Planning body OKs 1-65, East annexation

By Staff
Clif Knight/Hartselle Enquirer
Hartselle Planning Commission has approved and recommended to the City Council for approval the annexation of a 40-acre tract of land located east of I-65 and fronting on Highway 36 and Lando-Cain Road. The proposal, which was submitted jointly by two property owners, received a 6-0-1 vote at the Jan. 3 commission meeting.
Nine acres of the tract are occupied by Hartselle Memory Gardens and are recommended for MIP zoning. The remaining 31 acres are recommended for B-4 (interstate business) zoning.
This property is earmarked as the second priority for annexation in the city's comprehensive plan and is considered to be suitable for future commercial development. It will be subject to consideration for approval at the city council's next meeting on Jan. 11.
A request to rezone a 10-acre tract fronting on Garner Road from AG-1 to R-1 met with opposition before passing on a 4-1-2 vote and being recommended to the city council for approval.
The narrow width of Garner Road and its current heavy use by mostly residential traffic raised concerns from some commission members. Funding for the upgrade of the road has not been forthcoming even though residents of the area have petitioned for relief in the recent past.
The applicant, Morgan Development, LLC is seeking the zoning change to pave the way for a single-family subdivision. The proposal is in keeping with the city's comprehensive plan.
It will be subject to a public hearing at a future council meeting before consideration for approval will be given.
The commission acted on other matters as follows: