By Andrew Edwards
Elmore/Autauga News Staff Writer
On a 5-2 decision, the Prattville City Council voted against the second ordinance on Tuesday night’s agenda, which called for rezoning a parcel of land at Fairview Avenue and Summit Parkway from FAR to B-2. Marcus Jackson and Albert Striplin voted for the rezoning.
The Broadway Group, who petitioned for the rezoning, made it clear that they wanted to build a retail store on the land.
At the February 18th planning commission meeting, Kelly Steele, representative with the Broadway Group, said “The business that wants to come here is one of the fastest growing retailers in the county, and we’re pleased to say that it would bring 10 new jobs to the Prattville area.”
Steele went on to say that retail is lacking on that side of town, and that they are “excited to help bolster an already growing Prattville economy.” She explained that the building was expected to be approximately 10,640 square feet.
She reiterated those thoughts on Tuesday night.
Jon Lee Finnegan, citizen of Prattville and active participant at city related meetings, spoke in opposition to the proposed rezoning at the public hearing prior to the vote.
“I believe it’s going to be a Dollar General, and I think we have enough Dollar Generals in this town. I think that location is dangerous because of the amount of traffic that Dollar Generals get. I was initially for this because I thought it was going to be a restaurant, but I’m not anymore after finding out that it isn’t,” Finnegan said.
John Chambers, District 3 City Councilman, spoke about his reasoning behind voting against the rezoning.
“I actually had a lot of constituents in this district of mine, who were not in favor of this. So, I wanted to support that, and that’s the reasoning behind my vote,” Chambers said.
