The Lowell, Ark., city council granted Advanced Environmental Recycling Technologies Inc. an exemption from the city's building moratorium as well as a waiver from overlay district requirements.
A third of the building is situated in the overlay district, where certain design standards have to be met.
AERT owners are buying a former feed mill on Lincoln Street. That land, which is now zoned industrial, may be zoned office-retail if the proposed master land-use plan is accepted.
"Our objective is to present an acceptable appearance on Lincoln Street. We're very conscious of our appearance and persona to the public," said Doug Brooks, AERT executive vice president.
If the AERT site was zoned for commercial use and was completely within the overlay district, the council could require that trees be planted to screen the building. In this instance, metal bins on site are more than 100 feet tall.
AERT recycles polyethylene plastic, such as plastic grocery bags and milk jugs. Northwest Arkansas Online