The Prattville Planning Commission on Oct. 16 recommended rezoning an approximately 123.51‑acre tract at 1320 Old Ridge Road from FAR (Forest, Agriculture and Recreational) to Institutional, a change staff said would align zoning with the existing Central Alabama Community College campus and allow the college to site a workforce‑development training facility.

City staff presented the site and noted the future land‑use map already identifies the parcel for institutional use. Staff reviewed dimensional standards and parking ratios, saying the Code of Alabama requires parking calculations such as one space per three employees and one per five nonresident students (transcript summary of city parking standards).

Petitioner engineer Corey (recorded in the transcript as "Shoop") said the rezoning request grew from a pre‑application meeting and that rezoning would match current campus use; he described a proposed facility for workforce training and said further design and site planning would follow.

Constance Reese, a nearby resident whose property backs the parcel, said she received notice and asked whether rezoning meant immediate construction; she asked that the existing tree line be preserved to retain the appearance of a wooded lot. Staff and commissioners responded that rezoning itself does not authorize construction, that the city enforces an incompatible land‑use buffer for institutional uses adjacent to residential areas, and that the buffer would be addressed administratively during site‑plan review.

The commission read the resolution recommending rezoning and took a voice vote; the motion carried, forwarding the recommendation consistent with staff advice. Future steps include any site plans, permit reviews, and buffer enforcement during development review.