The Fayetteville City Council gave its approval last week to a 100 percent federally-funded sidewalk project for the section of Lee Street from Stonewall Avenue to Williamsburg Way.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009 funds will pick up the tab for the project with a ceiling cost of $625,000.

The project includes a five-foot sidewalk on either side of Lee Street from Stonewall Avenue and Long Avenue. The project then extends on the east side of Lee Street from Long Avenue to Williamsburg Way.

The project is funded through the Transportation Enhancement Activities program of the federal Department of Transportation.

Since it was included for ARRA funding, the federal funding amount was increased and the future local match was eliminated, city Engineer Don Easterbrook said in a May 21 letter. The local match would have been from 1-cent sales tax funds. The agreement provides for federal funding in the amount of $625,000. The project is estimated to cost about $500,000.

The council also approved an annexation and rezoning request involving a 1-acre lot on North 85 Parkway. The property was zoned Highway Commercial (C-H) in the county. Applicant Charles Meadors asked that, if annexed, the property be zoned M-1 (Light Manufacturing).

Planning and Zoning Director Eldridge Gunn said the site currently has a vacant warehouse facility and there are no plans to change the building or site. Meadors sought the annexation and rezoning to better match the uses on the surrounding properties, Gunn said, adding that there is a mix of manufacturing and commercial uses nearby.

Also at the meeting, the council approved an amendment to the animal control agreement with Fayette County. The amendment authorized Fayette County State Court and the county solicitor to prosecute animal control cases.

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