[{"_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",6117311,"mediaKeyId","2730563-10c06ddd45802a73da8de1c3353dac1c","parentId",2730563,"title","Board approves a series of variances, fence actions and mobile-home requests","audioSeconds",3770,"startMs",466000,"endMs",4236000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2730563-10c06ddd45802a73da8de1c3353dac1c&start=466&end=4236","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2730563-10c06ddd45802a73da8de1c3353dac1c/thumbnail_466000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6117311/Montgomery-City/Montgomery-County/Alabama/Board-approves-a-series-of-variances-fence-actions-and-mobile-home-requests","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6117311-4cb26561e6242b415caa82ef33c5ae44/orig.mp4?Expires=1770442724&Signature=mebTKDWFb5hAOaWTe-X5R1o~QvGJRQa9yJ7TBYdzGVWCeC-4RjCHSdQOJ7cMInQDZ20X234bWws9-7gwErWfF7rm8prexowtETNOmQZORKriRP-heBRXCSfcTu24DlrEzZASYOBdjHEbD3QGfU1msyhZvh-BHIO0YKDxBjs~VNHhiskIkabDgg3OuFcX~Hvjs2iad6PHt9IrW7V4RpvuOie5Zg6EEqn2UBrJYZ~f1lACRUFhXbw7uhdw3C7DerIcrh9vX5dlenIz8YeRCX1CI~BCIktBifk9Lzrz7jyJlEmtULr7yV9uYr7y3T64t80rQ9YKEOFJOrYrLP3cGNOHwg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Montgomery City, AL","date","2025-03-22T00:19:31.18Z","article","The Montgomery City Board of Adjustment voted on a series of variances, fence exceptions and special-use requests. Most motions passed unanimously by recorded voice or hand count (6–0). Below is a concise summary of formal actions taken and vote outcomes.

Votes at a glance

- Accessory building at 1120 Anderson Road (Jeffcoat engineers on behalf of Eunice Corzo): The board approved an exception allowing a 1,208-square-foot accessory structure without a main dwelling. The petitioner said the structure will have electricity and running water but no toilet (it was described as a pole barn without sides). Motion approved (6–0).

- 8-foot privacy fence, 4340 Richardson Road (Vanessa Grama): The board approved an after-the-fact request to maintain an existing 8-foot wooden privacy fence; members said the city would also investigate a neighboring white fence for setback compliance. Motion approved (6–0).

- Nicholas Ramirez properties (49 and 51 Garden Street): Item 4 (special exception to keep a donkey) was withdrawn after the petitioner removed the animal. Item 5 (front-yard and height variance for a fence) was approved with a condition prohibiting any donkey to remain on the property. Motion approved for fence variance and donkey prohibition (6–0).

- 55 Sorting Street (Amber Murray): The board approved a variance allowing an existing side/front fence to remain on the condition the last five feet of fence closest to the street be removed so sight lines for pedestrians and vehicles are preserved. Motion approved (6–0).

- Mobile home on half-acre off Charlie Brazzle Place (Devon/ Darren Harrington senior): The board approved a request to place a mobile home for living purposes on the parcel. Board members noted an outstanding dispute raised in public comment about whether an access easement exists; the board approved the mobile home but noted legal easement questions remain a private legal matter to be resolved outside the board. Motion approved (6–0).

- Church use at 2426 Spruce Street (Moore Company Realty / prospective buyers): A request to establish an Orthodox church with Sunday services and a limited Sunday school was approved; the applicant said the site offers 20 parking spaces, exceeding the required six. Motion approved (6–0).

- Corner-lot fence at Broadway Drive (owner Felicero / Myra): The board approved an 8-foot corner fence and a 30-foot street-side yard variance. Members said no complaints were on file. Motion approved (6–0).

- Mobile home, East Side of Adams Road (Ursula Critton): The board approved placement of a mobile home, noting required setbacks and that the site is within an agricultural zoning district. Motion approved (6–0).

Procedure and counts

Several motions were made and seconded on the record; in each case board members raised hands to indicate approval. The membership present and recorded at the start of the meeting were Bart Prince, Lehi Holmes, Barry Robinson, Blake Markham, Diane Burke and Vice Chairman George Howell; Chairman John Stanley was absent. When counts were taken, the board recorded six votes in favor for the motions listed above.

Noted concerns and follow-up

- The board repeatedly emphasized that approvals do not waive standard building and permitting requirements. For items involving utilities or sanitary facilities, applicants were told to obtain permits and meet city building and accessibility codes.

- For the mobile-home approval on disputed easement land, the board approved the use but flagged the access-easement dispute as a separate legal matter to be resolved by the owners and, if necessary, the courts.

- For several fence matters the board asked zoning enforcement to follow up on adjacent fences and sight-line compliance where sidewalks or street corners are affected.

The meeting continued with an informational discussion about proposed qualifications for appointment to boards (architectural review, planning commission and board of adjustment). No binding vote was taken on that code amendment at this meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","MONTGOMERY BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT (March 20, 2025)","oneSentenceSummary","The Montgomery City Board of Adjustment approved multiple variances, fence requests and mobile-home placements during a meeting in which most motions passed on unanimous voice or hand counts.","taxTitle","Montgomery City, Montgomery County, Alabama","taxId",3930,"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},6117316,"Board approves sewer, electric and hens for Newtown community garden with building-code conditions",1071,974000,2045000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2730563-10c06ddd45802a73da8de1c3353dac1c&start=974&end=2045","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2730563-10c06ddd45802a73da8de1c3353dac1c/thumbnail_974000.jpg","/articles/6117316/Montgomery-City/Montgomery-County/Alabama/Board-approves-sewer-electric-and-hens-for-Newtown-community-garden-with-building-code-conditions","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6117316-2fc0555a3caddc8ef0f6dd9c0dfed357/orig.mp4?Expires=1770442724&Signature=Gfi8RHjyGzwyo5SIkmoxUYWhFQT9Y9R-SC0cV4Zw6GQboz1NWdHJi9j5~xWNH39N3VRFYWiXgYZPuDFrO6FEsOtDfgaHSvruYaN58C7bEwtu7JJwZ0mlp8QuFCSflcq5D6dEqmI7-WqZKeBiXY3vms0sRTsMkcCLLQ2lSdPpJVLJc8ROa77knR-KSzSN2Jm7qWUucVpOCiIP6iH~MZBO2GNO-GbWH2P2dazzigMmUKl4nJYzC1ZnsPHQoQyTG1DodZlZ4X3QTRci0yvmm~HUGw-ycBKKrS1AytTtnB2-Vn2stZEa2IUIPJMn4ydtS-zkakG1DukNyL0rjdAqJ3EpBQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Montgomery City Board of Adjustment approved a request from Help A Brother Out Foundation on a motion that included conditions requiring any restroom to be built to meet city building codes and accessibility requirements.

Help A Brother Out founder and representative Sam Yu told the board the nonprofit runs a community garden and monthly mobile food pantries that feed “anywhere from 600 to 800 people every month” and provides gardening and cooking education for neighborhood children. He requested permission to keep multiple storage sheds without a main dwelling, to allow hens (but no roosters), and to connect sewer and electrical service so one shed could be converted to a permanent restroom.

The board said it supported the garden’s neighborhood benefits but emphasized that a restroom and utility connections must meet the city’s building- and permitting requirements. A staff representative noted the structure would require a permit and be reviewed by the building department. A board member said the restroom would need “a foundation, stud walls” and other features of a permanent building rather than a temporary shed. The board also told the applicant to follow ADA accessibility requirements for sanitary facilities.

Sam Yu provided a site layout and described the garden’s uses: a greenhouse, tool shed, clothing closet for emergency distribution, a chicken coop and a proposed restroom. He said volunteers and partners supply labor and materials and listed partnerships in his presentation, including the Heart of Alabama Food Bank, the American Red Cross (community adaptation program), the extension office and local schools.

A representative of the Red Cross said the organization had donated some of the sheds and that adding a proper foundation would address the board’s concerns. Candace Clark, who identified herself as a PhD student and employee working with an urban agriculture innovation center, spoke in support of Sam Yu and the foundation’s work.

A motion to approve the foundation’s requests passed unanimously. The motion, as recorded by the board, tied approval to the conditions that the sanitary structure be built to meet all city codes, that only hens (no roosters) be kept, and that any coop comply with city requirements. The board also noted that permits would be required for sewer and electrical service and that the building department would determine specific code compliance.

The board and applicants agreed the group should consult the building department for a checklist of required permits and specifications. The foundation said it would “abide by all the requirements.”

The approval allows the garden group to move forward with plans so long as the permanent restroom and other improvements are constructed to code and permitted by the city. The foundation will proceed to secure the required permits and to meet the coop and sanitary-structure standards specified by staff and the board.","The Montgomery City Board of Adjustment approved a request from Help A Brother Out Foundation to allow temporary storage structures, on-site hens and utility service at a Newtown community garden provided the group builds a code-compliant restroom and meets coop requirements.","actionData","errors"]

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Board approves a series of variances, fence actions and mobile-home requests

Board approves sewer, electric and hens for Newtown community garden with building-code conditions