By John Howell
A decision Tuesday by Batesville aldermen to rezone 19 acres east of the present East Oaks Shopping Center from C-1 to C-2, and to issue a conditional use permit to a portion of that property will allow Ann Haynes to build an assisted living facility at the end of Maple Lane.

Haynes’ daughter, Kelley Magee, represented her mother at a public hearing held during the First Tuesday meeting of Batesville city officials. Magee presented photos of a similar, franchised facility like that she proposes for the Maple Street site.

The proposed 10,000 square foot assisted living facility will house 15 residents. “It will be like Fairfield, but not that big,” Magee said.

There was no public comment opposing or favoring the facility during the hearing. Code Administrator Pam Comer, who  conducted the hearing, told city officials that the Batesville Planning Commission recommended both the rezoning and conditional use permit. Aldermen approved both by unanimous vote.

 In addition to allowing plans for the assisted living facility to proceed, the rezoning opens a large tract to commercial development on Highway 6.

Magee said that there is no timetable for the facility’s construction. Tuesday’s decision allows her to begin necessary applications with state regulatory agencies for the building. If it is a success, “there’s plenty of room to build another one,” she said.

In other business related to the Batesville Planning Commission, aldermen unanimously adopted a change to site and building design standards that will allow exterior repair on an existing building with material similar in composition and color to the siding already in use. The change addressed an omission in the city’s standards and was also recommended by the Planning Commission.

Alderman Teddy Morrow, addressing another concern, asked Comer to contact owners of unsightly billboards along Highway 6.

“It’s flopping in the wind; they’re going in every direction,” Morrow said. “There are three or four of them on Highway 6,” he said.