By T. Scott Boatright
A new Dollar General store and new downtown improvements appear headed to Ruston after moves made by the city’s Board of Aldermen during Monday’s February City Council meeting.
In order to help bring a new Dollar General to the southwestern part of Ruston, the City Council authorized extension of city utilities beyond its corporate limits to provide electricity and other utilities to the store.
The approved resolution provides Dollar General conditional use of city utilities if it agrees to any conditions set upon them by the city of Ruston.
That resolution passed unanimously by a vote of 4-0. Councilman John Denny did not attend Monday’s meeting.
Also passed was a resolution authorizing the city to enter into an agreement with the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development relating to Phase IX of the Ruston Downtown Revitalization Project that has been ongoing for well more than 10 years.
Phase IX is a $632,000 contract that would pay for 900 feet of concrete sidewalks and any other related amenities along a two-block stretch of Bonner Street from East Park Avenue, at the foot of the Bonner Street Bridge, to East Georgia Avenue.
“That starts at the north side of Bonner Street and goes down to Georgia Street,” said Mayor Ronny Walker. “We’re very excited about that piece (of city legislation).”
City of Ruston Public Works director John Freeman said that project has an estimated cost of around $600,000.
“These projects are great because it’s a cooperation between the state and the city, with 80% being funded by the state,” Freeman said. “So, 20% will be the city’s part of that. It’s a great project.”
Ruston’s Board of Alderman also passed a resolution approving the preliminary plat of Unit 5 of the Tanyard Creek subdivision.
City of Ruston Zoning Administrator Jim Hays said that 84-acre plot of land on the south side of Barnett Springs Avenue started with Unit 1 in 2018.
“Unit 5 is the final piece of the subdivision,” Hays said. “The Planning and Zoning Commission reviewed the Unit 5 plat during its January meeting and voted unanimously to recommend approval of the preliminary plat subject to extensive conditions of meeting city department head approval and city code requirements.
“There were no negative comments at the public hearing (held during the January (P&Z meeting) but one of the adjoining property owners did request a revision to the buffer between her property and the development, and they have agreed to it. Although I have not seen the revision yet, it will be consistent with planning and development (regulations).”
Ruston’s City Council also approved the start of the property condemnation process as required by ordinance of 815 Ross Ave., owned by Bud Glenn and Mary Wright Glen, and for 906/908 South Farmerville St. owned by Magerick, LLC and Smith Holdings & Enterprises LCC.
The City Council also introduced a couple of ordinances during Monday’s meeting.
One would amend Chapter 29 of the Code of Ordinances for the city of Ruston by changing specified boundaries to potentially approve a Preliminary Plat for Russ Town Crossing. It would rezone the Russ Town Crossing property from B-4, Highway Business District; and B-3, General Business District to PUD, Planned Unit Development for a proposed new townhouse development off Tech Drive.
The other ordinance introduced during the meeting was adoption of amendments for the period of Oct. 1, 2023, through Sept. 30, 2024.
Both of those ordinances are expected to be discussed and voted on during next month’s City Council Meeting.
