A little over 18 months ago, Katherine Ennis, AICP Principal at Epiphany Collaboration LLC, began the task of creating a comprehensive plan for Pell City, a plan that would encompass 25 years of goals for future growth in the area. 

Throughout the 18-month process, Ennis met with local leaders, city workers, non-profit groups, and members of the public to discuss needs for the area. The Comprehensive plan covers everything from physical environment, housing, economic development, transportation, quality of life, recreation, land use, utilities, education, and historic preservation. 

On Jan. 25, the Pell City Planning and Zoning Board approved of the finalized document, which covers until 2040.

“This is not an ordinance, not a city regulation,” Pell City City Attorney John Rea said. “This is a document to guide how we zone, and how we direct our decisions in the future. It can change and it’s very important.”

The Planning and Zoning Board also approved to review the document annually to make any necessary updates and adjust needs as growth demands every five years. 

“We are pleased with the document,” Camaran Williams with the Planning and Zoning Board stated. “We hope to implement some plans. This will make it easier to do business in Pell City.”

The Comprehensive Plan includes extensive maps of the area, and potential future land use such as residential, commercial, industrial, and agricultural.

The Planning and Zoning Board also approved an expansion of the Fox Hollow Subdivision, with an additional 113 lots in Phase 4 of construction. Ben Watson with Inside Engineering presented plans for the expansion, including extending four existing roads that currently dead end. 

Some residents of the Fox Hollow neighborhood were concerned about the future construction. Chris Gold, former Fox Hollow Homeowners Association President, wanted to be sure that the new construction would comply with the current HOA covenants, which Watson assured her was the case.

Another resident was interested in the timeline of construction and the exact location of the properties to be extended.

“Hopefully, we will begin construction between 30-45 days,” Watson said. “We will build as fast as they are sold. This is a market driven factor, not a contractor driven one.” Construction on new homes in the Fox Hollow subdivision is expected to last between two to three years.

Another change approved by the Planning and Zoning Board was the rezoning of vacant residential property on Truss Ferry Road to M1, or light manufacturing property. Allied Mineral Products is interested in extending their current facilities with an $8 million expansion, which representatives say will bring jobs and growth to Pell City.

Residents near the proposed site were concerned about the possible noise levels and wanted to insure that a buffer between construction and residential houses would be maintained to reduce those noise levels.

The Planning and Zoning Board also elected Pat Wrigley to the position of Chairman, with current Chairman John Hoffman taking Wrigley’s position as Co-Chairman for 2018.

“Thank you for the support you’ve given me,” Hoffman said. “Tonight is a good example of what I have learned over the past years—never look at an agenda and think you know what’s going to happen.”

“The city is fortunate to have people who have served who have institutional knowledge when faced with tough decisions,” John Rea said. “We appreciate your service.”

For a copy of the 2040 Comprehensive Plan, visit http://pell-city.com/comprehensive-plan-2041/