Northport Moves Forward On Capital Projects, Pedestrian/Bike Plan

NORTHPORT, AL — The Northport City Council had a full agenda for its regular meeting Monday night. Here are the stories we were following.

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• The Council unanimously approved 19 different annexations to rezone roughly 186 acres for a new development on Highway 69 N. Bruce Higginbotham of Porter-Higginbotham Engineering spoke on behalf of the developer, Chris Dobbs, saying 15 acres would be rezoned for commercial use for businesses suitable for the area, while the remaining acreage will be residential, with lots of varying width and depth. The following roads saw property annexed in for the development: Coleman Drive, Bell Drive, Hamnertown Road and Martin Road East.
• Mayor Bobby Herndon praised the long list of annexations Monday night, saying the new residential and commercial development underscores how rapidly the city is growing. He even projected the city could be the 13th or 14th largest city in Alabama by the time the 2030 Census rolls around.
• The City of Northport was recently named the recipient of a $2,500 grant from the Alabama Power Foundation, which will be used to update signage for the city at Highway 82 and Watermelon Road.
• The City Council unanimously approved for the city administrator to contract with TTL for professional services in developing the city's Northern Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan. City Engineer Tera Tubbs said the plan, if implemented, would better connect Mitt Lary Road and its neighborhoods with the schools in the area by way of bike paths and pedestrian walking paths.
• The Council's Finance Committee provided a favorable recommendation for this year's capital budget and plan. The plan will be presented to the full Council on Dec. 13 and will include over $600,000 worth of drainage improvements throughout the city.
• Mayor Herndon read a proclamation declaring Nov. 27 — the day after Black Friday — as Small Business Saturday in Northport. He then encouraged residents to support locally-owned merchants during the holiday season.

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