The Planning Commission deferred item 92, an applicant request for variances tied to a proposed one-story retail center (Alabama Plaza) fronting West Alabama.

Staff said the applicant sought a reduced building line (5-foot ground-floor building line and a 0-foot canopy line) along a major collector. Neighbors and local civic leaders told commissioners a deed restriction on at least one lot in the tract prohibits business uses and asked that the city enforce those restrictions if applicable.

Residents said traffic congestion and safety are major issues at the Woodhead & West Alabama intersection. A nearby resident described heavy morning and afternoon congestion caused by school drop-off and pickup at St. Stephens and pedestrian crossings to Lanier Middle School, and said the intersection regularly floods—"when it floods, it floods severely enough to make it impassable," he said—alleging a collapsed storm drain. Another neighbor said the proposal has only one driveway planned, onto Woodhead, which residents said would put queuing and circulation too close to an already clogged intersection.

Joanna Spires, president of the Lancaster Place Civic Association, and Doreen Cohen, another adjacent resident, asked the commission to place a hold on permitting until deed restrictions are verified. James Rinaldo, a critical care physician who lives adjacent to the site, warned that the single-entry configuration and peak-hour congestion would impede emergency access and urged the commission to reject the variance.

Planning staff told the commission legal review of deed restrictions and any existing enforcement hold is under way; staff recommended deferral to allow legal review. Commissioners voted to defer the item for two weeks so staff and legal can complete the deed-restriction review and check the record for any enforcement holds.

Action taken: Item 92 was deferred for legal review of deed restrictions and related traffic/flooding concerns. Staff will report back at the commissions next meeting.