The Sulphur City Council voted in support of establishing a downtown cultural district Monday. The move could result in grant monies for improvements. Interested individuals are invited to find out more at a meeting scheduled later this week.

Council members voted a second time on a “rezone” item on May’s agenda because of a technicality, this time with a different outcome.  Two City Council May agenda items had to do with the granting of a rezone to ALK Properties of 2616 Lena St. and 2606 Allen St., from residential to business. ALK Properties is owned by Travis Marburger, the president and owner of Kim Kool, a company that specializes in the design and manufacture of heat exchangers and cooling packages for industrial applications.

Marburger purchased the adjoining properties some time ago based, to an extent, on a “future” master zoning direction established by the City in 2003 though not adopted. With the goal of expanding his business, he appeared before the City Zoning Board (an entity separate from the Council) in May, and was granted a rezone for both properties with a four to one vote. The next step in the process is putting the ordinance before the Council.

Marburger showed up in May to share his plans for the expansion, including a private fence and hedge, although he would only be required to do one or the other.

Neighbors showed up to speak up against the rezone. Two of those households showed up again before the re-vote.

Chris Higginbothom said, “Families need to come first with this over a business, particularly families who, if ultimately they are forced out of that neighborhood, their quality of life declines or they are forced into far more expensive housing. That includes myself and my family.” He added, “I mean I hate to see this go to litigation, if ultimately, it gets to the point where everybody’s in dispute. I’d hate to see the courts have to get involved.”

Marburger gave examples of how he had cleaned up one of the residential properties that was frequented by vagrants who appeared to be dealing drugs, immediately handling the one noise complaint that he had received and being one of the places open to hiring the inexperienced in carpentry, welding and programming, giving them experience and promoting from within. One of his employees also spoke.

In May the vote was three to two. Melinda Hardy, Mandy Thomas and Nick Nezat voted against the rezone. However, the necessary motion and second did not precede that vote, resulting in the need to vote again on the rezone of 2616 Lena St.. Monday, Melinda Hardy changed her vote in favor of the rezone.

“Both sides had compelling arguments both times,” Hardy said. “In the end I was impressed by how Mr. Marburger had worked at being a good neighbor and how this area is shifting into more of a commercially zoned area.”

The Council voted unanimously in support of the city’s filing with the State to get the process moving for a Downtown Cultural District.

After the meeting, District 5 City Council member Mandy Thomas said a few downtown businesses were having informal conversations about forming an alliance or association of some sort with the focus of improving the downtown area. The first step is for the City to make an application to the State.

“It’s very much in its infancy,” said Aaron Quinn, one of the business owners interested in promoting the improvement of the downtown area. Quinn said the first step is to file the application with the state. Filing with the state is the first step in becoming part of the National Parks Main Street program.

“This will help the area to become eligible for different grants or for matching funds,” Quinn said. Quinn said getting rid of abandoned, unsafe and unsightly structures, getting more local restaurants and further beautification of the downtown area seem to be the top three priorities of residents for the area. For those who want to find out more, a meeting is scheduled at 1 p.m. Thursday, June 15 at 501 E. Burton St. Business owners and residents are invited to attend.

Saturday, 8 am.-10 a.m., Sulphur businesses owners and residents are also  invited to partner with the Sulphur Sunrise Rotary Club who initiated a downtown cleanup starting at the Village Coffee House.