Grace period seenfor cleanup edict
Regulating what North Little Rock residents can and cannot leave outside their homes will require an education period for residents before any fines are levied, North Little Rock aldermen said last week.
An outdoor storage ordinance meant as a way to clean up neighborhoods and improve homes' appearance has slogged through seven City Council meetings over the past 31/2 months. Aldermen indicated at their council meeting Monday that they would be ready to vote on the regulations during the Aug. 25 meeting.
If approved, the ordinance would amend city code to prohibit furniture and other items that were manufactured for indoor use from being kept outside on front or back porches, carports, driveways or yards, especially junk or anything covered under a tarp on a porch or in a carport.
Appliances kept outside would also be illegal with the exception for having a working refrigerator or freezer under a covered carport. The legislation is co-sponsored by Aldermen Debi Ross and Steve Baxter.
"I hope to get it passed by next time," Ross said at Monday's council meeting, though Mayor Joe Smith said, "I think you have the votes if you want to vote tonight." Ross said she expected amendments.
Aldermen briefly discussed whether to add requirements for free, temporary permits for anyone doing work such as refinishing furniture or cabinets outside.
"We definitely need an education process" if the legislation is approved, Ross said. "Education will be a huge thing. We can't just go out and start ticketing people."
Smith suggested withholding any enforcement until Jan. 1 to allow such a grace period.
Council OKs saleof lawsuit acreage
Property that North Little Rock had to buy in 2009 to settle a lawsuit against the city earned the go-ahead Monday from the City Council to be sold to a private company.
The council approved the potential sale of the vacant 18.85 acres near Cooks Landing on Young Road, southeast of Crystal Hill Road and Interstate 430, to JEL Land Acquisitions, a company managed by James Earl Lindsey, part of Jim Lindsey's real estate companies.
The legislation listed the sale price at $754,000 or "an amount equal to or greater than the appraised value." The appraisal hasn't been completed.
The city acquired the parcel at 7501 Young Road in September 2009 for $912,000 as a settlement to a federal lawsuit filed by then-state Rep. Keith Ingram and his brother, former state Sen. Kent Ingram, both of West Memphis. Keith Ingram is now a state senator.
The Ingrams bought the property based on the city's zoning maps, which improperly listed it for light industrial use, instead of residential. The Ingrams filed their lawsuit after the North Little Rock City Council voted to leave the property as residential when residents from an adjoining neighborhood challenged allowing industrial use at the site.
Metro on 08/17/2014