By Chris Yow
Editor
TRUSSVILLE — A public hearing was held during the Trussville City Council meeting Tuesday night for the rezoning of two properties at 6838 and 6850 Gadsden Hwy.
Property owner Jo Ann Milam asked the city council to approve rezoning both properties to qualified commercial preferred. Currently, one part of the property is zone commercial preferred, while another is zoned residential.
“I just want it all zoned the same way so it’s easier to sell,” Milam said.
A large number of citizens from several neighborhoods that back up to the property came in protest of the matter. The concerns from most citizens who spoke against the rezoning came because of the fear a restaurant or food supplier could come into the area. The concerns with a restaurant include lighting, traffic and rodents.
Milam stated she did not have any interested buyers in the property, and if a restaurant were to approach her they would have to come before another board before gaining approval to build.
“We haven’t sold it,” Milam said. “We don’t even have an interested party. We’ve never had a restaurant talk to us.”
Those in opposition were staunchly against the idea completely, and a pair of audience members said they feared if the rezoning was approved that a restaurant would be a probability, and said they feared the board of zoning and adjustments would not consider their feelings.
Councilman Buddy Choat assured those citizens the board of zoning and adjustments would not “rubber stamp” anything.
Milam has made several concessions to the homeowners already that go above and beyond what the city’s qualifiers are, including her agreement to a larger buffer and she agreed the building could be no more than two stories. Milam, who is also on the city’s design review board, also stated the board was very strict on the style of building that would be constructed if sold and developed in the future.
To bring the matter to a vote the same night as the public hearing required unanimous consent from the council, but that could not be reached. The matter will be on the agenda at the next council meeting.