Business development on the southwest side of town was the source of several actions at the Stuart City Council’s recent meeting.

First, the Council approved a request from Karl Chevrolet and DICA to vacate a portion of 7th and 8th streets and the right of way adjacent to lots 7, 8, 3, and 4 in Marks Business Park. Tony Mills from Karl Chevrolet stated the reason for the request is to improve the dealership’s current auction site and increase parking by connecting their existing lot with one recently purchased. Mills stated that vacating the road next to the dealership service center would also allow for future expansion of the site for DICA who will be developing in that area.

City Engineer Forrest Aldrich commented on behalf of Public Works Director Jim Henderson about vacating the roads, “Jim didn’t have a whole lot of heartburn over the west one, the Adair Street, being vacated. He says that’s close enough to Black Hills (Street), he doesn’t see that one ever happening. The one in the middle he did have some concern about because again, he sees two ways and someday the City might want to have a third way in and out from the industrial park. So Jim’s recommendation to the Council, he’s not here, was not to vacate the middle one.”

Aldrich added that from his perspective he didn’t see a reason why the roads couldn’t be vacated, and Karl Chevrolet stipulated they are open to having easements for repairing or maintaining any existing utilities. The Council then approved a previously tabled resolution to vacate a portion of South Gaines Street between southwest 7th and southwest 8th streets, for Casey’s General Store’s expansion project. They also set a public hearing for April 13th to sell lot A of Marks Business Park to Casey’s for the expansion.