Opelika council approves consent agenda, demolitions and legal engagement for bed-and-breakfast variance

The Opelika City Council on Jan. 6 approved a slate of consent items and several resolutions and ordinances, including demolition orders, acceptance of public infrastructure, and a resolution to hire outside counsel to review a historic variance related to bed-and-breakfast uses.

Council approved the consent agenda by unanimous consent after a motion and second. The council then voted to approve the First Amendment to the Opelika Mill Holdings Development Agreement and demolition resolutions for 1801 South Long Street and 111 South Railroad Avenue; roll-call votes were recorded as "all voted aye." The council also approved a second reading to amend section 12.402.2 of the city's personnel policies and procedures manual.

A notable discussion accompanied resolution number 4, which authorizes an engagement letter with Gordon, Dana & Gilmore LLC of Birmingham to provide a secondary legal opinion on a variance/nonconforming use granted in the late 1980s concerning bed-and-breakfasts. The city attorney described the work as a research opinion to determine whether the matter was a variance or a nonconforming use and to assess the impact of 1991 bed-and-breakfast regulations. "The engagement letter would permit the city to seek that opinion from independent counsel," the city attorney said, noting the firm was chosen in part to avoid conflicts with other firms the city has used.

The council recorded no dissent; each matter was moved, seconded and carried during the meeting. No additional appropriations tied to these approvals were discussed on the council floor during the Jan. 6 meeting.