PINSON, Ala. (TRIBUNE) – Three zoning requests were brought before the Pinson City Council on Thursday, March 6, with one being a proposal for a new subdivision.
According to Nathan Prewett of the Trussville Tribune, the first was to correct a clerical error for the zoning of 7376 Highway 75 and 7382 Highway 75 from residential rural to highway commercial. The second was for the owner of 7392 Highway 75 also to commercial highway.
The third was a request by an owner identified as Mohiner Singh in the ordinance to rezone multiple properties mostly located at Highway 75 and Highway 79 but with one on North Road, and two on Fitzgerald Mountain Road. The request was to rezone these as planned unit development or PUD residential for the construction of a subdivision.
A public hearing was held for all three, with the first two approved, but it was decided to hold a second hearing of the third request until April 17 to give council members and time to study it further and re-notify nearby property owners.
During the public hearing Karen Jones from the Fitzgerald Mountain estate subdivision spoke and voiced several concerns, beginning with the development potentially causing a “huge” amount of traffic in her neighborhood.
She then urged the council to consider a variation to require larger lot sizes due to the number of houses in the proposed subdivision at 526 buildings on approximately 300 acres to maintain a consistent aesthetic.
“I think the number of houses that he’s wanting to put there is quite a huge number,” she said. “I think it would put a strain on our school system in the years to come.”
Jones also asked if there would be blasting in the area if construction is approved. Zoning Administrator Bob Jones answered that blasting for home development is not generally done.
Paul Underwood then asked if the zoning would be RPR, which is RP Residential. Jones said that the area would be restricted to a residential development or a residential planned unit zone with no commercial zoning. Mayor Robbie Roberts concurred and pointed out that the owner was “emphatic” about the development being strictly single-family homes.
Underwood briefly voiced that storm water could be a potential problem with a portion of the area having rocks. Jones said that plans regarding traffic flow and storm water management will have to be part of the proposal once the council considers it.
Roberts later said that approximately two-thirds of the area would be left “untouched” as a green space.
Lastly was James Vining, who asked if there would be barriers put up during construction to prevent damage to the yards of residents and if there would be addendums in case damage does occur. Roberts said that these would be observed.
In other business the council:
- Approved building maintenance to the Palmerdale Homesteads Community Center for $68,306,
- Approved a flood mitigation project for the Palmerdale Fire District station for $27,000 and
- Appointed Lesa Dotman, Grant Mitchell, and Andre Roper to the Zoning Board of Adjustments.
Pinson City Council meets on the first and third Thursdays of every month at City Hall on 4410 Main Street. Live-streamed meetings can be seen on the city’s Facebook page.
Nathan Prewett can be reached at nthomasp6@gmail.com.