Truck terminal eyes Falkville as location
Venture Trucking is looking at Falkville as a location for a new terminal and town officials are taking steps to make that happen.
The town’s planning commission discussed a proposed zoning ordinance change that would allow a truck terminal to operate on Buster Road in the northwest corner of the Hwy. 55 and I-65 interchange at a regular meeting Tuesday night.
The accommodation could be met by establishing an M-2 zone for light industry, town attorney Larry Madison told the commission.
The consensus was that such a move would be beneficial to the town because it would generate additional tax revenue from sales made at Love’s Travel Center.
Increased traffic on Hwy. 55 was the only concern raised.
Mayor Bob Ramey said Love’s is supportive of having the truck terminal in Falkville.
“I met with the manager the other day and he told me he could anticipate Venture’s 80 trucks buying 8,000 gallons of diesel a day, Ramey said. “In addition, truck drivers buy $13 worth of merchandise over the counter on average every time they stop to fill up. ”
“Diesel sales alone could mean as much at $25,000 a year for the town,” he pointed out.
The planning commission decided to pursue the proposed zoning change by setting a work session on Tues., Dec. 17, at 6 p.m. and a pubic hearing on Thurs., Dec. 19. If recommended by the planning commission, the amended ordinance could be considered for adoption by the council at its next regular meeting, Tues., Jan. 7, 2014.