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Prattville approves Briarfield Estates Plat 1 with conditions: all‑weather access for easement lots and curb-and-gutter waiver on Bridge Creek frontage
Summary
The planning commission approved Briarfield (Briarfield) Estates Plat 1, a roughly 40-acre, 23-lot subdivision, with conditions requiring all‑weather access and turnaround for five easement lots and a waiver of curb-and-gutter and sidewalks along Bridge Creek Road. Lots on the new internal street will require curb-and-gutter and sidewalks.
The Prattville Planning Commission on Feb. 20 approved the preliminary plat for Briarfield Estates Plat 1, a proposed subdivision off Bridge Creek Road, with specific conditions and waivers. The plat covers about 40 acres and proposes 23 residential lots plus five larger easement lots.
Greg Gillen of Larry E. Speaks & Associates presented the plan on behalf of the developer, Goodwin Building Company. Gillen said most lots are under one acre, with Lot 1 — adjacent to the county right-of-way — over one acre, and easement lots labeled A through E larger than five acres. The developer requested waivers for street frontage for some lots and a waiver of sidewalks and curb-and-gutter along part of the frontage.
Planning staff and the city engineer clarified that the new internal roadway in the subdivision (the unnamed new street) will require a closed drainage system with curb-and-gutter and sidewalks, but the developer requested and the commission granted a waiver to the curb-and-gutter and sidewalk requirements along Bridge Creek Road (the county-maintained frontage). The commission also considered how Lot 1 would access Bridge Creek and directed coordination with the county engineer on the access point and any county-required highway improvements.
Commissioners adopted a formal amendment requiring that easement Lots A through E have an all-weather access road and a properly sized turnaround, in accordance with city regulations, if those lots are developed. The amendment also included a condition that if the easement lots are developed in the future they must provide the all-weather access and turnaround. The commission clarified that if any of the easement lots are re-platted, that change will return to the planning commission for review.
A second amendment waived curb-and-gutter along any properties in the subdivision that are not on the new internal unnamed street; the commission discussed that the county engineer may ultimately require improvements on Bridge Creek Road. The city engineer recommended curb-and-gutter on the new internal roadway and was comfortable waiving curb-and-gutter along the county-maintained Bridge Creek frontage unless the county requires otherwise.
The final motion to approve the preliminary plat, as amended, carried. Planning staff said the resolution text will be updated to reflect the waivers requested after packet revision, and the developer will submit construction plans and coordinate with the county engineer where appropriate.
Speakers at the public hearing included an adjacent landowner who asked about erosion control because of cattle on adjacent property; staff said erosion and drainage would be addressed during construction-plan review and that the property is inside the city limits while adjacent properties remain in the county. The developer said he does not intend to use an existing concrete structure historically used as a lift station and plans septic systems for the smaller lots.
