City Council brings houses; plans public hearing for zoning

The Blackwell City Council met Thursday for one of its shortest meetings in recent memory, and the Council officially decided to pursue more interests in Blackwell’s budding housing market. The meeting began shortly after 6 p.m.

The Council welcomed the two people who came to the meeting. The first order of business was the approval of the initial reading of Ordinance 2022-05, which affects businesses that sell tobacco and vapor products. The ordinance forbids businesses that make more than half of their revenue from the sale of tobacco and vapor products from being within 300 feet of schools, playgrounds, parks and other facilities that are primarily used by people under 21.

The ordinance does not apply to stores such as gas stations that might sell cigarettes and various products, which don’t make up 50% of the stores’ annual revenue.

Following that, the Council approved conducting a public hearing on an undetermined date in April for the public to attend.

The forum will be in regard to a new zoning map for the City of Blackwell. The next order was to approve the City of Blackwell entering into an economic development agreement with Freedom Homes, LLC, to build several duplex-style residential homes at the site of the former Huston School on W. Vinnedge Avenue.

Freedom Homes is building several housing units on Doolin Avenue. City Manager Jerry Wieland also told the Council that seven homes are going to be built on the southwest side of Blackwell after lengthy discussions with a local property owner. With no further business, the meeting adjourned shortly after 7 p.m.