Prattville commission recommends rezoning of 682 Covered Bridge Parkway to O1; neighbors worry about parking

The Prattville Planning Commission on Nov. 20 voted to recommend that the City Council rezone 682 Covered Bridge Parkway from R5 (patio-home residential) to O1 (office district).

Chad Peacock, the property owner, said he wants the lot rezoned to O1 ‘‘to keep the flow going with O1 lot that’s beside us’’ and to make the parcel marketable for office use. Realtor Sherry Phelps told the commission she had originally listed the property as residential but said covenants, a retention pond and surrounding O1 zoning make residential use impractical.

Planning staff recommended approval because the lot is contiguous to O1 zoning to the north. Staff (Mister Smith) described typical permitted uses in O1 as doctor/professional offices and arts studios and noted that landscaping and setback rules, including a required 10-foot Class A landscape buffer adjacent to R5, would limit building footprint on a half-acre lot.

Neighbors including Jim Slay of Sadie Circle opposed the rezoning, saying they favored keeping the area residential and worried about parking and traffic. The city engineer said staff can evaluate on-street parking and, if warranted, propose 'no on-street parking' signage to the streets committee. Staff also confirmed that a request to reduce required on-site parking would go before the Board of Zoning Adjustments and that neighbors within 500 feet would receive notice.

The commission moved and seconded the resolution recommending rezoning; the body approved the recommendation by voice vote. The resolution will be forwarded to the City Council for final action.

If the council approves the rezoning, subsequent site development would have to meet O1 district standards, landscaping and parking requirements; any request for reduced parking would be subject to BZA review with statutory notice to nearby residents.