OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

City of Tuscaloosa Zoning Board of Adjustments Meeting – April 27, 2026

City Council Meetings — Monday, April 27, 2026
BodyTuscaloosa, Alabama
SessionCity Council Meetings
DateMonday, April 27, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:03:03

Transcript — Verbatim
0:14

Welcome to our April 27th, 2026 meeting of the City of Tuscaloosa Zoning Board of Adjustments.

0:20

Any renting comments sent to the staff were forwarded to the board directly.

0:26

Now at this time, I'd like to introduce the staff and members.

0:29

Hudson Cheshire, Associate City Attorney.

0:32

Zach Pons, Director of Planning.

0:35

Josh McKinney, zoning administrator.

0:37

I asked the board members to introduce themselves, starting to my left.

0:41

Joe Robinson.

0:43

Tim Gillam.

0:44

Michelle Coley, Chair.

0:46

Paul Rollins Jr.

0:47

Robert Bill.

0:48

Marty Hamner.

0:50

Now the purpose of the zoning board of adjustments by virtue of state law and city ordinance.

0:55

The purpose of the zoning board of adjustments is as follows.

0:57

Here is appeals from zoning officers' decisions.

1:00

Grant special exceptions to the zoning code in accordance with the terms as established by the city council.

1:06

We grant variances from the zoning code when strict enforcement creates unnecessary hardship.

1:12

Circumstances that are not hardships include those that are number one, self-inflicted or self-created.

1:20

Number two, inconvenient and are personal.

1:23

Now the zoning board of adjustments does not interpret or enforce subdivision covenants or HOA rules.

1:30

Those matters are not relevant areas of inquiry by the board on any petition.

1:34

Now there were signup sheets located outside for public comment.

1:37

Four speakers are allowed to speak in favor of a petition, and four speakers are allowed to speak in opposition of a petition.

1:43

Now all speakers will have a maximum of five minutes unless the board votes to allow a longer time.

1:49

Now the board will take up items in the order of our final agenda.

1:53

The board will initially receive a presentation from the staff as to the details of the agenda item.

1:59

After the staff's presentation, I will call upon the petitioner to present their case.

2:04

Now the petitioner will have a maximum of 10 minutes unless the board votes to allow a longer time.

2:10

Now at the conclusion of the petitioner's remarks, I will call on any party in order of sign-up who desires to support the petition.

2:18

Thereafter, I will call on any party in order of sign-up, those who oppose the petition.

2:23

Now when it's your term for comment, please introduce yourself, stating your name and address to the board.

2:30

To provide your remarks, any written comments have been included into the record.

2:34

Now, after receiving the remarks of those who oppose the petition, the petitioner will have the opportunity to respond to those objections.

2:42

Now any rebuttal will be limited to two minutes unless the board allows longer time.

2:48

Now if the petitioner presents any new information in response to the objections, the board will allow those who oppose the petition the opportunity to respond to the new information only.

2:59

Now any response will be limited to two minutes unless the board votes to allow a longer time.

3:04

Now during the course of the presentation, you may be interrupted by any member of the board for clarification or additional information.

3:11

Now such interruptions will not reduce your allowed time limit.

3:15

Now once the board members are satisfied that they have received all relevant information.

3:25

Now after the vote, you are free to leave.

3:28

Now these proceedings are video recorded and broadcast live.

3:33

All in-person public comments should be made at the podium and into the microphone.

3:38

Any party agreed by any final judgment or decision of such zoning board of adjustments may within 15 days thereafter appeal therefrom to the circuit court by filing with such board a written notice of appeal specifying the George the judgment or decision from which the appeal is taken.

3:56

Now do any board members have any conflicts of interest as to any agenda matters?

4:01

If so, please state the same for the record.

4:19

It has.

4:20

Okay.

4:20

Uh, we move to staff presentations.

4:29

Okay.

4:30

So here we have uh cases requesting to withdraw.

4:33

ZBA 2226, Amber Walker petitions for a special exception to allow the short-term rental of a property located at 1267 38th Avenue East, zoned SFR 1 in the Council District 5.

4:47

So we need a motion to have it withdrawn.

4:51

So this was withdrawn prior to the meeting, so you don't need a you don't need to vote on it.

4:55

It's just letting you know.

4:57

Okay.

4:58

Do we have an update on our law, any of our cases or anything?

5:01

Do we have an update?

5:06

Not at this time, no.

5:07

Okay.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Short Term Rentals████████████████████████████████32%
Zoning And Land Use████████████████████████████28%
Zoning Regulations██████████████████████22%
Transportation Safety███████7%
Procedural█████5%
Public Safety████4%
Historic Preservation██2%
Summary of Proceedings

City of Tuscaloosa Zoning Board of Adjustments Meeting – April 27, 2026

The City of Tuscaloosa Zoning Board of Adjustments met on April 27, 2026, to hear petitions for special exceptions to the zoning code. The agenda included a light vehicle repair shop, a private event space, a home-based hair salon, and several short-term rental properties. One case was withdrawn, five petitions were approved, and one short-term rental renewal was denied.

Consent Calendar

  • ZBA 22-26 (Amber Walker): A petition for a special exception to allow a short-term rental at 1267 38th Avenue East was withdrawn prior to the meeting.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • No members of the public spoke for or against any of the petitions during the public comment periods. One written comment was submitted into the record for ZBA 21-26.

Discussion Items

ZBA 15-26: Light Vehicle Repair Shop (Michael Grunder)

  • The petitioner requested a special exception to operate a light vehicle repair shop at 4201 Greensboro Avenue. The property was previously an auto repair shop. The petitioner stated no collision or body work would be performed.
  • Board deliberation centered on the zoning code requirement to screen outdoor vehicle storage areas from public rights-of-way and adjacent residential uses. The petitioner argued that solid screening would hinder security and requested a reasonable timeframe for compliance if required. The board expressed general support for the use but affirmed the screening requirement.

ZBA 16-26: Private Event Space (Raven Howard)

  • A request for a special exception to operate a private event space at 2711 Culver Road. The space is roughly 1,500 square feet with a maximum of 100 guests. Operating hours are 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. No alcohol will be served.
  • The board had no significant concerns. The applicant noted the space is adjacent to a church and her parents' residence, ensuring no late-night activity or disturbances.

ZBA 17-26: Home-Based Hair Salon (Victoria Howard)

  • A request for a home-based business salon in the basement of a residence at 1990 Woodridge Road. Appointment-only, maximum two clients at a time.
  • Staff identified an unapproved gravel driveway intended for customer access to the separate entrance. The applicant agreed not to use this access and stated she would work with staff on an alternative route. The board confirmed off-street parking regulations apply.

ZBA 18-26 & 19-26 & 21-26: Short-Term Rentals

  • ZBA 18-26 (James Walters): Owner-occupied property at 1616 12th Street East. The board adopted the staff recommendation of 6 adults and 3 vehicles, over the petitioner's initial request for 10 adults and 4 vehicles.
  • ZBA 19-26 (Matthew Gibson): Non-owner-occupied property at 1732 12th Avenue managed by a professional company. Approved with standard staff recommendations.
  • ZBA 21-26 (Kimberly Roberts): Non-owner-occupied property at 1506 13th Street in the historic district. A shared driveway issue had been resolved through legal agreements. Despite a staff recommendation of 6 adults and 3 vehicles, the Office of the City Engineer approved 8 adults and 4 vehicles based on the site layout, which the board accepted.

ZBA 20-26: Short-Term Rental Denial (Amanda Anderson)

  • A petition for the renewal of a short-term rental at 1020 Wakefield was denied following significant deliberation. The property had been rented for 73 nights during the initial 30-night probationary period.
  • The petitioner stated she "forgot about the 30 night rule" due to renting to construction crews. Board members expressed strong concerns about the severity of the violation (more than double the limit) and the need for consistent enforcement of probationary occupancy limits.

Key Outcomes

  • ZBA 15-26 (Grunder): Approved (6-0). Stipulated that the rear fenced vehicle storage area must be screened per zoning code.
  • ZBA 16-26 (Howard, R.): Approved (6-0).
  • ZBA 17-26 (Howard, V.): Approved (6-0).
  • ZBA 18-26 (Walters): Approved (6-0). Conditions: one-year probation, 30-night occupancy limit, 6 adults, 3 vehicles.
  • ZBA 19-26 (Gibson): Approved (6-0). Conditions: one-year probation, 30-night occupancy limit, 6 adults, 3 vehicles.
  • ZBA 20-26 (Anderson): Denied (6-0) for exceeding the 30-night probationary occupancy limit.
  • ZBA 21-26 (Roberts): Approved (6-0). Conditions: one-year probation, 30-night occupancy limit, 8 adults, 4 vehicles.
  • ZBA 22-26 (Walker): Withdrawn prior to the meeting.

Meeting Transcript

Welcome to our April 27th, 2026 meeting of the City of Tuscaloosa Zoning Board of Adjustments. Any renting comments sent to the staff were forwarded to the board directly. Now at this time, I'd like to introduce the staff and members. Hudson Cheshire, Associate City Attorney. Zach Pons, Director of Planning. Josh McKinney, zoning administrator. I asked the board members to introduce themselves, starting to my left. Joe Robinson. Tim Gillam. Michelle Coley, Chair. Paul Rollins Jr. Robert Bill. Marty Hamner. Now the purpose of the zoning board of adjustments by virtue of state law and city ordinance. The purpose of the zoning board of adjustments is as follows. Here is appeals from zoning officers' decisions. Grant special exceptions to the zoning code in accordance with the terms as established by the city council. We grant variances from the zoning code when strict enforcement creates unnecessary hardship. Circumstances that are not hardships include those that are number one, self-inflicted or self-created. Number two, inconvenient and are personal. Now the zoning board of adjustments does not interpret or enforce subdivision covenants or HOA rules. Those matters are not relevant areas of inquiry by the board on any petition. Now there were signup sheets located outside for public comment. Four speakers are allowed to speak in favor of a petition, and four speakers are allowed to speak in opposition of a petition. Now all speakers will have a maximum of five minutes unless the board votes to allow a longer time. Now the board will take up items in the order of our final agenda. The board will initially receive a presentation from the staff as to the details of the agenda item. After the staff's presentation, I will call upon the petitioner to present their case. Now the petitioner will have a maximum of 10 minutes unless the board votes to allow a longer time. Now at the conclusion of the petitioner's remarks, I will call on any party in order of sign-up who desires to support the petition. Thereafter, I will call on any party in order of sign-up, those who oppose the petition. Now when it's your term for comment, please introduce yourself, stating your name and address to the board. To provide your remarks, any written comments have been included into the record. Now, after receiving the remarks of those who oppose the petition, the petitioner will have the opportunity to respond to those objections. Now any rebuttal will be limited to two minutes unless the board allows longer time. Now if the petitioner presents any new information in response to the objections, the board will allow those who oppose the petition the opportunity to respond to the new information only. Now any response will be limited to two minutes unless the board votes to allow a longer time. Now during the course of the presentation, you may be interrupted by any member of the board for clarification or additional information. Now such interruptions will not reduce your allowed time limit. Now once the board members are satisfied that they have received all relevant information. Now after the vote, you are free to leave. Now these proceedings are video recorded and broadcast live. All in-person public comments should be made at the podium and into the microphone. Any party agreed by any final judgment or decision of such zoning board of adjustments may within 15 days thereafter appeal therefrom to the circuit court by filing with such board a written notice of appeal specifying the George the judgment or decision from which the appeal is taken. Now do any board members have any conflicts of interest as to any agenda matters? If so, please state the same for the record. It has. Okay. Uh, we move to staff presentations. Okay.

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