Jackson Free Press

July, 25, 2007

Last week, four city council members voted to delay a zoning change for a major development initiative near the Jackson Medical Mall, with Ward 3 Councilman Kenneth Stokes leading the vote. His concern is drainage—which, it seems, the city has already addressed. Previously, Stokes complained that he didn't like that Livingston Village would be a gated community.

Stokes' shifting rationale sounds political. This decision needs to be fiscally sound, not based on politics or personal opinion. Bear in mind that new developments in Ward 3 aren't coming along every day. Livingston Village represents huge promise for the Medical Mall area, offering a new multi-user neighborhood for small business, professionals and families.

MPI Center LLC and CEO Michael Smith are looking to break ground this year on the project. The company estimates it would employ 350 workers during construction, and the community would support 300 full-time and 50 part-time jobs after completion. MPI said earlier that annual sales tax revenues would be approximately $150,000 per year and that ad valorem taxes should go up to $647,000 each year.

The city also gets the benefit of almost $8 million in infrastructure repairs and construction, including $6 million in street and drainage improvements, $770,000 in sewer improvements, and $655,000 in water line replacement and construction.

Former city Department of Planning and Economic Development Director Carl Allen, now of MPI, said the project won't cause drainage problems. Smith said the local school board has already given the project its blessing. Even city infrastructure engineer Charles Williams has assured Stokes the engineering will work.

Councilmen Frank Bluntson and Charles Tillman acquiesced to Stokes' opposition on Monday despite supporting the project the previous Friday; why Councilman Leslie McLemore caved in to the delay is a more intriguing question.

"I don't see it as having stalled the project," McLemore said. "We're just making sure the project is (feasible)."

OK, here's your chance—study it. But hurry. Within weeks, council needs to vote this project forward if the drains will run—even if Councilman Stokes comes up with yet another shifting reason for more delays.

Jackson—and Ward 3 citizens—should demand that council politics not get in the way of real progress.

Previous Comments

ID

75146

Comment

Amen! If this thing gets voted down, Stokes should never have anything to complain about in his ward ever again.

Author

golden eagle

Date

2007-07-26T06:50:09-06:00

ID

75147

Comment

Personally, I believe there are too many personal agendas on the City Council and the Supervisors. Unless they somehow produce another Frank Melton, I will vote for whoever is running against the person for my neighborhood. It may be wrong, but I think we need new ideas and people without having their own little motives behind every vote. Sorry, Marshand, I love you like a play cousin, but I gotta put you down next election.

Author

honey2me

Date

2007-08-07T13:20:53-06:00