[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6324290,"mediaKeyId","2338815-ff9004a98f2ede0230ce263bf2699055","parentId",2338815,"title","Residents press Planning Commission on notice, neighborhood meetings after agenda delay","audioSeconds",984,"startMs",558000,"endMs",1542840,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2338815-ff9004a98f2ede0230ce263bf2699055&start=558&end=1542","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2338815-ff9004a98f2ede0230ce263bf2699055/thumbnail_558000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6324290/Decatur-City/Morgan-County/Alabama/Residents-press-Planning-Commission-on-notice-neighborhood-meetings-after-agenda-delay","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6324290-48d20f5bce89178d812dd8f8bdceab3b/orig.mp4?Expires=1770622747&Signature=jDU4dmY7mix8GI4JFRe76t-U2WlJQJVPMNibC-RRQGzoW4GuuEbi5m~tKBl1JWuJ20iqp3mfDnGLex4ZRx7urWzfA23p17P-mox3Hb9erci5LxbP41HuuWxKfIPnRz-orvymJEZWmSISQb2NOgf62EfkdDlVwd-Xyp77QnKIPNfLLM9v~uX0m9T9kQnmj5u5z4~Fju5iJswYxnBeUNjcHk~Ta0YcWd8-h8x-Y7pP5bkDcnNKGREN6Li3OhAk6p9RCFf3xONpSCu1cPXswqTwBRzkao8l40MWJuDIogKG3YiSewBoTpH7cQ23rWS2d-mQC4QRUktaX1Dt-J~3H6~MGw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Decatur City, AL","date","2025-02-18T21:24:35Z","article","At the Feb. Planning Commission meeting, residents raised concerns about the Planning Department’s failure to post the preceding meeting’s agenda on the city website in a timely manner and asked the commission whether neighborhood meetings or a formal notice requirement should be mandatory for development proposals.

Tommy Williams, planning department staff, apologized for the late website posting and said he accepted responsibility. “I would like to take full responsibility for it for not getting the agenda up in a timely manner,” Williams said. Williams told the commission he was “comfortable going forward with the rezoning” because the project did not violate state codes and because staff had provided notice by legal advertisement, on-site signage and mailed letters to surrounding property owners.

Several residents pressed the commission on whether the city’s new zoning rewrite removed neighborhood-meeting requirements. A resident, who identified himself as Mike Faruki, asked whether the proposed project was “in the best interest of the city” and whether the public had adequate notice. Public commenters and commissioners discussed that the commission’s role is to advise on zoning recommendations while the City Council takes final action on rezoning.

Commissioners and planning staff said neighborhood meetings are not mandatory for every application under current procedures and that applicants use different outreach methods. Planning commissioners heard public views that neighborhood meetings should be required more consistently; one resident said he had urged the City Council to require such meetings on multiple occasions.

No formal action was taken at the meeting to change notice requirements. Commissioners indicated the zoning-rewrite questions and notice procedures would be matters for Council consideration and, separately, for staff and the planning director search process to address.

The meeting record shows the commission approved consent-agenda development items by unanimous vote later in the meeting. Public comment on notification and neighborhood meetings was recorded as discussion only and did not result in a commission vote or directive recorded in the transcript.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Planning Commission Meeting 02:18:2025","oneSentenceSummary","Residents questioned the Planning Department about a late agenda posting and the city’s approach to public notice and neighborhood meetings; planning staff said legal notices, signage and mailed letters were used and apologized for the website delay.","taxTitle","Decatur City, Morgan County, Alabama","taxId",5148,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6324294,"Planning Commission approves Taco Bell site plan, conditions include BOZA parking variance",142,668000,810000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2338815-ff9004a98f2ede0230ce263bf2699055&start=668&end=810","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2338815-ff9004a98f2ede0230ce263bf2699055/thumbnail_668000.jpg","/articles/6324294/Decatur-City/Morgan-County/Alabama/Planning-Commission-approves-Taco-Bell-site-plan-conditions-include-BOZA-parking-variance","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6324294-653d66009fefb2d246267140d34076c7/orig.mp4?Expires=1770622747&Signature=FF2Se2sKOJ2J9p-QgyRJY8dBlom7YBYqaxonh9uKl90rbOKrauFBZLU0KNixZoLLLw0wgu3SGPSuvXLU0o1GpNBR5yRDb-yb6HtlNFXN~9aHFiK9ehq-6BqfHukGohnvzG~thLhMrMJpXCkMvyrEk3NeO2OaKp0Rm3sTKbpI6GtxKs5Gy5A2K~a3ufaDOci0qmii7Nskm03jq7dTu51cK-rYC3QIqxeLWVs3K3fZQryZIyMYFeI~QfpYQIx6tziQBN4r3aAw1tRZkZ10IzvPzFdoKigrv6WTDYfOam4OYOMDozvN4YvF2ovgtNFbHvNOAO4wy0qQlFrdK84iJjT2MQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Decatur Planning Commission on Tuesday approved Site Plan 698-25, a 0.64-acre commercial development for a new Taco Bell at 2142 6th Avenue Southeast and 1308 Fairway Drive Southeast, but set conditions that include pursuing a parking variance from the Board of Zoning Adjustments (BOZA) and completing utility and permitting steps.

The commission approved the consent agenda items, including two site plans and two subdivision certificates, by a 7-0 vote. The Taco Bell site plan was approved with multiple conditions requiring the applicant to show loading areas, submit plumbing and sanitary plans, coordinate gas-service abandonment with Decatur Utilities, and either add parking or apply for a variance.

Tommy Williams, planning department staff, told the commission the applicant did not add additional parking on the submitted site plan and would therefore need to apply for a variance to BOZA. “They did not add additional parking, so they will be going to apply for a variance,” Williams said. Williams also described several department-level requirements, including plumbing plans with appliance BTU loads, sanitary approvals from Decatur Utilities, and coordination with engineering for on-site power conflicts.

Wells Holliday, representing applicant Takala LLC, attended from the applicant’s office and said he was available to answer questions about the proposed Taco Bell and the related subdivision. The commission recorded that site power infrastructure exists but must be checked for conflicts; engineering will identify and resolve potential conflicts before construction.

Commissioners emphasized that approval of the site plan does not replace required variance or utility approvals. Planning staff said the applicant had resubmitted revised plans and that those would be circulated to other departments for review.

Votes at a glance
- Site Plan 698-25 (Takala LLC / new Taco Bell at 2142 6th Ave SE / 1308 Fairway Dr SE): Approved with conditions; BOZA parking variance required; vote 7-0.
- Site Plan 699-25 (Pre Wright McInally / light industrial on 204 Pride Lane SW): Approved with conditions (internal circulation arrows; dumpster location; sanitary plan); vote 7-0.
- Certificate 3638-25 (subdivide 1 parcel into 2 at 1810 11th St SE): Approved; conditions include extending sewer main to west parcel and showing 11th Street right-of-way; vote 7-0.
- Certificate 3639-25 (subdivide three parcels into two at 2142 6th Ave SE / 1308 Fairway Dr SE): Approved; no conditions listed; vote 7-0.
- Site Plan 725: Tabled to allow completion of community development process; motion to table carried (roll call recorded).

The commission’s approval of Site Plan 698-25 is conditional on the applicant completing the items listed by staff and obtaining any variances required by BOZA. Planning staff noted any relocation of utilities will be at the owner’s expense and must be completed before construction.

The commission’s role on these items is advisory for rezoning decisions and final for site-plan approvals only when other agencies’ approvals are not required. Planning staff reiterated that rezoning recommendations proceed to the City Council for a final decision.

The commission announced that next month’s regularly scheduled meeting will move from Tuesday the 18th to Monday the 17th and that the consent-agenda approvals will be placed on the city calendar accordingly.","The Decatur Planning Commission approved several consent-agenda items, including Site Plan 698-25 for a new Taco Bell, but required the applicant to seek a parking variance from the Board of Zoning Adjustments and meet utility and permitting conditions.","actionData","errors"]

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Residents press Planning Commission on notice, neighborhood meetings after agenda delay

Planning Commission approves Taco Bell site plan, conditions include BOZA parking variance