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By NOAH WORTHAM | Managing Editor

ALABASTER – The Alabaster City Council approved a moratorium on residential blasting, an expansion to the waste water treatment plant and set a public hearing for an amendment to the city’s Zoning Ordinance to include community living facilities during a regularly scheduled meeting on Monday, March 11.

During the meeting, the council set a public hearing for Monday, April 8 at 6:30 p.m at the request of the planning and zoning board to amend the Zoning Ordinance of the city of Alabaster to include community living facilities.

“We encourage anyone that wants to speak or comment on that in the public hearing to read this ordinance,” Councilmember Jamie Cole said.

The proposed ordinance adds a definition for community living facilities as any publicly or privately owned or operated residential dwelling offering individual rental leases for rooms in that dwelling unit to more than one tenant who are not related by blood or marriage to the owner or operator of the spouse of the owner or operator whereby the tenant pays the owner or operator valuable compensation to occupy a room or portion of a residential residence.

The proposed ordinance also amends multiple sections of the Zoning Ordinance. A complete description of the proposed ordinance can be found on the agenda packet for March 11 regular city council meeting on Cityofalabaster.com.

During the meeting, the Council approved a resolution awarding the low bid to Wayne Davis Construction LLC in the amount of $2,772,500 for the Alabaster South Waste Water Treatment Plan expansion. The Council also awarded a bid to Wayne Davis construction for an Alabaster Sewer Plant office and shop renovation and addition in the amount of $2,650,000.

According to Councilmember Rick Ellis, both items have been budgeted for and were expected.

The Alabaster City Council also approved a resolution to adopt a 65-day moratorium on residential blasting within the city. The approved moratorium began on March 11 and impacts residential zoned parcels.

“This is to give the city time to look over and update its current policies and ordinances regarding blasting within residentially zoned areas,” Councilmember Greg Farrell said.

In other news, the Alabaster City Council approved the following items on the agenda during the meeting:

• Set a public hearing for Monday, April 8 at 6:30 p.m. to prezone property at Lynn’s Rural Estate from owner Camden and Erin Spinks to A, Agricultural, located at 840 Highway 24 prior to annexation.
• Set a public hearing for Monday, April 8 at 6:30 p.m. to annex property at Lynn’s Rural Estate at the request of Camden Spinks and Mitchell Wolfe on behalf of property owner Spinks located at 840 Highway 24 into the city of Alabaster.
• Set a public hearing for Monday, April 8 at 6:30 p.m. to rezone property of Daisy Conrad and Sandra Collins located at 45-95 Daisy lane from R-3, Single Family Residential, to B-3, Community Business District.
• An ordinance consenting to the disposition of certain real property by the Alabaster Water Board.
• A resolution acknowledging receipt and acceptance of the fiscal year 2023 comprehensive annual financial report and accompanying independent auditor’s report.
• A resolution authorizing a change order No. 1 and change order No. 2 for the renovation of Jim “Peanut” Davenport Field and Stadium with Clements Dean Building Company in the amount of $339,276.
• A resolution for the approval of a position of senior wastewater system operator Grade IV within the classification plan for the Alabaster Environmental Services Department—Grade 19.
• A resolution approving a retail beer and wine alcohol license for SRK Package LLC, Town and Country Mart at 1550 Kent Dairy Road.
• A resolution authorizing a reimbursement resolution in anticipation of future borrowing for the recreation center and library construction.

The next regularly scheduled city council meeting will take place on Monday, March 25 at 6:30 p.m. at Alabaster City Hall.