Hanceville’s ambitions to continue revitalizing its historic downtown area now have a working blueprint, thanks to the city council’s approval Thursday of a long-term downtown improvement plan.

The plan, a collaboration with the North Alabama Regional Council of Governments (NARCOG), surveys the area’s present infrastructure, aesthetics, economic activity and traffic flow with an eye toward adjusting municipal regulations, policies, and outreach to encourage growth at the city’s center.

Funded via a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) from the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA), the plan identifies four main areas for improvement, focusing on design, organization, marketing / promotion, and economic vitality.

While the city is under no obligation to carry out the plan’s recommendations, local leaders hope to implement as much of the plan as the city can afford. Early objectives in the plan call for adopting design guidelines and best practices set forth by Main Street Alabama, revising municipal zoning rules to allow for a mixed-use downtown district, rezoning property along a portion of Bangor Street from Light Industrial to Institutional or General Business use, and adopting the latest International Building Code to help preserve the area’s historic buildings.

In other business at its regular meeting Thursday, the council:

Recognized Hanceville officer William Tyler Isbell for obtaining his Alabama Peace Officers Standards and Training Commission (APOSTC) certification.

Approved an invoice payment of $3,617.76 to the Cullman County Sheriff’s Office for the Hanceville Police Department’s continued participation in a shared law enforcement database managed by software from Spillman Technologies.

Surplussed for auction on eBay a city-owned Ford Crown Victoria recently involved in an accident, with a minimum bid of $650.

urplussed for auction on eBay a number of retired traffic signals.

Approved the city’s participation in the upcoming Alabama weather preparedness sales tax holiday, to be held the weekend of Feb. 22-24.

Reappointed Waid Smith to the Hanceville Water and Sewer Board for a six-year term.

Annexed a 2.73-acre piece of residential property, located in east Hanceville along Alabama Highway 91, into the city.

Approved the minutes of the Nov. 27 regular council meeting.

The next regular council meeting will be held at 6 p.m. Dec. 27 in the council meeting room at Hanceville City Hall. A 5:30 p.m. public work session will precede the meeting.

 

Benjamin Bullard can be reached by phone at 256-734-2131 ext. 145.