CULLMAN – The City of Cullman Planning Commission met on Monday evening at City Hall, where the plans for city’s the newest restaurant, Panda Express, on Highway 157 by the new Wal-Mart were moved along.
With its first restaurant opening in 1983, Panda Express has grown to be the country’s largest Asian food chain with over 1,700 restaurants. The site plans for Panda Express were presented by Bill Cook of Ingenuim Enterprises, who said the 2,600 sq. ft. restaurant would offer a drive-through option. “The restaurant will provide delicious and convenient Asian cuisine to the community.”
Being too soon in the process to name a tentative groundbreaking date, Cook said he was certain it will be this year as, “the permitting is usually pretty quick and sometimes the biggest thing comes from coordinating with the landscaping and lighting engineers with the drawings.”
In other business, approval was granted to join two lots into one in the Burnham Subdivision on Catoma Lane Northeast and to move the property line between 1322 and 1404 Mitchell Road NW.
The Stone Creek subdivision, located on Convent Road and conveniently located with easy access to both Highway 278 and Highway 157, submitted a request to reduce its setbacks from its original 14 feet to 10 feet between homes. The community’s homes will be built by Davidson Homes, Inc. and the model home can be viewed at 1406 Wishing Well Drive in Cullman between the hours of 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. on Monday through Saturday.
Inconsistencies in the submitted drawings for cell tower modifications by both Verizon Wireless and AT&T were a cause for concern as both companies had used the same engineer. That engineer listed different existing schematics on the two submitted proposals, which threw up a red flag for the planning commission. However, both companies were granted their additions to the tower contingent upon the engineer revising the plan.
The annexation request for three residential properties on County Road 1320 off of Eva Road north of Highway 157 was granted. The commission voiced concern as the road has no availability for a turnaround spot for firetrucks or sanitation trucks; however, Justin Ward, owner of one of the three properties, expressed the solution. “If it helps at all, my driveway has been the turnaround point for all sanitation vehicles and the fire department and I have no issue with that.” The council, jokingly, thanked Ward for that service.
In additional business, an annexation request for a property on County Road 473 was granted and the proposed site plans for new modular restrooms at the fairgrounds near the Lion’s Club Building were approved. A request to move the property line at 10th Avenue Southeast and Sixth Street Southeast was denied, as it did not meet zoning requirements.
Lastly, a request for the city to vacate a 30-foot easement between 1409 and 1501 Main Ave. NE was recommended. The street right of way could not be used by the city and the commission will send the recommendation to the Cullman City Council, where they will decide on the fate of the easement.
Planning Commission members in attendance at Monday night’s meeting were Mayor Max Townson, Andy Page, Bobby Kelley, Cherri Drake, Steve Cummings, Mike Voss and Barrett Richard. Absent from the meeting were members Wendell Copeland and Gene Green.
The City of Cullman Planning Commission meets on the first Monday evening of each month at City Hall Auditorium at 5:30 p.m. The meetings are open to the public.
