Prattville planning commission tables rezoning request for 1.01-acre parcel near city airport

The Prattville Planning Commission on May 15 tabled a recommendation on a rezoning request to change a 1.01-acre portion of a larger property at the corner of Groovy Airport Road and Aviation Way from FAR (forest, agriculture and recreation) to T1 (manufactured-home).

Petitioner and property owner Ronald C. Johnson told the commission the land has been in his family for three generations and that he intends to retire on the parcel. "All I wanna do is go back home where I grew up and retire there. That's my plan," Johnson said during the public hearing.

The commission's action came after staff and commissioners discussed inconsistencies between the resolution packet — which described the parcel as 16.37 acres — and the applicant's stated intent to rezone only a 1.01-acre parcel (Parcel A). Planning staff and commissioners advised that the one-acre piece must be a separate, clearly described legal parcel before a rezoning could be finalized. Planning staff recommended the applicant submit a subdivision application and a recorded plat at the same time as the rezoning request so city departments (planning, engineering, public works) could complete their reviews.

Commissioner Mullins and other members emphasized that a rezoning ordinarily requires a well-defined legal description. The applicant said he had survey stakes and a legal description for the 1.01-acre area; Greg Gillen, the surveyor referenced by the applicant, had spoken to planning staff earlier, according to the petitioner. Planning staff member Josh said he would confirm zoning rules and review submitted documents. The commission chair closed the public hearing and moved the matter into business discussion where staff reiterated the subdivision requirement.

Instead of forwarding a recommendation to city council at this meeting, commissioners voted to table the item to the next Planning Commission meeting to allow the applicant to submit the subdivision application and plat and for city departments to complete their review. The commission called for a vote to table; the motion carried by voice vote.

Next steps outlined to the applicant were to file a subdivision application with a preliminary plat showing Parcel A as a separate legal description, complete required city reviews of frontage and easements, and then return for a combined subdivision/rezoning hearing. The commission noted that after the Planning Commission makes a recommendation, the rezoning ordinance would still require city council action to take effect.

Details in the file show the property's future land-use designation as mixed-use commercial and that the parcel is located south of the city airport and north of Highway 14. The applicant told commissioners he plans to keep the remainder of the acreage as hay fields.