Blog Update from the Decatur Planning Department

Two valued associates retiring as of February 1, 2019.

The Planning Department will be wishing two associates a well-deserved and happy retirement January 31.  Steve Kelso who was hired May 3, 1990 as a draftsman and promoted to Planning Technician March 2, 1995 and most recently promoted December 3, 2018 to Planner II and Hannah Pearson who was hired August 5, 1993 as an Administrative Assistant and promoted to Planning Technician March 2, 1995 and most recently promoted December 3, 2018 to Planner II.  Both have been actively involved in making Decatur a better place to live and will be missed.

Amendments to the Zoning ordinance to work with mobile food vending units on private property with an active business existing on the property.

Amendments to the definition of Restaurant to reduce the food to alcohol ratio for all restaurants and establish a class 1 restaurant.  Provisions have been made to allow Class 1 restaurants as a Use Permitted on Appeal in a B5 zone and we are considering adding them as a Use Permitted on Appeal in a B3R zone in February.

Welcomed Forrest Temple to the Planning Commission.  Mr. Temple has been a past member of both the Parking Authority and the Board of Zoning Adjustment.

Started the work to do a comprehensive rewrite of the City Zoning Ordinance and held the first round of public meetings.

•                 Appointed a steering committee to help lead this efforts.

Anticipate that an annotated draft and assessment of our ordinance will be available for review in March.  There will be a series of public meeting in March also.

Served as part of the committee reviewing the submissions for the overall city branding project.

Did our first overall review and update on implementation of the One Decatur Comprehensive Plan.  Our city had initiated many of the recommendations in the Plan.  This is a long range plan and we will be working for many years to keep in moving forward.  We are excited that some of the low hanging fruit has already been completed. We will be continuing the steps that have already been taken and building on them in the future.

Helped coordinate the details for a number of new and old downtown events.

The city recently annexed 55.9 acres in Limestone County which includes the Robotics Technology Park.