Mobile City Planning Commission approves multiple subdivisions, denies McFarland Road sidewalk waiver

The Mobile City Planning Commission on Sept. 19 approved a series of subdivision plats and several sidewalk-waiver requests but denied a sidewalk waiver connected to a 108-lot subdivision at 231 McFarland Road.

The commission voted to approve the subdivision for 231 McFarland Road but denied the applicant’s request to waive the sidewalk requirement. The applicant, Tim Lawley of Sawgrass Engineering, told commissioners the project team was working with city engineering to remove milling from the plans and “just do some restriping.” In public comment, resident Ashley Thrash said she opposed the proposed townhomes near her backyard and asked the commission to deny the plan or move the units, saying, “I’m asking that you deny them or move them to the other side of the subdivision … a two story townhome completely towers over my kid playing in the yard.” Staff noted there is roughly 100 feet between Thrash’s property line and the nearest townhome but pointed out a hammerhead turnaround and stub in the plan that affect the immediate geometry.

Beyond McFarland Road, the commission approved a number of other subdivision applications, including a 64-lot resubmittal on Dawes Road that the applicant said is nearing completion with paving and sidewalk work remaining, and it approved several lot-width and corner-radius waivers where staff recommended conditional approval. Engineer Donnie Stovall told the commission the Dawes Road project previously had preliminary approval, an active land-disturbance permit and is moving toward final platting.

The commission also considered a rezoning request for 6950 Moffett Road (from limited neighborhood business, LB2, to single-family residential, R-1) and voted to approve the rezoning after adopting required findings of fact. Another item was a major modification to an existing planned unit development; the commission approved the planning modification and the PUD amendment after members made and seconded motions including the specified findings.

A notable exchange occurred during discussion of a subdivision that included Lot 6 (part of the parcel at 6137 Todd Acres Drive). Council member Ben Reynolds, speaking during the public hearing, urged the commission to include in its findings a reference to a prior city council action and a memorandum of understanding that he said rezoned the parcel to R-1. Reynolds asked the commission to make a finding of fact reflecting the council’s earlier decision; staff and counsel responded that the planning commission’s role for the item was to act on the subdivision plat and that the commission should not adjudicate the correctness of prior rezoning decisions.

Votes at a glance: - Item 1 (231 McFarland Road) — Subdivision: approved (motion made by speaker 14; passed). Sidewalk waiver: denied (motion made by speaker 14; failed). - Item 14 (related to Item 1) — Subdivision and associated rezoning: approved (motions passed). - Item 2 (1859 Tollman Avenue) — Subdivision: approved (motion passed). - Item 3 (1752 Langdon Drive) — Subdivision: approved (motion passed). - Item 4 (651 Todd Acres Drive) — Subdivision: approved (motion passed). - Item 5 (East Side of Alba Club Road) — Subdivision with lot-width waiver: approved (motion passed). - Item 6 (69 North Monterey) — Subdivision with corner-radius/flag-lot waiver: approved (motion passed). - Item 7 (6137 Todd Acres Drive / 5632 Commerce Blvd W) — Subdivision, discussion about zoning accuracy: subdivision motion approved; councilman’s request for a separate finding was not adopted as a zoning determination. - Item 8 (NW corner Congress & N. Claiborne) — Subdivision with amended staff conditions (primary frontages; Lot 8 curb cut): approved (motion passed). - Item 9 (Dawes Road resubmittal) — 64-lot subdivision renewal: approved (motion passed). - Item 10 (US Highway 90 West) — Sidewalk waiver: approved (motion passed). - Item 11 (4297 Riviera Duchene Road) — Sidewalk waiver (excluding Halls Mill): approved (motion passed). - Item 12 (6950 Moffett Road) — Rezoning LB2→R-1: approved after adoption of findings. - Item 13 (1 Hardwood Lane) — Major modification and PUD amendment: approved with required findings.

Why it matters: these approvals authorize new lots and subdivisions that will be eligible for development and address several local sidewalk connections and waivers, which affect pedestrian access and the future shape of neighborhoods. The denial of the McFarland Road sidewalk waiver signals the commission’s willingness to require pedestrian infrastructure where staff and some commissioners believe it should be provided.

What’s next: most approved plats move forward to final platting and recording according to staff conditions; the commission noted that appeals for plat or rezoning decisions may be filed with the circuit court. The city’s planning department maintains the record of adopted findings and the official zoning map.

Sources: applicant presentations and public comments at the Sept. 19 Mobile City Planning Commission meeting; staff comments and motions recorded in the official meeting transcript.