By Crystal McGough, Editor
TRUSSVILLE – The Trussville City Hall annex was a packed house Tuesday night, Aug. 22, for a public hearing during the council meeting regarding proposed changes to the Trussville Springs Master Plan.
Following the hearing, the council voted on Ordinance 2023-017 P&Z, resulting in four “no’s” and one abstention from Council President Lisa Bright, who explained she had a conflict.
“Motion carries and the master plan will not be accepted,” Bright said.
The hearing opened with a presentation from developers Barry Stalnaker and Bill Lewis.
“We were originally zoned back in 2005 for 586 units of various different types,” Stalnaker said. “What we’re asking to do is to take mixed-used and multi-family density – this used to be on the south side of (Highway 11), between the river and the highway – and move it all across the street into one block, and then that will change the zoning between the railroad and the river so that everything in that area will now be single-family.”
Stalnaker said they are currently working on Phase 3, which will include cottages on the riverside and townhouses in back of the railroad.
“The blue (area) is the real thing that’s changing,” he said. “Under our current zoning, we’re zoned for 152 units of mixed use and 100 units of multi-family. What we’re proposing to do is take all of that … and combine it together and put it in this blue area.”
Speaking on the “blue area,” which residents of the area mentioned is on a steep hill and includes a large rock quarry, area resident Patricia Cox had this to say:
“If you plan to build there, you’re going to have to build around that quarry, you’re going to have to make it safe, and you’re going to have to do something like blast to be able to build up there. … And I don’t know exactly how someone older than me is going to be able to get up in there because that’s going to be so high. Most people who are in assisted living may have a wheelchair … may have a different way to walk. That is not going to be beneficial to them.”
Stalnaker said during his presentation that geotechnical engineers from Building & Earth told him there is a natural rock wall that could act as a retainer wall.
“This area, we’ll just have natural earth basically being a retaining wall and then up above it, we envision terracing into the hillside to have multi-story buildings up above,” he said. “So what we’re looking at is probably a mix of elevator buildings and maybe some duplexes and some cottages that we’re asking to restrict to senior living.”
The multi-story buildings would be three-stories, he said.
Council President Bright pointed out that, according to the master plan, all 252 units would exit onto Highway 11, right where the road changes from five lanes to two lanes, a fact which many community members said worried them about traffic issues.
Another issue mentioned by many residents was that several of the council member questions to Stalnaker were answered with assumptions and uncertainty.
“Just to be clear, you said that no civil engineer has seen this plan for this cutout for buildings,” Councilor Jaime Anderson said.
Stalnaker replied in the affirmative, adding that certain parts of the plan had not yet been engineered and were “conceptual.”
“I just want to confirm, so you don’t have confirmation that you can actually do the terracing based on geotechnical yet,” Bright said. “Am I correct on that?”
Again, Stalnaker said this was correct, adding that if for any reason it did not work out, he would have to return to the council and discuss alternative options.
Christopher Cox, who is an engineer, pointed out several potential issues that may come up when it gets to the point of bringing in environmental and/or civil engineers for the project.
“We haven’t been provided with an environmental engineering report … (or) a civil engineering report,” Cox said. “In essence, I would say get the engineering reports, then you can make an informed decision about what is best for Trussville.”
In total, 14 individuals spoke during the public comments portion of the hearing, with many in the audience showing agreement and support through applause.
Members of the audience also applauded after the council voted the ordinance down, and expressed their gratitude toward the city council for taking their concerns into consideration.
In other city business, the council approved:
- An ordinance to annex the remainder of Glendale Farms
- A proclamation declaring HTHS Homecoming Parade a Citywide Event
- A resolution to declare various Public Works assets surplus
- A resolution to declare various IT assets surplus
- A resolution to approve unpaid leave for a recreation employee
Mayor Buddy Choat reminded the public that they are invited to a public forum on Glendale Farms at the Trussville Civic Center on Tuesday, Aug. 29.
“Next Tuesday night, you’ll have an opportunity to come to the Civic Center and look at Glendale Farms,” Choat said. “We have 230 acres out there that we’ve had some folks look at. We want your input as to what you would like to see on that site. Obviously, our intentions when we bought it was to put an elementary school there, if possible. But from 6 to 7:30 p.m., it’s a come-and-go – it’s nothing formal – if you’ll come to our Civic Center next Tuesday night, we’d love to have your input.”
The Trussville City Council meets on second and fourth Tuesdays of each month at 6 p.m., at the Trussville City Hall Annex. A workshop is usually held on the Thursday preceding the council meeting at 5 p.m.