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Council authorizes advertisement of Ermine Street rezoning and a text amendment tightening celebration‑site exemption for B&Bs
Summary
The council authorized advertisement for rezoning of 513 Ermine Street (Habitat for Humanity site) and to advertise a zoning text amendment that would narrow the “celebration site” exemption for temporary‑event rules so it applies only to bed‑and‑breakfasts in commercial zones; a public hearing is scheduled for April 15.
The Opelika City Council on March 4 agreed to advertise two planning items: a rezoning request for 513 Ermine Street and a zoning text amendment to portions of the temporary‑events rules that would change how the code defines “celebration sites” for event permitting.
Planning staff asked council permission to re‑advertise the rezoning for a roughly one‑third‑acre parcel at 513 Ermine Street, owned by Habitat for Humanity, to change the parcel’s zone to R‑5. Staff said the planning commission recommended approval and that Habitat plans to build a house on the lot. Council members asked for the advertisement so the rezoning can be heard at public hearing and a vote at future meetings.
The second item is a text amendment to sections 3.2 and 8.11.1 of the zoning code that govern plan approval, building permits and temporary structures/uses. The planning commission recommended modifying the definition of “celebration site” (currently lists hotels, conference centers, places of worship, parks and bed‑and‑breakfasts) so that bed‑and‑breakfast facilities would qualify as celebration sites only when they are in a commercial zone. The change would remove the exemption for bed‑and‑breakfasts located in residential zones, subjecting such operations to standard temporary‑event permitting. Staff said the city’s current code does not permit bed‑and‑breakfasts in residential zones; the planning commission forwarded the amendment as a separate item to allow more focused review.
Council members questioned whether the amendment would affect the Renfro House, a property that operates under a variance granted in the late 1980s. Staff clarified that a variance granting a use does not expire and that the amendment could affect the operation (permitting) of events at a bed‑and‑breakfast in a residential zone if such uses are later allowed; councilmembers asked staff to prepare clearer materials for the advertised public hearing. The council set a public hearing for April 15 for the text amendment and authorized advertisement for both items.
