By NEAL WAGNER / Managing Editor

ALABASTER – The city of Alabaster will continue to refuse business licenses for new payday loan, cash advance, car dealerships and several other types of businesses in the city’s Medical Mile district after the City Council agreed to extend a moratorium on those businesses during a March 14 meeting.

Council members voted unanimously during the meeting to extend the moratorium until the end of May. The moratorium, which went into effect in October 2015, originally was set to expire on March 31.

The moratorium applies only to the Main Street Medical Mile District, which the city defines as 1,000 feet from the centerline of U.S. 31 from Hillwood Lane to Simmsville Road, Fifth Avenue Northeast, Second Street Northeast, Seventh Avenue Northeast from U.S. 31 to Third Street Northeast and on Industrial Road from Short Street to U.S. 31.

The moratorium specifically defines the types of businesses allowed to obtain businesses licenses in the Medical Mile. In addition to several types of medical businesses, such as doctor and dentist offices and pharmacies, the list also includes government buildings, general-use office and professional buildings, certain types of retail stores, optical firms, florist shops, book and gift stores, restaurants and coffee shops, hotels, gas stations and convenience stores.

The city currently is working to make modifications to its zoning ordinances to help bring them in line with the city’s new 20-year comprehensive plan, which also was approved during the March 14 meeting.

During a March 10 City Council work session, Alabaster City Attorney Jeff Brumlow said the council is planning to hold a public hearing on the new planning and zoning ordinances during its April 11 meeting, and could vote on the new zoning ordinance the same night.

The new zoning ordinances likely will create a special district in the Medical Mile, which will determine which types of businesses and developments will be allowed in the district.

If the new zoning ordinance goes into effect in April, it will supersede the temporary moratorium, Brumlow said.