City Council votes to purchase building on Hobbs

Published 10:00 am Saturday, December 2, 2023

With a restaurant’s recent move from Hobbs to Jefferson Street, the Athens City Council took advantage of a rare opportunity at its Monday, Nov. 27, meeting.

The council voted to purchase the property at 300 Hobbs Street E., formerly occupied by Ro’s Grille, during the meeting. While there are no official plans for the acquisition, Athens Mayor Ronnie Marks sees plenty of possibilities.

“The chance to purchase property on one of the city’s main corridors to downtown does not happen often,” Marks said. “This property is on Hobbs Street and is adjacent to Big Spring Memorial Park. There are opportunities for us to explore park expansion or even office space expansion for city services, or both.”

The council also conducted the following business.

Public hearings

• Public hearing relating to a proposed ordinance amending the Athens Zoning Ordinance.

• Ordinance amending the Athens Zoning Ordinance.

• Public hearing relating to a proposed ordinance to rezone /- 8.00 acres (City of Athens) located on the east side of Jefferson Street South , approximately 900 feet south of Commercial Drive, from R-1-4 (Single Family Duplex Attached Residential District) to B-2 (General Business District), within the corporate limits of the City of Athens.

• Ordinance to rezone /- 8.00 acres (City of Athens) located on the east side of Jefferson Street South , approximately 900 feet south of Commercial Drive, from R-1-4 (Single Family Duplex Attached Residential District) to B-2 (General Business District), within the corporate limits of the City of Athens.

Consent calendar

• Approve a Restaurant Retail Liquor alcohol license to The Southern Table, Inc. DBA: The Southern Table, 105 N. Jefferson Street.

• Reappoint Bobby Norman to the Athens Housing Authority Board for a five year term, expiring on Dec. 1, 2028.

• Approve the travel/education expenses for the Mayor’s Office.

• Authorize the purchase of a Dodge Ram 2500 service truck for the Wastewater Collection Division.

• Set a public hearing for the regular meeting of Jan. 8, 2024, to consider the request of the Planning and Zoning Department for various proposed amendments to the Zoning Ordinance of the City of Athens as recommended by the Planning Commission.

• Set a public hearing for the regular meeting of Jan. 8, 2024, to consider the request of Magnus capital Partners, LLC to rezone +/- 12.5 acres of property located approximately 400’ south of Commercial Drive and directly west of Jefferson Street South from B-2 (General Business District) to R-2 (Multiple Family Residential) within the corporate limits of the City of Athens, and at the request to approve the associated Master Development Plan.

• Set a public hearing for the regular meeting of Jan. 8, 2024, to consider the request of SR Land, LLC for a major amendment to an existing master development plan for Anderson Farms Subdivision, comprised of +/- 133.5 acres and located directly west of Lindsay Lane South and directly east of I65, zoned C-PUD (Conventional Planned Unit Development District).

• Set a public hearing for the regular meeting of January 8, 2024 to consider the request of Y.M.Y., LLC to rezone +/- acres located at 17915 West Elm Street from EST (Estate Residential and Agricultural District) to B-1 (Neighborhood Business District), within the corporate limits of the City of Athens.

Regular meeting

• Resolution opting out of certain class action litigation settlements relating to 3M and DuPont.

• Resolution making an appointment to the Zoning Board of Adjustments.

• Resolution authorizing the Mayor to enter into an agreement with ADEM for a grant for Sunrise Park.