Planning Commission postpones Jamie Morris preliminary plat after zoning concerns

The City of Prattville Planning Commission on Dec. 19 postponed action on the Jamie Morris Plat No. 1 preliminary plat for a parcel at 279 Gardner Road to its next meeting to allow further review and discussion of zoning and flag-lot concerns.

Staff presented the preliminary plat and noted the site is zoned R-4. The submittal showed the existing parcel would be divided into two lots; staff said the upper lot would be about 0.55 acre and the overall parcel is approximately 3.45 acres. The petitioner requested waivers for sidewalks and curb-and-gutter along Gardner Road.

Several adjacent property owners asked what type and how many houses might be developed. A nearby owner asked whether single-family construction would be required and whether manufactured homes would be permitted; planning staff replied that permanent, foundation-built single-family homes are required and "no manufactured home is allowed in this site." A commenter and a commissioner noted R-4 zoning permits single-family and multifamily uses, and the commissioner said he was "not going to be supporting this today" unless the petitioner pursued a zoning change to more clearly limit housing type.

A planning staff member suggested postponing to the commission's next meeting so the petitioner and staff could address concerns; a commissioner moved to postpone to the January meeting and that motion carried by raised-hand vote. The commission’s earlier reading of a resolution approving the preliminary plat (with waiver) was superseded by the postponement action. No final action on the plat or any waiver was taken at the Dec. 19 meeting.

Staff said affected property owners will receive notification if the petitioner re-submits or the commission schedules the item again; the commission noted that further subdivision would require construction of a city street and cul-de-sac if lots are further divided in the future.