Planning commission approves multiple plats and elects new officers; one development plan deferred

The Montgomery City Planning Commission approved multiple final plats and a rezoning request and elected officers for the coming year. The board also heard public comment on several development plans and deferred one agenda item because the applicant was not present.

The commission approved final plats and related requests for a string of projects that included a college campus plat, neighborhood and commercial plats, and industrial site plats.

Key approvals and outcomes: Trinham Executive Park Plat No. 1 (final plat for property associated with Alabama Community College System/Trinham State Community College) was moved and approved; the motion carried and the plat will proceed to recording once staff signs off on remaining engineering items. A rezoning request by Churchwick Partners LLC (CWP Montgomery LLC) to change one lot on the north end of Hillmark Court from R-65M multifamily residential to B-3 commercial passed on a 7-1 vote. Final plat approvals were granted to Georgiana Convenience (final plat), Brentwood Square Plat No. 1 (planned unit development final plat), Alabama State University Plat No. 1 (3-acre consolidation for student apartments), Circle M Holdings Plat No. 1 (industrial plat) and Alabama Vascular Specialist Plat No. 1 (office lot). These motions were seconded and recorded as approved; several were unanimous.

Several development plans were the subject of public hearings but were not decided at this meeting. Recon Builders’ development plan for a new structure at 6001 Troy Highway was carried to the next meeting at staff’s recommendation because the applicant was not in attendance. Public hearings were held (no action taken during this meeting) for Summerlin Automotive Group’s service building at 911 Eastern Boulevard, the Alabama State Port Authority’s proposed intermodal facility along Mobile Highway, Browder Veneer Works’ development plan at North McDonough Street and Industrial Equipment and Supply’s building addition at West Fairview Avenue, Faulkner University’s parking and concourse project and a development plan near Hyundai Boulevard; staff and applicants answered questions where possible.

Public input: Residents spoke during hearings on several items. For the Port Authority’s intermodal facility, neighborhood representatives raised concerns about truck traffic and the proposed Greenleaf Drive entrance, urging the developer to locate the entrance farther from homes and schools. Applicants said they are coordinating with ALDOT and that a modified signalized intersection is part of the plan to manage truck traffic. Several applicants described project details for commissioners and fielded questions about buffering, site connections and amenities.

Elections and appointments: The commission elected Leslie Stone as chair for the coming year. Garrett (Garrett Smith) was elected vice chair after declining an initial nomination; Warren Adams was confirmed/executive secretary for the commission. The elections were handled by motion and second and approved by the commission.

Procedural notes: Several plat approvals were granted on the condition that final engineering and waterworks approvals are completed before recording. Staff noted that final plat recording will not occur until all engineering and agency signoffs are satisfied. Item number 2 (Recon Builders, Troy Highway) was deferred because an added application requirement now requests the applicant be present for development-plan consideration; staff and the chair agreed to carry the item to the next meeting.

What to expect next: Approved plats will move forward to recording once staff engineering signoffs are complete. Deferred and development-plan items will return to the commission at future meetings when applicants can address staff and public concerns.