Leeds City Council approves major development project near Exit 140

LEEDS, Ala. ( WIAT )– Plans for a waterfront resort off Interstate 20 is one step closer to happening in Leeds.

The plan has been in the works for five years. Monday night the city council approved a proposal for the development voting five to one in favor. The council hopes to turn the city into a destination for families across the southeast. CBS 42 spoke to businesses in Leeds and most are ecstatic about the project.

Mayor David Miller says it is the biggest thing the city has taken on in his 20 years of public office in the community. Miller says the development will include a waterfront style resort with hotels, a regional sports park, and a 700-home residential neighborhood.

Millers expects the project will draw people from around the country to Leeds.

“We want these people to go to the outlet mall, we want these people to take a break and go downtown and visit some of our shops,” said Miller.

One of the downtown shops is Burrow Bookstore which just opened a few weeks ago, owner Andi Argo thinks the project will help generate business.

“It’s amazing to think all that could be right here in Leeds,” remarked Argo.

Some in the city aren’t as excited about the project. Councilman Eric Turner is concerned about the way the project came about. Turner says the mayor has hired outside attorneys to work on the development, which could cost the city a large amount of money.

“We don’t really know how much this is going to cost us, we know it’s going to cost $22 million and a half for the project, but we don’t know how much we are going to have to pay for these attorneys,” said Turner.

Mayor Miller says the outside counsel the city is using for the project will not cost the city anything.

“[The Attorney] is doing this because he’s a local businessman and he’s seeing it’s going to be really good for local businesspeople,” remarked Miller.

Miller says the city is working to put together a town hall about the project where the public can ask questions and learn more about what the project will entail.

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