New East Fish River Planning District Debated

Fairhope, Alabama 

 

 

Buford King.


Marla Barnes addressing crowd.

 

JUNE 6 REFERENDUM SET

Residents along the east side of Fish River from Silverhill to Weeks Bay heard pros and cons of land use zoning tonight at a packed PZK Hall in Robertsdale.

Marla Barnes, a Marlow-area resident who organized the effort, opened the meeting and then turned it over to assistant county planning director Buford King who described the process to this point, what happens next, and then answered questions from the audience.

Barnes said only registered voters living in the district will be eligible to vote (no one in city limits eligible) and mentioned her Facebook page and a g-mail address for more information. 

King said he was "not here to convince you how to vote ... but ... make sure everyone understands ... what you are doing."

Then he explained zoning versus subdivision regulations, which already exist even in un-zoned areas -- and what will happen if the referendum is successful.

There would be an immediate 180 day moratorium on most new development; a five-person committee would be appointed of residents from the district to develop the new zoning map, the same as the one meeting now for new district 39  on the west side of the river which was approved earlier this year (click). Meetings are held at the Fairhope courthouse and anyone may attend.

The new zoning map would then have to be approved by the planning commission and then the county commission for final adoption. 

NEW "BASE COMMUNITY ZONING" POPULAR ELSEWHERE

King referred to a new "base community zoning" designation that has proven popular in nearby new zoning districts 37 and 8, where almost everything is kept the same unless/until a radical change is proposed for the use of the land. New district 39 may choose to adopt it as well in parts of that district, King said.

MORE MEETINGS PLANNED

Barnes said another informational meeting is planned for May 6, but no location set yet.


Proposed new zoning district.


Comments

Anonymous said…
No thank you. I paid plenty for my property, and I wish to preserve my freedom to enjoy all lawful uses. I wouldn't mind some density controls and high developer fees to mitigate impacts on utilities infrastructure, roads, and schools, but the government won't stop there. Never has. Instead, they will adopt pages upon pages of codes and regulations, and we'll need a permit to rearrange our couch pillows. Meanwhile, the big developers will always find a way to get their way, and the little man will pay the price.
Anonymous said…
This ought to be a no brainer. Developers can do whatever they want without zoning.
Anonymous said…
Going to be wall to wall houses someday either way.