[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-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",[32,75,87,99],{"_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",6272141,"mediaKeyId","3028095-ade3c7b3425ffdb0d16ae38f715316b6","parentId",3028095,"title","Votes at a glance: Auburn Council approves routine renewals, conditional uses, appointments and other items","audioSeconds",158,"startMs",1024000,"endMs",1182000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3028095-ade3c7b3425ffdb0d16ae38f715316b6&start=1024&end=1182","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3028095-ade3c7b3425ffdb0d16ae38f715316b6/thumbnail_1024000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6272141/Auburn/Lee-County/Alabama/Votes-at-a-glance-Auburn-Council-approves-routine-renewals-conditional-uses-appointments-and-other-items","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6272141-44900f1a8d4f50b5b44ecffa0d9a47e7/orig.mp4?Expires=1771191246&Signature=n4FW6vux-JYIydentCemr1~Txc6a7~1-Vexn5MKSBiTlajDv-aiMkRmkWe6FfyUPbkh0kFqxArW6CWIOGBISvYXIsekrJKw4cR-to7qm57E-201ju8wd7wOgWcYP20IXWkKi9qulZsb02Aa0hZAgwPcCxzgUnxN9eA~Efg737N1LKpBcIBCMM-brZyvSQpX0qdTxhYtnOWlgM0nvcc2upYbv5RotinJCoabimf~bsuv-a82jsVdecl29wtZmdLiG9y1090FoIGVojCZpLN7e1qIw9v-0jl-DNwVI-e0XZTOn2HlBIxSMzVCfN4yhj-oWwmUprFGrpD2HdhinVEnQ0A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Auburn City, AL","date","2025-04-16T12:38:51Z","article","The Auburn City Council on April 15 approved a number of items by motion or unanimous consent during its regular meeting. Key outcomes recorded in the meeting transcript include:

- Board and commission appointments: Brad Chenoweth was appointed to the Auburn Board of Education (one recorded nay was noted during the voice vote); Gordon Byrd and Mabin Beard were reappointed to the Historic Preservation Commission. Council members thanked outgoing Board of Education member Melanie Chambliss for her service.

- Consent agenda and procurement: The council approved the Consent Agenda after removing and discussing item 8B2. Item 8B2 authorized the purchase of 1,248 48-gallon rollout garbage carts from Toter LLC for $73,776; staff told council carts typically last 17 to 20 years, warranty covers plastic components, lids, wheels and axles, and most of the replacement units ordered address damaged carts and supply for new housing.

- Annual tax renewals: The council introduced and moved forward with ordinances to renew existing ad valorem property tax levies (including the city's 5-mill general fund and 5-mill capital projects/debt repayment levies and school tax mills, which staff emphasized are renewals of existing levies, not new taxes). Council members sought unanimous consent to allow immediate consideration of those ordinances.

- Conditional-use approvals and development items: The council approved conditional uses for Boulevard Phase 8 (eight units at the terminus of Giddens Street) and for Grand Junction (28 units at 1027 East Glen Avenue); the Planning Commission had recommended approval for both items. BC Stone Homes representatives said the East building will house BC Stone's offices with tenant space below and a restaurant operator was identified for the west building at the Grand Junction site.

- Economic development and real-property actions: The council authorized a tax abatement for AUSA Inc., for a $2.72 million equipment investment that the company said will create approximately four new positions. The council also approved the vacation of a sewer and public-drain utility easement at 212 West Magnolia Avenue and authorized staff to execute a quitclaim deed to GAAL Owner LLC.

- Comp Plan update: The council approved the five-year update to the city's comprehensive plan (Comp Plan 02/1930) as amended; that vote concluded the council's consideration of an item that had been postponed and amended at prior meetings.

Not all items were decided tonight: the transcript records a public hearing and extended public comment on a rezoning request for 615 South College Street (the Planning Commission had failed to recommend the rezoning 3-5), and the excerpt does not include a final council vote on that rezoning request.

This summary lists actions taken that were recorded in the meeting transcript; some approvals were by voice vote or unanimous consent and detailed roll-call tallies were not recorded in the excerpt.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Auburn City Council Meeting April 15, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","At its April 15 meeting the Auburn City Council approved a series of consent and ordinance items including tax renewals, conditional-use approvals, appointments to boards and other routine business; the council also debated several land-use items and a rezoning public hearing.","taxTitle","Auburn, Lee County, Alabama","taxId",4270,"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},6272146,"Neighbors oppose rezoning request at 615 South College Street; Planning Commission denied recommendation",232,1960000,2192000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3028095-ade3c7b3425ffdb0d16ae38f715316b6&start=1960&end=2192","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3028095-ade3c7b3425ffdb0d16ae38f715316b6/thumbnail_1960000.jpg","/articles/6272146/Auburn/Lee-County/Alabama/Neighbors-oppose-rezoning-request-at-615-South-College-Street-Planning-Commission-denied-recommendation","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6272146-3a3f02786309f06e9db39b8c5220e197/orig.mp4?Expires=1771191246&Signature=bZy9l4r004GaU4TuNUfqUypA6adc9U7FL2qoRXMU9s4NiehOoqzXdeBVb~F98zan5gm24PgzloDitvH4aGzyKz72faqt0FWP1pVAsqdo40dgL7HBm0q9wC2kJx-7x7D8~vRqfbwaJHtE96gR6pCIguZXWmvje1q2jb1CMszDoAP0YoUMDGJXMRrrX5GsXMzBrHxiT9BRNTqVpHCXpcuktLFak0igZ9tkzTO9hch0uO3nRDwpWMhCK2pOar9PVjqlRwsPyuem3bLsfWv4jozYlfpl3isrXQMHRh7KLvOU8i9Ax2Xdyp~VKUDAxBs8FfwTRv8ewCJpOw5Ns6JznVGwLg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Residents and neighborhood representatives on April 15 urged the Auburn City Council to deny a request to rezone 615 South College Street from Neighborhood Conservation-20 (NC-20) to Neighborhood Conservation-14 (NC-14), saying the smaller lot standard would be inconsistent with the street's character and could harm local waterways.

Multiple speakers, including Vienna Louise Katainen (550 South Gay Street), Corey Reynolds (representing the Tallinn Homeowners Association), Charlie McCurry (802 South Gay Street) and Paul Shrantz (563 South College Street), told the council the site sits at a low point on South College where a perennial stream and floodplain run through the property. Speakers said removing vegetation and placing more impervious surface on small lots would increase runoff, harm wildlife and require wetlands mitigation and stream buffer waivers.

Planning staff noted the Planning Commission had failed to recommend approval by a vote of 3 to 5 at its March 20 meeting. Staff and the applicant's representative, Hayes Iford of Sanford Group, told the council that any future subdivision or site plan would have to comply with the city's water-resource regulations, FEMA/federal requirements and any required wetland mitigation or mitigation credits; the applicant said they had no intent to unlawfully impact wetlands and that they would work through required mitigation and design constraints.

Council members asked staff technical questions about buffers, streamside setbacks and whether mitigation credits are purchased through a bank; staff said wetlands and stream mitigation credits are typically acquired from established banks and that federal agencies handle certain permitting and floodplain determinations. Staff also reminded council and the public that rezoning consideration is separate from subdivision and site-plan review and that several aspects cannot be fully assessed without a formal plat or site plan.

Speakers raised traffic and driveway-concurrency concerns: opponents said multiple homes sharing a single common driveway would create safety and congestion issues on a street that council members described as a gateway into Auburn. Staff indicated that, under current zoning and subdivision rules, the lots could be subdivided by right into a total of four houses across two parcels without a council rezoning, and that much of the detailed engineering and safety review would occur during subdivision processing.

The transcript records the public hearing, extensive public comment and council questions, and confirms the Planning Commission's 3-5 failure to recommend. The excerpt does not contain a final recorded vote by the City Council on the rezoning request.","A public hearing on a request to rezone 615 South College Street from NC-20 to NC-14 drew multiple residents raising concerns about floodplain, wetlands, tree loss, traffic and neighborhood character. The Planning Commission had failed to recommend the rezoning by a 3-5 vote; the transcript does not record a final council vote on the rezoning.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6272151,"Council considers annexation of 210.9 acres at Moores Mill Road; conservation overlay, septic systems discussed",210,1399000,1609000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3028095-ade3c7b3425ffdb0d16ae38f715316b6&start=1399&end=1609","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3028095-ade3c7b3425ffdb0d16ae38f715316b6/thumbnail_1399000.jpg","/articles/6272151/Auburn/Lee-County/Alabama/Council-considers-annexation-of-2109-acres-at-Moores-Mill-Road-conservation-overlay-septic-systems-discussed","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6272151-74ac32f3ed48d0d954eb04220628765e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771191246&Signature=C6h5-4aEEIZ3X3a7VJhT4UwHFvzkcI5Qkm40lx2ou92czEtqaXGSZ3xhlozE7Jf~bP470UZ3w2AlhyPzfmZm~zSvfZ3ieW5UbzALfx-ggqUPE4bfBMA1x0RugT72yJ~8eHX7PaiI1Y0s3IiyWZrxdeCqiniFwfNdCf3sdFZ4EPxXFz5tcC~Y67ezZQOX6-2qFlQnUsWcvcQqeWY0C8yoJY0ZEBNylztxqIRqEDsAkP7TDXksInjMhNI9kPIZyjS5F~ZcCjX4KHuYF7i2IGhVaQl3ef64SZ~RpypLLYybFwYkB0ospvA8NG-qpzoMdcPHmEeg3jK9zSxjDbbMGZE5aA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Auburn City Council on April 15 considered a proposal from Mitchell Bridal D Farm LLC to annex roughly 210.88 acres along Lee Road 146 (Moores Mill Road), with staff and council members discussing environmental protections, lot configuration and utility limitations.

Planning staff told the council the Planning Commission had unanimously recommended approval at its March 20 meeting. Staff and the project's representatives described the annexation request as coming into the city with the Conservation Overlay District applied because the property is within the Lake Ogletree Watershed; that overlay automatically restricts density and adds site-review requirements intended to protect water quality.

Scott Cummings, the city's executive director of Development Services, said the city had already anticipated a future roundabout at the Society Hill and Moores Mill intersection and had approved funding for the project. A development agreement for the property includes a construction pacing clause that would limit the developer to building no more than 10 lots in a year while the roundabout and related improvements are being completed, staff said.

Staff explained how the conservation overlay allows clustering and lot sizes down to 1.5 acres while requiring a concept plan, site walks with Water Resource Management, and closer review of lot configuration, roads and erosion controls. Council members and staff emphasized that clustering under the overlay commonly trades smaller individual lots for permanent conservation easements or dedicated open space, though dedication to the city would be optional and is not required by the ordinance.

Council members pressed staff about utilities: water service to the site would be provided by the Beauregard Water Authority, the council heard, but there is no municipal sewer in the area. Staff noted that development could result in multiple on-site septic systems (the transcript references a potential of 64 septic systems under one conceptual plat) and that, from a regulatory standpoint, the city cannot prohibit septic systems where they meet applicable standards.

Staff and council discussed wetland and floodplain protections. Eric of Water Resource Management said typical requirements include stream buffers and upland buffers; wetlands and stream impacts would require mitigation or purchase of mitigation credits from a wetland or stream bank, and federal agencies such as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and FEMA would have permitting or mapping authority in certain circumstances. City staff said any mitigation or regulatory approvals would be required whether or not the land is rezoned.

Council members also asked whether an expected preliminary plat showing up to 48 single-family lots and 16 conventional lots (a potential 64-unit buildout noted in materials) was final; staff said that plat work and more detailed plans had not yet been submitted for full city review.

The Planning Commission had recommended approval; staff briefed the council on conditions and the conservation overlay requirements. The transcript records detailed staff and council discussion but does not show the final roll-call vote for the annexation in the excerpt provided.","A request to annex about 210.88 acres east of Society Hill Road drew extended staff and council discussion about the Lake Ogletree Watershed, the Conservation Overlay District, septic systems and timing of road improvements; Planning Commission recommended approval.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6272156,"Auburn council approves five-year comp plan update after amendments",748,4076000,4824000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3028095-ade3c7b3425ffdb0d16ae38f715316b6&start=4076&end=4824","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3028095-ade3c7b3425ffdb0d16ae38f715316b6/thumbnail_4076000.jpg","/articles/6272156/Auburn/Lee-County/Alabama/Auburn-council-approves-five-year-comp-plan-update-after-amendments","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6272156-3d6abcbf1b5cd6c5099a4472c290a141/orig.mp4?Expires=1771191246&Signature=NUsqAdlDjey9CKxGH8889NlvW9Lx9ALCgDQVqAshB1pGxIbhwuvtXoqo~DQm6SMHJe-qjCjzQXurnETCsCkff2xHQcAqvj-H~tcPMAvyHSj6s7f~OLWXCVlZoxvem60n-1XlnvIhoR99lhV09tDTgUkJgH6V4kPEvV9Y84-38miGPmN1Jme~TVqzN6G2voG-7nJwKobHtyF3qA4qgotdQZnutbWlFfe13mQ9L4sgVUVX7AXGxtAOehD69mLZAYX0f-p9pp87Nyq0W6O-1xDauLnRSra-zSfljik5yFOLINTNKdjAZB0Ks-sE06Q35VXfj5xgRGSoNY4NhltVn8TKSQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Auburn City Council on April 15 approved an updated five-year comprehensive plan (Comp Plan 02/1930) after adopting several targeted amendments, council members said.

The council's action, taken as the final vote on a motion introduced earlier in the process, implements the staff-proposed update with three council-led changes. Council members removed two earlier growth-change proposals (growth changes 5 and 6), adopted an amendment to growth-change number 7 to retain two parcels as office-park/commercial/industrial-support rather than changing them to interstate commercial, and amended growth-change number 3 to leave certain parcels as rural rather than opening them to denser residential designations.

The update also includes a text change in the public-safety chapter: the council voted to remove a sentence that had referred to maintaining \"diversity\" in the police department workforce, after several members said the broader plan should emphasize skills and merit-based hiring. Council debate on that revision focused on whether the term \"diversity\" in the plan referred to a range of skills, ages and experiences or whether the sentence as written risked implying hiring priorities; the council voted to strike the sentence from the document.

Megan, the city's planning director, briefed the council on the mapping and text changes and displayed maps comparing existing and proposed future land-use designations. Councilperson Dawson moved the amendment to growth-change 7 and Councilperson Parsons previously moved approval of the overall plan; Mayor Pro Tem Witten seconded the earlier motion. After additional amendments and discussion the council approved the comp plan update as amended.

City staff and council members emphasized that the comprehensive plan sets future land-use guidance only; zoning regulations and specific development proposals require separate processes. Several council members said the amendments were intended to slow near-term rezoning and development in specific areas until infrastructure or neighborhood concerns can be addressed.

The Planning Commission had recommended approval of the update on Nov. 14, 2024. The council's approval completes the five-year update process as amended and returns the plan to staff for implementation steps such as public posting and follow-up zoning work.

The council did not change any specific zoning lines tonight; council members reminded residents that future zoning or subdivision approvals will follow separate review processes, including staff technical review and any required public hearings.","The City Council approved the 5-year update to Auburn's comprehensive plan (Comp Plan 02/1930) after amending multiple growth-change proposals and removing a sentence about police hiring language from the public-safety section.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: Auburn Council approves routine renewals, conditional uses, appointments and other items

Neighbors oppose rezoning request at 615 South College Street; Planning Commission denied recommendation

Council considers annexation of 210.9 acres at Moores Mill Road; conservation overlay, septic systems discussed

Auburn council approves five-year comp plan update after amendments