the City of Helena-West Helena. It is not a legal document; however, it along with the map must be adopted prior to the city adopting a zoning code. The planning commission has had numerous meetings regarding the land use plan. There was a public hearing on the plan and, after the public hearing, the planning commission adopted the plan. The City Council for the City of Helena-West Helena has had copies of all documents for in excess of one hundred twenty (120) days .
Since the planning commission’s adoption of the land use plan, the land use plan was tabled by the City Council on June 15, 2010 and every meeting thereafter. At the June 15th meeting, the expert, Mr. Jim von Tungeln, addressed the city council and the City Council made a long list of excuses regarding why it should not pass the land use plan. Among the excuses were that they did not have enough time to review the documents and that they wanted larger versions of the maps. In fact, four (4) of the aldermen requested giant maps to review and the city has provided the maps to the alderman, yet the city council has not passed the land use plan and simply desires to ignore the issue and engage in games.
The planning commission desires that the City Council pass the land use plan so that it can hold a public hearing regarding the zoning code. Currently, the City of Helena-West Helena utilizes the zoning code from West Helena and the former City of Helena. Both codes are outdated and need updating. The former City of Helena’s zoning code was last updated in 1997 and the City of West Helena’s zoning code dates back to 1958 and includes various changes that have been made of the years.
There are a variety of issues that are currently facing our city that the new zoning code deals with directly, including but not limited to, child care facilities, home occupations, visibility at intersections, manufactured homes, mobile homes, metal carports, sidewalks, signs and et cetera. Please take time to review the proposed zoning code and contact your alderman regarding the importance of the city moving forward, passing the land use plan, and the planning commission conducting a public hearing on the zoning code.
If you desire to view the land use plan, zoning code or any other issue regarding the proposed changes you may do so by visiting http://helena-westhelena.planyourcity.com/ It is time that the games stop and that the City Council entertain serious business and take care of the matters at hand. Again, please contact your alderman regarding this issue so that we can move this city forward together.
Sincerely,
Andre
André K. Valley, Esq., P.A.
423 Rightor, Suite # 2
Helena- West Helena, AR 72342
Business: (870)-338-6487 x2
Facsimile: (870)-338-8030
Residence: (870)-572-9645
Mobile: (870)-816-5600
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