For a second week, Rock the South producers Shane Quick and Nathan Baugh, third and second from right, met informally with local residents after the Cullman City Council meeting Monday night. (W.C. Mann for The Cullman Tribune)
CULLMAN – On Monday evening, the Cullman City Council passed a modification of the City’s zoning ordinance, allowing apartments as a permitted use of properties zoned as R-4 residential districts. The new wording of chapter 62, section 193 reads:
PERMITTED USES.
(1) Single-family detached dwellings;
(2) Townhouse-type single-family attached dwellings, in accordance with section 62-711;
(3) Duplex attached units;
(4) Condominiums, in accordance with the permitted uses for condos as mentioned in section 62-712;
(5) Accessory structures such as, but not limited to:
a. Private detached garages;
b. Private barbecue pits;
c. Private swimming pools;
d. Private storage buildings;
e. Play areas; and
f. Play equipment;
(6) Public utility structures, such as electrical substations, natural gas metering stations, sewer pumping stations, and fire stations;
(7) Similar items so designated by the planning commission which come within the spirit or intent of the zoning district; and
(8) Multi-family dwellings of four or more units.
A large group of Cullman residents came out for the second week to argue against the modification to the ordinance, but the council limited the number of those who could speak, shortening the debate. Protesters this week and last expressed concern over property values, crime, neighborhood atmosphere and the impact of increased numbers of residents on the city’s school system.
After hearing residents’ concerns, the council passed the modification unanimously. Afterward, Council President Jenny Folsom told The Tribune that apartments have been allowed under R-4 zoning before, but under “Conditional Uses” instead of “Permitted Uses.” Apartment complexes could already be built in R-4 zones, but the modification of the wording from “conditional” to “permitted” will shorten the approval process for developers.
Folsom said, “It’s been in our ordinance for quite some time, numbers and numbers of years, 30 or 40 years probably. And it mentions multi-family housing in R-4 under Conditional Uses. That condition refers them to the planning commission, and then if they approve it they can come back to the city council. It’s just one step that’s taken out of it for multi-family.”
Rock the South debated
Local residents, mostly from the Deer Trace neighborhood, also returned to protest the announcement that Rock the South is relocating to a site near their subdivision, and event producers Shane Quick and Nathan Baugh came back to address the council again and to meet informally with residents afterward to talk about the move.
Rock the South has not submitted a request for an event permit yet, and Quick said that 46 Entertainment would not do so until studies on traffic flow and other issues have been completed.
The Tribune live streamed the event, and you can view the entire council meeting at www.facebook.com/CullmanTribune/videos/589516564826393/.
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