Planning commission recommends rezoning Beverly Heights to SFR-3, exempts one lot

The Tuscaloosa Planning & Zoning Commission on Feb. 16 recommended rezoning roughly 11 acres in the Beverly Heights neighborhood from SFR-4 to SFR-3 and exempted Lot 2, where a duplex is under construction, to remain SFR-4.

Councilman Kip Tyner, who requested the change, told the commission the rezoning would "help to stabilize the neighborhood" and protect long-term homeowners who have contended with high concentrations of student rentals. Tyner asked the commission to preserve Lot 2 — owned by David Furman and currently under construction as a duplex — from the blanket rezoning.

Opponents and neighbors raised concerns about lot-size rules and the effect a rezoning would have on the ability of property owners to rebuild after a fire or tornado. Blake Quarter of Beverly Heights said converting lots to SFR-1 or SFR-3 could render many parcels "nonconforming" and prevent owners from rebuilding to their current footprints. Richard Evans, a Beverly Heights resident, emphasized the scale of a nearby new structure and said it had gone "from a 3 bedroom, 2 bath structure to a 6 bedroom, 6 bath structure," raising worries about traffic and occupant density.

Staff planning officials described the zoning categories and minimum lot sizes: SFR-3 and SFR-4 share smaller minimum lot-size characteristics than SFR-1, and SFR-3 would prevent duplexes and townhomes while preserving lot sizes more compatible with existing development. Staff advised that SFR-3 would reduce the number of nonconforming lots compared with SFR-1 and would meet the neighborhood's stated goal of preventing additional duplexes and townhomes.

After discussion and public comment, a commissioner moved to recommend approval of ZO1-26 as SFR-3 with the exclusion of Lot 2 to remain SFR-4; the motion carried.

The commission’s recommendation will be forwarded to the City Council, which makes the final decision on rezonings that are recommending items.