Northport P&Z Votes Down Plan For Hunter Creek Road Development

NORTHPORT, AL — Members of the Northport Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously voted down a master plan approval request for a townhome development proposed for nearly 5 acres at 3205 Hunter Creek Road. The proposal was met with vocal opposition Tuesday night from numerous residents of the area, who levied concerns of increased traffic, pollution and water runoff as the reasons for taking up a petition against the development.

The plan will now go before the Northport City Council with an unfavorable recommendation from the advisory board.

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Representatives on behalf of Nibroc Development and Corbin Custom Homes presented the master development plan proposal that was ultimately voted down, which called for 27 individual units and a total of 60 bedrooms on the property. It was also mentioned that the units would be intended for sale and not rent.

TTL Project Manager Adam Ingram, representing the engineering firm for the proposed development, said the requirement for density calls for 15% open space, with the plans calling for well above that, at 40%.

"This means the property is not developed to the maximum amount of density for units per acre," he said.

Following more than an hour of residents speaking out against the development, the primary concern kept circling back to the impact on traffic. Ingram insisted that current traffic data shows numbers that fall below the threshold and code that would require a traffic study.

District 3 Councilman John Hinton, who represents those on Hunter Creek Road, also attended and spoke out against the development, contradicting the claims that traffic did not appear to be a pressing issue for residents and infrastructure.

Hinton pointed out that Hunter Creek Road is a main corridor for four subdivisions in the area, which are all "knit together" to make one large housing center.

"Hunter Creek Road is clearly carrying most of the traffic as a cutoff corridor from Highway 82 to 69, thus increasing the traffic numbers," he said. "Residents say it's nearly impossible to exit Hunter Creek Road and it's difficult to enter Hunter Creek during peak traffic times of the day. When you add nursing home traffic and the new car wash traffic, you see what a difficult time residents will have going to work and returning each day."

Meredith Mullins, a resident of Hunter Creek Lane, also spoke out in opposition, asking that the Planning and Zoning Commission require a traffic study before approving the master development plan. She also pointed to existing troubles with water runoff that would only be exacerbated by adding a development of this size.

"We just encourage some type of adjustments or requirements for landscaping, privacy fencing, and a traffic study," she said.

While the Commission ultimately voted down the request for a master plan, the developers have the opportunity to make significant changes to meet the needs and requests of those opposed and resubmit the plans immediately. However, if no changes are made, the developers must wait a year before presenting the master plan again.

IN OTHER BUSINESS

• The Commission also voted down a series of requests from Maken Properties for annexation, rezoning and conditional use for multi-family housing. The requests were made for a new business proposed at the intersection of U.S. Highway 43 and Tom Montgomery Road. The property build out would have included an outdoor scrap yard and at least six residential units within one building for employees of the business to stay in overnight while working in Tuscaloosa County, with the intention of the company saving money on hotel costs. Those in opposition, including District 4 Councilwoman Jamie Dykes, expressed concern over the "transient" workforce that would be coming through and staying overnight within walking distance of the Clear Creek Colony subdivision. While the business owner insisted his employees were subject to FBI background checks, the Commission still opted to deny the requests.

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