From The Trussville Tribune staff reports
TRUSSVILLE – The developer of a controversial plan for a piece of property, off Highway 11, presented a new proposal to the Planning and Zoning Board on Thursday, June 6, 2019. The property, which is bordered by homes on Dew Drive and Birch Street, is known as the Hamilton property.
David Stovall, a developer representing Highpointe Properties, LLC, proposed a new plan during the board’s work session, to rezone the property across the street from Winn-Dixie to C-2 (Commercial), with six restrictions.
The plan includes a gas station, a new Trussville City Schools Board of Education building, a community park, footbridges and 6-8 lots to be used for commercial use.
The original proposal for the rezoning of the property included upscale, residential garden homes. That plan did not sit well with some residents in nearby neighborhoods. Stovall said the developers and the property owners listened to the residents’ concerns and addressed them with the new proposal.
Restrictions on Lot 3, if zoned C-2, are as follows.
- Zoning will be restricted to a maximum of eight lots.
Stovall said the markup of the property includes six lots, but two of them could be split if needed. - A park will be created by Highpointe that will include a walking trail, picnic tables, open fields and shade trees. The park would be gifted to the city of Trussville. The park is contingent on the city of Trussville agreeing to accept and upkeep the property. Highpointe also pointed out parts of the park may have to be used for water retention.
- Highpointe Properties, LLC, would exchange the BOE property for a larger lot for the construction of offices.
- Lot 3, which would sit between the BOE property and the gas station, would be restricted in its use from fast food restaurants with a drive-thru, with the exception of coffee shops, convenience stores, auto repair businesses, carwash businesses, businesses that sell automobiles, ATVs, marine vehicles or mini-warehouses. Financial institutions with a drive-thru component do not fall under the restrictions of this provision.
- Highpoint Properties, LLC, would work with DOT officials and adjacent property owners to install a traffic signal at the entrance of the property.
Stovall said DOT would ultimately have to agree with the need for a light. - The convenience store planned for the property will have an architectural style that would include a pitched roof with asphalt shingles or a pitched standing seam metal roof on the store and canopy. It would also have an all brick or rock exterior and would have all brick or rock columns.
Stovall said the covenants were drawn up to ensure residents and the city that the developers will complete the plan as it has been presented. He said he believes the original plan would benefit those residents more than the new plan.
“I still say that it would’ve been in the best interest of all those people back there to have those houses right there as a buffer,” Stovall said.
Stovall said the original plan would’ve, immediately, nearly doubled property values in the Dew Gardens subdivision.
“So, it was definitely, I would argue to my grave, that it was in their best interest,” he said.
If the city ultimately approves the rezoning plan, all stipulations would stand, even if Highpointe Properties, LLC, backed out.
Some residents who attended the P&Z meeting said they like the new plan better than the original plan, but they still have concerns about having a public park in their backyards. They are especially unhappy with the idea of having a new gas station on that stretch of Highway 11.
The Planning and Zoning meeting will be Monday, June 10, 2019, at 7 p.m. at City Hall. There will be a public hearing on the rezoning plan before the board votes on a recommendation to send to the council.