Options Considered for Bishop Rd. Extension

PLANNING AND ZONING GIVES APPROVAL

The Planning Commission gave its approval Monday for a 40' utility easement connecting Bishop to Boothe Rd. in east Fairhope (just south of Morphy) -- allowing the design process to continue for a connecting road there. Neighborhood residents, particularly from Hawthorne Glenn, have been asking for the segment to be completed for some time. School traffic is an issue in the area as well.

SEVERAL OPTIONS CONSIDERED

one option

In order to save as many trees as possible, several routes are being considered, meandering through the property. One adjacent property owner, Wayne Hoffren, has agreed to donate some property for that purpose. A sidewalk/ trail is to be included.

Drainage concerns near the south end are to be addressed by culverts.

SINGLE TAX CORPORATION FUNDED

Since its not within the city limits, the Single Tax Corporation is funding the project via the rent it collects from its lessees throughout the city: lessees pay about 15% more "rent" to the corporation, on top of their usual property taxes paid to the government. Engineering fees alone may top $100,000 according to Joseph Bullock of Preble-Rish LLC, the engineer of record.

SOME TREES DISEASED

According to city arborist/horticulturists Jennifer Fidler, some of the old trees there may be diseased; and that would be a consideration when determining which to save. Fidler said there appears to be no Formosan termite damage there, however.

Bullock: "We cannot construct this road without taking some trees out . . . trying to minimize the impact to the healthiest, most substantial trees . . . take out unhealthy ones . . . or those having less chance of surviving construction."

Besides Fidler, 2 other arborists and the city's Tree Committee are to be consulted about the health/condition of the trees before removal/construction -- in a "tree survey".