By NEAL WAGNER / Managing Editor

ALABASTER – The Envirobuild development company has pulled a rezoning request to allow development of currently vacant land next to the Saddle Lake Farms subdivision.

The Alabaster Planning and Zoning Commission was scheduled to vote on the rezoning during its Nov. 25 meeting, but agreed to dismiss the request without prejudice at the request of Envirobuild.

“(Envirobuild representative) Mr. (Rick) Nicholson, said he doesn’t intend to pursue this plan any further,” said Commission member Mike Allen.

Envirobuild, which also developed Saddle Lake Farms, requested the property be rezoned from municipal reserve to an R-2 zoning, which would have allowed for a 15,000-square-foot minimum lot size. During a May Commission meeting, Nicholson told Commission members the company was looking to one day build a residential development on the 40 acres “essentially the same thing” as the current Saddle Lake Farms subdivision.

During the May meeting, about 50 Saddle Lake Farms residents voiced opposition to the rezoning request, many expressing concerns about the density the R-2 zoning would allow.

“(Nicholson) has heard your concerns about the quality of the homes, and is looking to bring a proposal with covenant restrictions, which would make the houses similar to what’s already there,” Allen told the about 10 Saddle Lake Farms residents in attendance during the Nov. 25 meeting, noting any covenants will be tied to the property’s deed.

Allen said Nicholson could bring a new development proposal to the Commission at any time in the future, but said Envirobuild must restart from the beginning the process of requesting a rezoning.