OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Tuscaloosa Planning & Zoning Commission Meeting – August 17, 2026

City Council Meetings — Monday, August 17, 2026
BodyTuscaloosa, Alabama
SessionCity Council Meetings
DateMonday, August 17, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 28:16

Transcript — Verbatim
0:19

Welcome to our August 17th, 2026 meeting of the City of Tusclosa Planning and Zoning Commission.

0:25

Any written comments sent to the staff or forwarded to the Commission directly.

0:31

I would like to take this moment to introduce Staff.

0:34

Jimbo Woodson, Deputy City Attorney, Mike Garner, City Engineer, Zach Pons, Director of Planning, and Leota Coyne, Principal Planner.

0:44

There are nine members of the Planning Commission, all of whom were appointed by the mayor for staggered terms, with the exception of the City Council representative who is appointed by the City Council.

0:54

I ask that the Commission members introduce themselves to and state their occupation occupation, starting with my right, Ms.

1:00

Hornsby.

1:02

Ann Hornsby, attorney.

1:04

Raven Howard, Councilwoman District 2.

1:06

ADP, retired.

1:10

Stephen Rumsey, Business Owner.

1:12

Dina Prince, attorney.

1:14

Portia Clark, 311 manager.

1:16

I'm Tim Harrison, General Contractor.

1:18

There were sign up position petitions, uh sign up petition sheets located outside for public comment.

1:25

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

1:31

All speakers will have a maximum of five minutes unless the commission votes to allow a longer time.

1:38

The commission will take up the items in the order of our final agenda.

1:41

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

1:47

Additionally, we may hear certain matters involving the same property, such as an annexation and a zoning matter congruently, although we will take separate votes on each matter involving the same property.

1:59

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

2:03

The petitioner will have a maximum of ten minutes unless the commission votes for a longer time.

2:08

At the conclusion of the petitioner's remark, I will call on any porter in order of the sign-up sheet who desires to support the petition.

2:16

Thereafter, I will call up any party in order of sign-up sheet who is in opposition of the petition.

2:22

When it is your time for comment, please introduce yourself, stating your name, address to the commission, and provide your remarks.

2:30

Any written comments have been included in the record.

2:33

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

2:41

Any rebuttal will be limited to two minutes unless the commission votes to allow a longer time.

2:46

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

2:58

Any response will be limited to two minutes unless the commission votes to allow longer time.

3:03

During the course of the presentation, you may be interrupted by any member of the commission for clarification or additional information.

3:10

Such interruptions will not reduce your allotted time.

3:14

Once the commission members are satisfied that they have received all relevant information, I will close further discussion by the public, at which time the commission members will discuss the matter and then vote.

3:25

After the vote, you are free to leave.

3:27

Video recordings.

3:29

These presentations are video recorded and broadcast live.

3:32

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

3:37

Jurisdiction.

3:44

Subdivisions located within the city limits, subdivisions located outside the city limits, but within the city's planish planning jurisdiction, and developments with a special district.

3:55

Also approval letters for developments in historic district buffer zones.

4:01

As to all remaining matters, including annexations, rezonings, planned developments, and street vacation.

4:08

This commission serves as a recommending body to the city council.

4:12

In that regard, our decisions are in the form of a recommendation to be presented to the city council.

4:17

The city council will make the final decision on those matters.

4:21

Subdivisions approval require the affirmative vote of six members of the planning commission.

4:26

All matters which are recommendations to the city council require a majority vote for an affirmative recommendation.

4:33

I will ask now, do any members of the commission have any conflicts of interest as to the agenda matters?

4:38

If so, please state the same for the record.

4:42

Confirmation notice.

4:44

I will ask the staff to confirm on record that proper notice has been given to all parties in interest as required by the law and as to all matters before this commission tonight.

4:53

It has.

4:54

Approval of minutes.

5:00

As the planning and zoning commission has received the synopsis for the July 2026 meetings, I move that we dispense with the reading of the minutes of the same unless there are any deletions or additions or corrections.

5:14

Okay.

5:15

All right.

5:15

All in favor say aye.

5:17

Aye.

5:18

Any opposed?

5:19

All right.

5:20

Thank you.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Zoning And Land Use█████████████████████████████████████████████60%
Procedural██████████████18%
Zoning Regulations█████7%
Engineering And Infrastructure████5%
Personnel Matters███4%
Affordable Housing██3%
Public Works██3%
Summary of Proceedings

Tuscaloosa Planning & Zoning Commission Meeting – August 17, 2026

The Tuscaloosa Planning and Zoning Commission met on August 17, 2026, to consider a consent agenda, a withdrawal, a continuance, an annexation, a subdivision regulations update, and several zoning, subdivision, and special district petitions. All votes were unanimous. No public comment was offered on most items, and several applicants addressed the commission regarding their proposals.

Consent Calendar

  • S 6626: Approved without discussion. No public comment.
  • S 5326: Withdrawn prior to hearing. No public comment.
  • S 5926: Continued to a future meeting. No vote needed.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • No public comments were received on the consent agenda items, the annexation, or most other agenda items.
  • For the 21st Avenue Town Homes (Z-21-26, S-64-26, SD-03-26), the petitioner, Alan McGriff, addressed prior concerns about access, trash, and sewer connections. He described redesign solutions including a dedicated ingress/egress easement, a shared dumpster, and new sewer connections. No public speakers supported or opposed the items.
  • For the Cochrane preliminary plat (S 65-26), petitioner Jimmy Duncan answered questions about sewer and access easements. No public comment.
  • For the South Holt resurvey (S 67-26), the petitioner explained the lot consolidation to accommodate a garage and removal of encroaching driveway. No public comment.
  • For the Omni Market subdivision (S 60-26), petitioner Adam Ingram had no additional remarks. No public comment.

Discussion Items

  • Subdivision Regulations Update: Staff presented proposed updates to the subdivision regulations, including a change to preliminary plat scale requirements and a reduction from 200 feet to 50 feet for showing existing buildings. The target adoption date is October 2026. Commissioners asked no questions.
  • 21st Avenue Town Homes (three companion items): The rezoning from D (Downtown) to DP (Downtown Perimeter) was requested to allow townhome construction. The subdivision created three townhome lots and one open space lot. The special district petition covered the three townhome units. Staff noted the Architectural Review Committee recommended approval. The commission discussed that previous issues (alley access, trash, sewer) had been resolved.
  • Preliminary Plat – Cochrane Subdivision No. 1 (S 65-26): Three lots on 57 acres outside city limits. The petitioner confirmed no sewer service is needed and described an access easement extension. Two variance requests were supported by staff.
  • Resurvey – South Holt Edition (S 67-26): Consolidation of two lots into one to allow construction of a garage and removal of an encroaching driveway. Three variances were requested (right-of-way dedication, alley improvement, sidewalk construction). The petitioner noted the county had already granted variances.
  • Omni Market Subdivision (S 60-26): Subdivision of 10.7 acres into two lots, isolating a corner building. Two variances (drainage study and sidewalk construction) were supported by staff.

Key Outcomes

  • Consent Agenda (S 66-26): Approved unanimously.
  • Withdrawal (S 53-26): Approved unanimously.
  • Annexation (AN 08-26): Approved unanimously for two acres at 13236 North River Farms Drive. The property was annexed primarily for school access.
  • Rezoning (Z-21-26): Approved unanimously to rezone 0.4 acres from D to DP.
  • Subdivision (S-64-26): Approved unanimously for three townhome lots and one open space lot.
  • Special District (SD-03-26): Approved unanimously for construction of three townhome units.
  • Preliminary Plat (S 65-26): Approved unanimously for three lots at 2301 Joe Mallisham Parkway.
  • Resurvey (S 67-26): Approved unanimously for lot consolidation at 4403/4305 12th Street NE.
  • Subdivision (S 60-26): Approved unanimously for two lots at 600-702 Skyland Boulevard and 4200 McFarland Boulevard.
  • Minutes: The synopsis of the July 2026 meeting was approved as presented.

Meeting Transcript

Welcome to our August 17th, 2026 meeting of the City of Tusclosa Planning and Zoning Commission. Any written comments sent to the staff or forwarded to the Commission directly. I would like to take this moment to introduce Staff. Jimbo Woodson, Deputy City Attorney, Mike Garner, City Engineer, Zach Pons, Director of Planning, and Leota Coyne, Principal Planner. There are nine members of the Planning Commission, all of whom were appointed by the mayor for staggered terms, with the exception of the City Council representative who is appointed by the City Council. I ask that the Commission members introduce themselves to and state their occupation occupation, starting with my right, Ms. Hornsby. Ann Hornsby, attorney. Raven Howard, Councilwoman District 2. ADP, retired. Stephen Rumsey, Business Owner. Dina Prince, attorney. Portia Clark, 311 manager. I'm Tim Harrison, General Contractor. There were sign up position petitions, uh sign up petition sheets located outside for public comment. Four speakers are allowed to speak in favor of petition, and four speakers are allowed to speak in opposition of a petition. All speakers will have a maximum of five minutes unless the commission votes to allow a longer time. The commission will take up the items in the order of our final agenda. The Commission will initially receive a presentation from the staff as to the details of the agenda item. Additionally, we may hear certain matters involving the same property, such as an annexation and a zoning matter congruently, although we will take separate votes on each matter involving the same property. After the staff presentation, I will call upon the petitioner to present their case. The petitioner will have a maximum of ten minutes unless the commission votes for a longer time. At the conclusion of the petitioner's remark, I will call on any porter in order of the sign-up sheet who desires to support the petition. Thereafter, I will call up any party in order of sign-up sheet who is in opposition of the petition. When it is your time for comment, please introduce yourself, stating your name, address to the commission, and provide your remarks. Any written comments have been included in the record. After receiving the remarks of those who oppose the petition, the petitioner will have the opportunity to respond to those objections. Any rebuttal will be limited to two minutes unless the commission votes to allow a longer time. If the petitioner presents any new information in response to the objections, the commission will allow those who oppose the petition the opportunity to respond to the new information only. Any response will be limited to two minutes unless the commission votes to allow longer time. During the course of the presentation, you may be interrupted by any member of the commission for clarification or additional information. Such interruptions will not reduce your allotted time. Once the commission members are satisfied that they have received all relevant information, I will close further discussion by the public, at which time the commission members will discuss the matter and then vote. After the vote, you are free to leave. Video recordings. These presentations are video recorded and broadcast live. All in public comments should be made at the podium into the microphone. Jurisdiction. Subdivisions located within the city limits, subdivisions located outside the city limits, but within the city's planish planning jurisdiction, and developments with a special district. Also approval letters for developments in historic district buffer zones. As to all remaining matters, including annexations, rezonings, planned developments, and street vacation. This commission serves as a recommending body to the city council. In that regard, our decisions are in the form of a recommendation to be presented to the city council. The city council will make the final decision on those matters. Subdivisions approval require the affirmative vote of six members of the planning commission. All matters which are recommendations to the city council require a majority vote for an affirmative recommendation. I will ask now, do any members of the commission have any conflicts of interest as to the agenda matters? If so, please state the same for the record. Confirmation notice. I will ask the staff to confirm on record that proper notice has been given to all parties in interest as required by the law and as to all matters before this commission tonight.

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