The Pine Bluff Planning Commission voted Tuesday to give the necessary zoning permissions for the new sheriff’s building and new fire station to be built at the locations planned by county and city officials.
The new building for the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office is planned for the southwest corner of Convention Center Drive and East Second Avenue near the W.C. “Dub” Brazzell Adult Detention Center in downtown Pine Bluff.
Richard Taylor of the A.W. Nelson Architectural Group Inc. of Pine Bluff said the two-story, 22,000-square-foot building will be built in phases as funding allows.
The Jefferson County Quorum Court approved $1.67 million in February for Phase I of the project. Sheriff Gerald Robinson touted the building as a way to get the Patrol Division and Criminal Investigation Division out of the current facilities on the 100 block of Main Street. The facilities have many problems, including a leaking roof.
“Where CID is, every time it rains there is water and mold,” Taylor said.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
The goal is to eventually get all of the JCSO divisions under one roof, and Robinson’s estimate for the total cost is $2.5 million. Taylor said Tuesday that the whole shell of the building will be built during Phase I, with the upstairs area left unfinished to await more funding.
Planning staff adviser Jerre George of Regional Planning recommended approval of the use permitted on review request to allow the county to construct the building at the site. Her approval was subject to stipulations that more parking be associated with the site and that its driveway directly onto Convention Center Drive be more closely reviewed.
The commission adopted Geroge’s recommendations 7-0. Commissioner Edward Long was absent.
Fire Station
The commission also approved 7-0 a use permitted on review request from the city of Pine Bluff to locate a fire station at the northeast corner of Beech Street and 32nd Avenue. The station will replace the fire station currently at 3200 Ash St.
The project is one of several capital improvement projects to be paid for out of the five-eights-cent tax increase approved by voters in February 2011. Bonds to fund the project were issued in October 2011. The Pine Bluff City Council has set a construction cost cap of $2.17 million for the fire station project and a $141,050 maximum engineering fee.
Larry Matthews, the city’s public works coordinator, said the site was recommended by a committee and Mayor Carl A. Redus Jr., who reviewed the options in the area. Matthews said the property owners are in favor of the project, and the city expects to purchase the property from the owners, barring any complications.
Fire Chief Shauwn Howell said it was important for the fire trucks and firefighters currently assigned to District 3 still be able to adequately cover the same area that they do from the current fire station.
“We tried to stay within our coverage area,” Howell said. “That was key to the decision to relocate the station anywhere. We had to stay in the coverage area and not impact coverage for the city so that was crucial in selecting this site. We couldn’t move too far from the location currently.”
A few neighbors of the proposed site attended the meeting and spoke in favor of the request. Planning staff recommended approval of the request, subject to approval of the site plan when it is developed and with the stipulation that an attempt be made to retain some of the mature trees on the lot, which is wooded.
Howell said there are currently no plans for the facility at 3200 Ash St.
Other Business
In other business, the commission voted 7-0 to approve a use permitted on review request for First Baptist Church Dewdrop at 1701 N. Bryant St. to build an addition onto the church building.
Tommy Breamsey said the addition will be a 25-by-100-foot metal building. Planning staff recommended approval of the request.