Council Hears Mixed Reaction to Avenue Overlay in UDC Amendment; Carroll says overlay will enable affordable housing

The Mobile City Council opened and closed a public hearing on a proposed amendment to the city’s Unified Development Code to add Article 15, a historic "Avenue" overlay that council supporters say restores lot-size flexibility and enables affordable housing in long-established neighborhoods.

At the hearing, Reggie Hill, a member of the public, asked that the item be returned to the entitlement committee for further review, saying residents lacked detailed information about the amendment and expressing concern the overlay could be used to alter neighborhood voting populations or to displace long-term property owners. Sabrina Mass, a resident who said developers had previously altered her yard without adequate notice, urged the council to ensure consistent treatment across neighborhoods and stronger community notification.

Councilman Carroll responded at length, saying he helped draft the Avenue overlay and that the change corrects parts of the UDC that prevented homeowners in affected neighborhoods from rebuilding on small lots. Carroll said the overlay permits smaller lot development patterns that historically existed in the area, including zero-lot-line and combined housing configurations, and is intended to support neighborhood revitalization and affordable housing rather than to force displacement. He announced a June 24 groundbreaking for an initial cluster of five houses and said 35 properties are in play for future affordable and attainable housing work in the neighborhood.

The council closed the hearing after public comment; no formal vote on final adoption was recorded during the meeting. Several speakers asked that the council or its committees provide more detailed written materials and outreach to affected residents before a final decision is taken.

Why it matters: Council members framed the overlay as a corrective to recent UDC restrictions that limited rebuilding and affordable infill; residents said the process needs clearer public notice and safeguards to prevent unintended displacement. The outcome will affect zoning rules, lot-size flexibility, and redevelopment possibilities in the named neighborhoods if the ordinance is adopted.

Details and next steps: Carroll said the overlay will enable building on smaller lots and allow property-line adjustments to accommodate affordable units; he invited residents and other council members to request the written overlay text. The council did not take a final adoption vote at this meeting; the public hearing record was closed.

Speakers quoted in this article spoke during the public hearing portion of the agenda or during council announcements.