ZBA approves variances to divide Fairways HOA common lots into individual parcels on River Ridge Road

The Tuscaloosa Zoning Board of Adjustments on April 28 approved a petition from the Fairways Homeowners Association to redraw property lines and create individual lots for 15 homes on River Ridge Road NE.

Staff told the board the neighborhood was developed under an earlier planned-unit-development (PUD) regime that left many houses on commonly owned parcels managed by the HOA. The HOA petitioned to convert those common areas into standard single-family lots, a change that requires variances from the city’s current minimum lot size and setback rules because the subdivision pre-dates the present code.

Al Cabiness, representing the HOA, walked the board through the history and rationale: the arrangement left detached homes without private yards and required homeowners to seek HOA approval for modest changes. Cabiness said the HOA voted unanimously to add lot lines so each dwelling would sit on its own fee-simple lot. The proposed variances primarily involve side setbacks; the largest reduced side setback requested was to 6.5 feet on a small number of lots.

Board members said the change would make the neighborhood more conventional and easier for homeowners to manage. The board approved the variances as presented.

Al Cabiness summarized the HOA’s aim in plain terms: “the HOA has gotten together and they voted unanimously to just add lot lines and turn this into, you know, each each house on its own single single lot.”

The petition was approved during the April 28 meeting; no public opposition was recorded on the item.