By Jessica Jones
Journal intern
The Mountain Brook City Council held a public hearing July 8 to determine future land development of the Vine Street transitional zoning district.
City Manager Sam Gaston said the purpose of the zoning ordinance amendment is to improve the Vine Street area and encourage redevelopment.
“We’re trying to encourage the area to be redeveloped but at the same time not intrude into the residential sections, so there’s kind of a mix of office, professional and residential or some limited retail in that location,” he said.
The amendment is the result of lots that, because of their size, have no use, said Dana Hazen, city planner.
“There are some lots that are along the west side of Vine Street and between the commercial use and single family houses on the east side of Vine,” Hazen said. “With their current zoning, nothing can be done with these lots.”
The property on the east side of Vine Street would be eligible for rezoning to the Vine Street transitional district, Hazen said.
“But it would not force anyone to rezone,” Hazen said.
If the ordinance is adopted, those who choose to rezone would first need permission to do so, officials said.
“People would actually have to request rezoning in the area first,” Gaston said. “Most of the area now is zoned to a mixture of local businesses, professional and residential-D. So there are some zoning classifications over there, but this will give people the opportunity if they wanted to rezone their property, then they would be subject to the new regulation as far as setbacks and parking,” he said.
Some have expressed concern about the development, but Gaston said these concerns have been taken into consideration.
“One property owner has made a lot of suggestions. Most of those suggestions have been incorporated into the zoning amendment,” he said. “A few people had some questions about the clarity about some of the language, but that’s being worked on by our attorney.”
The public hearing continued on July 22.