Commission rejects sidewalk waivers, approves Heritage Luxe preliminary plat without waivers

The Prattville Planning Commission on Oct. 16 declined a developer request for sidewalk waivers for Heritage Luxe Plat 1 and subsequently approved the preliminary plat without those waivers.

Staff presented Heritage Luxe Plat 1 for a roughly 14.65-acre site at the corner of McQueen Smith Road and U.S. Highway 82 south of Major Avenue, proposing seven lots (smallest 1.36 acres; largest 3.5 acres). The applicant requested waivers from the city’s subdivision requirement that sidewalks be provided on arterial/collector streets. Staff and commissioners emphasized concerns about piecemeal sidewalk decisions undermining long-term connectivity.

Resident Wade Newman, who gave public comment, urged caution on waivers, saying piecemeal waivers make future pedestrian connections difficult: “I would ask that we not [grant waivers] ... think about them hard because the city ends up with different sidewalks in different areas.” City staff and the engineer discussed ALDOT’s jurisdiction over U.S. Highway 82 and agreed that while ALDOT may not permit sidewalks in the state right-of-way, the city could require sidewalks on interior development streets and note required sidewalks on the plat.

A motion to grant the sidewalk waivers was put to a voice vote and did not carry. The commission then read and approved a resolution to accept Heritage Luxe Plat 1 without waivers.

Staff recommended that final construction plans show sidewalks on interior streets and that any plat notes specify where sidewalks are required; staff said the city will handle enforcement and location as part of construction-plan review. No site-plan or building permits were approved at the meeting; those will be addressed in later administrative reviews.