By The Trussville Tribune staff reports
TRUSSVILLE — The Trussville City Council heard concerns over a proposed development on Highway 11 during the public hearing section of its regular meeting on April 23. The proposal is to rezone a parcel of property on U.S. Highway 11 from R2 residential to a combination of C2 commercial and RG residential garden homes. The property is located across the highway from the Winn-Dixie shopping center, which is zoned C2.
The property is bordered by homes on Dew Drive and Birch Street. The only commitments for the commercial portion of the property currently in place are with the Trussville Board of Education and a gas station and convenience store. Under C1 zoning, the BOE would be permissible, but the gas station and convenience store would require a special exemption from the Board of Zoning and Adjustments.
Concerns from residents there include added traffic, school overcrowding, less green space, the smell of gas and garbage, water runoff and noise.
Kimberly Andreae, who lives on Dew Drive, spoke at Tuesday night’s council meeting, as well as the Planning and Zoning meeting in March. She said she is opposed to the plans for several reasons. One, she said, there is no reason for another gas station on that section of Highway 11.
“We already have two on Highway 11 that are easily accessible and both are less than a mile away,” Andreae said.
Andreae also said when it comes to commercial development, there are plenty of other spots around the city available for purchase. She also said traffic is a concern along with safety issues she is already seeing in her neighborhood.
“Speeding is already prevalent in our neighborhood by people who cut through to avoid the speed bumps on Highland Avenue. How many more cars will be attempting this?” she said.
Some residents suggested the city buy the property, but Mayor Buddy Choat said the city has not discussed that option.
Developer David Stovall said he has and will address concerns and do what he can to help ease them. But he said the property owner has private property rights.
“I understand the adjacent property owners are upset about the fact that this property is being developed because they have been looking at it as long as they’ve lived there and the trees are beautiful and I agree with that,” Stovall said. “I would say, if I was one of those adjacent property owners, I wouldn’t be too happy about it either. I’ve heard you all speak several times that your responsibility to look out for the city of Trussville as a whole, however, when that concern becomes a violation of someone’s personal property rights, I would disagree with that.”
Stovall also said there is a need for a gas station on the side of the road where this development would be. When it comes to water runoff issues, Stovall said the city and the state have design standards that would be followed to ensure the best practices are in place during the building process.
City Clerk Lynn Porter said as long as a developer or property owner has plans that go along with city regulations, those plans will likely be approved.
The council voted 3-2 to make Monday’s reading the first reading after Councilman Alan Taylor asked to be given more time to learn about the proposal and the objections to the proposal.
Taylor was unable to attend a previous meeting where the plan was discussed because he was on vacation. The council will vote on the rezoning proposal at its next meeting on Tuesday, May 14. There will be no public hearing on the issue at that time.
The Trussville Planning and Zoning Committee denied a request to rezone the property during a meeting on March 11.