Community Action Partnership requests setback variance to build training center behind Decatur facility

At a Decatur City Board of Zoning and Adjustments meeting that began at 4:02 p.m., Community Action Partnership in North Alabama requested a 4-foot side-yard setback variance to build a training center 12 feet from the property line at 105 Fourteenth Street Southwest.

The variance request, presented by Richard Humphrey of the law firm P. Wright McAnally, would allow the nonprofit to construct a nonresidential training center behind its existing facility and connect pavement and access between the two parcels. Humphrey told the board, "Community Action is is seeking a, variance to build a basically a training a new training center, behind their existing facility off central." He described an existing north–south drainage ditch that drains several properties and said some piping and rerouting would be necessary to accommodate the building and access.

The request was described as a model home-style structure that "would not be a functioning residence," a point Humphrey confirmed after a board question. The building department had no comment during the hearing. Planning staff said they had discussed the proposal in a pre-meeting and had consulted with Fire Marshal Sam Bracken; planning staff said they were "good with this." Public testimony was not recorded in the provided excerpt.

The transcript excerpt does not record a formal motion or a roll-call vote on this case. The board heard questions and departmental comments but no final board action is shown in the supplied portion of the record.

Details recorded at the hearing: the property is in an Institutional (I.D.) district; the variance sought was described as a 4-foot side-yard variance to allow the structure to sit 12 feet from the property line. Board members present and identified during the meeting included Delaine Dean, Chester Ayers, Tom Holt and Mark Moody.

Because the excerpt does not include a final ruling, any further approvals or conditions that the board may impose are not recorded here. If the board later takes a formal vote, that action and any conditions would be part of the official minutes.

For follow-up: applicants typically require building permits and any conditions imposed by the planning department or other reviewing agencies; planning staff indicated prior coordination with the fire marshal during a pre-application review.