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By JOYANNA LOVE | Managing Editor

The Clanton City Council is pursuing rezoning 815 Poplar Springs Road from AG Agricultural District to B-2 General Business District after recently purchasing the property. The Clanton Planning Commission recommended approving the requested change.

A public hearing for the rezoning request was held at the Sept. 26 Clanton City Council meeting.

Bob Woods, chairman of the Clanton Planning Commission, spoke in favor of the rezoning.

“The intent of the city is to attract a business development to the area, to the property, so it was more logical to rezone this property to business district zoning,” Woods said. “Logical in that for a business to qualify for a business loan the property must be zoned business district.”

He also mentioned that the 2030 comprehensive plan adopted by the city in 2007 has the best use of this property as business district.

Jasmine Harris, who lives next to the property scheduled to be rezoned, stated concerns in opposition to the rezoning, including how close it was to residential property, potential noise as well as parking, litter and excess rain runoff concerns.

Harris said the type of business would make a difference.

“I just have a lot of questions,” Harris said.

A vote is expected at a future meeting.

The council also heard the first reading of ordinance changes to add a four way stop at the intersection of Country Club Drive, Temple Road and Thrash Road, reduce the speed limit to 35 miles per hour on Temple and Thrash roads and reduce the speed limit to 25 miles per hour during school hours on Temple Road. Mayor Jeff Mims said the intersection improvements would be paid for with a grant. An ordinance change prohibiting excessive noise from all-terrain vehicles was also hear. A vote on these ordinance changes is expected at a future meeting.

Also, during the meeting, the council approved:

• Participating in the Severe Weather Preparedness Tax Holiday Feb. 24-26.
• Renaming a portion of Holiday Inn Drive to Big M Boulevard.
• Declaring garbage carts surplus to be disposed of.
• Renaming a portion of Fifth Avenue N and Park Drive to Clay Carroll Parkway in honor of the professional baseball player Clay Carroll. He played for the Cincinnati Reds when they won three division titles, a national pendant and the 1975 World Series title. An official ceremony is being planned for February.