By Terry Schrimscher
SPRINGVILLE — The Springville City Council held a special called meeting on April 29 to address zoning issues for the developments at the former Wright Farms property on Village Springs Road and the Sweetwater subdivision off of AL-23.
The amended zoning for the Wright Farms development, which was annexed into the city in 2018, was largely a procedural issue.
“The property was brought into the city as a planned unit development. That is not changing,” city attorney James Hill said. “The ordinance says when the lines inside the master plans change, it requires a change of the ordinance.”
The changes were prompted by a council vote in March to outsource sewer services to Odenville. The original master plan for the development included on-site sewage processing, but the recent change allows for more green space and changes in lot sizes.
The changes in lot lines will reduce the number of 65 foot and 85 foot lots available and could potentially increase the number of 100 foot lots from 100 up to 130.
The Wright Farm development caused considerable controversy when it was first proposed. Many Springville citizens opposed the project, fearing the additional burden on roads and schools. Part of the compromise with the developer of the property included a reduction in the number of proposed homes.
Ordinance 2019-12 amending the zoning for 1231 Village Springs Road, the Wright Farm development, was approved.
The second zoning issue addressed in the special called meeting involved the existing Sweetwater subdivision, which was annexed into the District 2 of the city last year. The neighborhood, in the unincorporated St. Clair Springs area, already existed when the property was annexed into the city.
Some of the Sweetwater subdivision is classified as residential annexed nonconforming.
“It’s a unique concept,” Hill said. “The property was annexed after having already been developed. It doesn’t quite fit any of our zoning, so we zone it as is.”
Hill added that the R7 designation, accepting the existing property as nonconforming, does not create any further precedent. Additional construction on the property would be required to conform to city zoning standards.
Ordinance 2019-13 amending the zoning ordinance for the Sweetwater subdivision was adopted.
Both ordinances were previously recommended by the planning and zoning commission in a public hearing.
Mayor William Isley adjourned the meeting after the votes.