By NEAL WAGNER / Managing Editor

ALABASTER – The area surrounding Brookwood Baptist Health’s Shelby Baptist Medical Center will only be open to certain businesses after the Alabaster City Council voted to add a new district to its zoning ordinance during an April 11 meeting.

The council voted unanimously during the meeting to make multiple changes to its zoning ordinance. The vote came after public hearing on the matter, during which nobody spoke for or against the changes.

The most significant change in the city’s “Medical Mile” district, which surrounds Shelby Baptist along U.S. 31 in the heart of the city.

Alabaster’s zoning ordinance defines the Main Street Medical Mile District 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.

“Notwithstanding the foregoing, said district shall not extend any further West of Highway 31 than the western most right of way of the CSX rail line, nor further North than Hillwood Lane, nor further South than Simmsville Road,” read the ordinance.

The new zoning ordinance essentially makes permanent a temporary moratorium on certain types of businesses in the Medical Mile district the council voted to enact in October 2015.

The moratorium, and now the zoning ordinance, 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.

All other businesses, including temporary vendors, are not permitted in the Medical Mile.

Alabaster’s recently approved 20-year comprehensive plan encourages city leaders to preserve the Medical Mile district, and to promote only certain types of development in the corridor.