By Ray King
A request by a property owner to overturn the decision of the Pine Bluff Planning Commission and close part of a city street was turned down by the Pine Bluff City Council following a public hearing Monday.
Donnie Savage had asked that a portion of Fir Street from 24th Avenue to 25th Avenue be closed. He had installed a gate across 24th Street without city approval, and a notice on the agenda for the planning commission said one resident of the area had used part of Fir Street to gain access to the back of her property.
That resident, Laurie Fair, told the council she wanted the gate removed, despite Savage telling her he would give her the gate access code, but asking that she restrict her use, especially after dark, a condition she objected to.
Council member LaTisha Brunson was one of several council members who were critical of Savage’s actions and after the meeting, told Deltaplex news why.
The vote to uphold the Planning Commission to deny closing the street was 8-0 and came despite written statements from Street Department Director Tom Bennett who had signed off on the proposal, saying in a letter to the Planning Commission that the section Savage wanted closed is undeveloped right of way that will never be used.
Wastewater Utility Manager Ken Johnson said Savage had provided the access code to the gate which would be sufficient for operation and maintenance of the sanitary sewer main located at the end of the street. A representative of Summit Utilities also said the street/alley is not presently used or intended to be used for utility purposes.
Attorney Jesse Kearney, who represented Savage, said his client had cleaned up the area and Savage said before he installed the gate, there were shootings, drug use and illegal dumping taking place in the area.
He also said that although he owned property there, he did not currently live in the area. Two residents of the area also provided letters of support for Savage.
