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Chamber Luncheon Draws Large Crowd; Sponsored by Guardian Credit Union

BY CARMEN RODGERS

ELMORE/AUTAUGA NEWS

The Prattville Area Chamber of Commerce is celebrating its 50th year of service. This was announced at the opening of the Chamber Luncheon that was held Wednesday at Marriot Legends.

Rachael Stewart of Guardian Credit Union opened the luncheon with an exciting announcement. Guardian Credit Union will be moving its headquarters to Prattville.

“You may have noticed the new development from I65, if you’re driving north and you look to your left. Right before you get to PCA, you will see this new development. I am excited to announce that that is future headquarters of Guardian Credit Union,” Stewart said “At that site, we will have more than 100 Guardian team members. This building site will help us grow together as a team, for each other, for our members, and community. With that, we give a big thanks to City and County for making this building possible,” Stewart said.

Following that announcement, Stewart introduced the speaker Scott Stephens who is the Planning Director for the City of Prattville.

Stephens spotlighted the growth and development in Prattville.

He began by explaining what role the Planning and Development Department plays in city government.

“We’re tasked with trying to manage that growth to the best of our ability,” Stephens said.

The Planning and Development Department oversees long-range planning, as well as current planning, permitting and plan review, building inspections, geographic information systems or GIS, Planning Commission, Board of Zoning Adjustment, Historic Preservation Commission, and floodplain management.

“One of the tools we use to try to manage that growth is the comprehensive plan,” Stephens said.

The City’s comprehensive plan was adopted in Feb. 2020, just before Covid caused about everything to stop. This is a 20-year plan that is titled Prattville 2040.

“We know what happened in March of 2020,” he said. “It’s been a challenge, but we moved forward. The silver lining is it really made us start using different technologies.”

When it comes to rezoning, the Planning and Development Department ensures that the land use is compatible with future planning for the area.

“When someone comes in for a rezoning request, the first question is ‘does the rezoning match future land use. Is that where we want that commercial use, is that where we wat that residential use?’” he explained.

In 2020 the City adopted a new zoning ordinance. The previous zoning ordinance was adopted in 1950.

“We wrote an entire new zoning ordinance, which the Planning Commission and City Council adopted in March of 2022. It brough in a few newer concepts and accessory dwelling units is one of those. Another term that some people use for those is a mother-in-law suite or a granny flat. This is for if you if you have a family member that still wants independent living, but wants to live in their own unit,” Stephens said.

Stephens also addressed the uptick in cottage companies, where individuals utilize the internet to sale items from their home.

“You may have an attorney that wants to have a very small practice out of his or her house. Home occupation is certainly something we try to support and make it easier for those applicants,” he said.

Stephens discussed new subdivision regulations.

“Those were rewritten from the ground up, as well. We tried to increase efficiencies,” he said. “We streamlined a lot of processes in the subdivision process.”

Next, Stephens explained the City’s historic review guidelines.

“Those are guidelines that the Historic Preservation Commission oversee,” Stephens said.

Stephens explained that when development is going on, there is usually a sign at the site to explain what the new development holds.

“Preserving our built history adds to the uniqueness of Prattville,” he said.

“Mr. Daniel Pratt built his gin shop right on the Autauga creek because he needed the hydropower, and the town grew up around it,” Stephens said. “The Autauga creek and Alabama river are fantastic resources but creeks and rivers flood sometimes. They will flood at some point in time.”

Stephens showed a map of the flood plain, which indicates how vulnerable the City would be, especially the downtown area, if a 100-year flood were to occur.

Stephens addressed population growth, explaining that Prattville is the 14th largest city on the State of Alabama.

With the growing population, Stephens showed the expansion of new residential developments in Prattville.

“With that growth, the thing the city looks at is public safety, so we added a fire department to support the new residential growth,” he said.

Prattville city limits are situated in both Autauga and Elmore Counties.

“We are starting to see growth in the Elmore County side,”Stephens said.

Stephens talked about the Mill Apartments, which are being constructed in Daniel Pratt’s original factory.

“They anticipate the first building to open by the end of this month,” he said. “Building D, they call it, should open. It will have an office, it will have some of the amenities in it, and some of the apartments for new residents. They hope and anticipate to progressively open the other buildings and be done by the end of the summer.”

Stephens explained that Prattville offers a variety of housing options.

“Not everyone wants a single-family home, with a yard that they have to cut,” he said. “Having a multi-family option like this is great.”

Sterling Heights, an age restricted development for people who are 55-yearsold and older, is also soon coming to Prattville.

“We often hear the need for senior living. This is another wanted addition for our elderly population,” Stephens said.

Stephens also explained the rapid growth in businesses and industry in Prattville, which offers more job options for residents.

After spotlighting where people are living and working in the city, Stephens talked about where people can “play” in Prattville. Mac Gray 2.0, Newton Park, and the Fitness Court, which is a fitness park that the city partnered with Blue Cross and Blue Shiels to bring to fruition, are some of those. The new pedestrian bridge in the downtown area was highlighted as well. The bridge project was funded with a TAP, or Transportation Alternative Program grant.

“It’s the first in the state of Alabama, Blue Cross and Blue Shield Fitness Courts,” he said. “It’s been a popular addition to the downtown area.”

Mac Gray will focus on baseball and softball, while Newton Park will focus on the sport of tennis, and pickleball.

After the presentation, Stephens encouraged anyone with questions or concerns to reach out to him at the Planning and Zoning Department.