Controversial Plan Moves Forward in Ozark
By: Carlos Correa
Updated: February 8, 2007
A plan to redevelop land in one Ozarks community is moving forward despite objections from many homeowners. The controversial proposal is looking to redevelop 47 acres of land near downtown Ozark.
Thursday night, the Land Clearance Redevelopment Authority or the LCRA voted to send the proposal on to the Ozark Board of Alderman. That means, as early as next week, the Board will have a chance to review and vote on the plan that will turn blighted land on the west side of Ozark's downtown into a business and residential space.
Hagerman New Urbanism, LLC is the only firm that submitted a bid for the project. It will cover four phases of the Finley River Neighborhood Development District.
Right now, 75 percent of that land is either under contract or has already been purchased by the city of
The remaining homeowners in the area do have some concerns about the project.
"I am not against developing the area. I think it's a great idea, but I think the Hagerman's should do what they originally said they would do and work around home owners. We have expressed a desire to stay. We would like to be a part of this project. We are willing to develop are own project to fit the comprehensive master plan." says Jane Carpenter, a homeowner in the proposed development district.
The developer is proposing to do the projects in phases. It plans to work on three parts of the project all at once and then develop a fourth part within the next three to five years.
As far as the homeowners, the ones KOLR10 News spoke with Thursday night say they plan to call their lawyers first thing Friday morning.
