By Sarah Stephens
Elmore Autauga News
At Tuesday’s Millbrook City Council meeting, members voted to table fthe issue of Merritt Property’s request to rezone an area near the intersection of Main Street and Graff Road. The request is to change the current zoning of R-1, low density, to R-60 to allow for 12 proposed duplex units.
All voted in favor for the issue to be tabled, with one abstention from Council member Chris Bath.
During discussions within the work session prior to the official meeting, it was thought that it would be good to allow the developers time to talk about concerns with area residents, who do not want the multiple duplex homes to be constructed. Their primary concerns involve adding more traffic to an already busy area. Part of the plan, which would be under the direction of ALDOT, is to move Graff Road to align with Shady Drive. Graff Road is a one-way road.
The issue first came before the Millbrook Planning and Zoning committee, and was passed, which moved it on to formal consideration by the Council at the last regular council meeting. There it had its first reading, and several area residents addressed the council against the development. No official action was taken at that time, as it was only a first reading.
On Tuesday, the second reading was scheduled, and the Council could have approved the issue, but ultimately it was tabled to allow for continuing discussion.
During the work session just prior to the Council meeting, the issue was discussed briefly.
“Jimmy (Harris) and I met with the parties, and hopefully they can continue to talk to each other and work out some compromises and give them time to do that,” Council President Michael Gay said.
“The major issues that came up were, of course, that creek (known as Coosada Creek),” Councilman Jimmy Harris said. “I never realized how bad that creek was through there. A lot of the issues that came up really didn’t have anything to do with the rezoning. It is like a cold. They were symptoms of it. The fly in the ointment is really the traffic in the road. We will be limited on what ALDOT has to say about that.”
President Gay also explained, “There are concerns with people on (Graff Road) and also with people further back, about changing even part of it. And, as Jimmy said, the creek and the water issues.”
Harris said there has also been disinformation circulating about the issue.
“In a lot of calls that I have got from people in that area, was the thought that all of Graff Road would be two-lane. It would only be to the edge of the property there. It would not affect any of the rest of the residents who live on Graff Road because it is not going to be two-lane. It has also come up that maybe they would be more satisfied if we took the number of units from 12 to six or eight. That might mediate both parties and everybody would be happy. We would have a win-win.”
President Gay said with just over three acres of land, there are concerns about the density of residential duplexes.
Harris said another legitimate concern is ample parking on the property.
During the official council meeting prior to the vote on the rezoning, the floor was open to public comment.
Kevin Lawrence resides on Graff Road and stood to say he is in opposition to the rezoning.
“Coosada Creek, which runs all the way to the Alabama River, borders that property between the proposed area and Victory Baptist Church. There are issues with the waterway,” he said.
Lawrence said while the area is not a recognized flood zone, it is flood prone. He said that over time the width of the creek has increased dramatically over the past 20 years due to erosion. He said that upstream, there have been issues with the creek flooding and causing issues for the church.
Lawrence said just downstream he has other concerns, as it impacts his property on Graff Road. “We have heard that the plan is to asphalt that area (where the duplexes would be located) and to put a petroleum-based product in there. For those of you that have been around a long time, that area is Robinson Springs, one of the tri-community areas. That is a network of underground springs in there. You can drive a tractor on a dry day and sink a tractor because the water table is so low. When that water table gets high, it feeds into the creek.”
He said the problem with a petroleum-based product is “that product, without any kind of sealant underneath, will cause irreparable harm to the water that enters into the creek.”
He said this could impact both wildlife and cattle that graze in the area and drink the water from the creek.
He also touched on the safety of Graff Road. The neighbors petitioned years ago to make it a one way. He said it cannot handle additional traffic.
He also is concerned about the duplexes being transient in nature, more so than a traditional residential area.
He said he is also concerned about what the development would do to property values of single-family residential homes in the area.
Walker Allen Phillips spoke next, saying she is also concerned about flooding issues, the density of dwellings. She owns two homes, one on Graff Road and one on Shady Drive.
Phillips said she has created a petition with neighbors in that area that are opposed to the rezoning and the development.
In regard to the flooding issue, she said there have been multiple problems in the past with water taking out power poles during a deluge of rain. She feels that eliminating the current field, and placing duplexes, would only add to groundwater runoff.
Other residents spoke, echoing similar sentiments concerning safety, traffic and flooding.
Victor Brown lives on Shady Drive.
“We came here in 1997 . (Developers) wanted to put a Quick Mart strip mall in there. We fought it and you backed us up. We didn’t have that.”
He said that later residents fought the development of another strip mall on Main Street and Chapman Road, but that was allowed.
Lawrence said he has been a trapper for 20 years, and has worked for the city in controlling the beaver population.
“But now, you’ve got a swamp,” he said. He added that flooding from the pond behind the strip mall development has caused many problems.
He said he is not necessarily opposed to the duplex development, but that anything that is developed, needs to follow guidelines for the Environmental Protection Agency. “It should divert the water properly, with no more erosion, and not get any wider.” Lawrence said that the primary problem is the number of creeks, including water coming from Eagle Rock subdivision, which impacts a larger area, such as Wolf Road.
Lawrence said that working on ditches, and creating barriers would be a benefit.
“I, for one, would like to see a development that has people there, not a business. You would have the regular traffic of a neighborhood, and not a constant flow.”
James Davis also spoke. He has lived on Shady Drive for 68 years and said he has seen a lot of changes in that time.
One of his main concerns is the increase to traffic.
“We already have traffic in the morning that is backed up all the way to Robinson Springs School. Now we are going to add 50 or 60 cars coming in and out of there. They are talking about moving Graff Road over in front of Shady Drive. It is going to make it even more difficult to get in and out of there.”
Last to speak was James Merritt, the owner and developer of the property.
“Our demographics are going to be 50-plus. We are not out there targeting young (families) with children. I have been hearing concerns from the community and they will be addressed. All units will be one and two-bedroom units and there will be some handicap units.”
He said he has hired Larry Speaks and Associates for the project and to control the water and create a retention pond.
Merritt said he is working with all officials to make sure the entire project will be done correctly.
He said he understands the concerns about potential flooding, as his property runs 330 feet along Coosada Creek. He believes the plan and design of the property should help with flooding issues, not make it worse.
Merritt then said a concern he has is that a property owner has a fence that is actually blocking the creek. Debris collects in the fence and causes problems.
He said he has spoken with ALDOT regarding moving Graff Road to meet up with Shady Drive, and said he is following their plan. Merritt said it would actually be less expensive, he believes, to widen Graff Road, but he is going with ALDOT’s recommendations.
“There are four acres of vacant land that has been there for a long time. We are proposing a plan that is best suited for this land,” Merritt said. “There are already three like properties adjacent to the land. Our architect will work with the planning committee and make sure it looks modern and beautiful. The plan will be the best choice for Millbrook seniors who have aged out of their home. We are very positive that this will be an added benefit for Main Street.”
If any residents have concerns, Merritt said he wants to share his contact information so further discussions can take place.
He said his cell phone is 334-799 2019.
“I will take any phone calls and address any questions. Because at the end of the day we have to do what is neighborly and all work together.”
The Council then voted to table the motion until the next regular city council meeting.
President Gay addressed the crowd saying, “The Council’s desire would be for all interested parties to get together and come back to us when everyone has had a chance to talk to one another directly. Mayor, I know you have shared your desires for people to come and talk to you directly. I would encourage everyone to take this time and share phone numbers.” For any such meetings, Gay said the city would make a meeting room available.
The next regular meeting will be held Tuesday, August 27. The work session is at 5:30 p.m. and the official meeting will be at 6 p.m. The meetings are open to the public. At that meeting, the council will vote to perhaps bring it off the table for a vote, but also have the option to table again if further investigation is warranted.
