By NEAL WAGNER / Managing Editor

ALABASTER – The city of Alabaster will not issue any new business licenses to payday loan, cash advance, used car dealerships and several other types of businesses in the Medical Mile district for at least the next six months after the City Council passed a temporary moratorium during its Oct. 12 meeting.

The council voted unanimously during the meeting to approve the temporary business license moratorium, which will be in effect through March 31, 2016. Council members Rick Walters and Bob Hicks were absent from the meeting.

The moratorium only applies to the Main Street Medical Mile, which is defined as 1,000 feet from the centerline of U.S. 31 from Hillwood Lane to Simmsville Road, Fifth Avenue Northeast, Second Street Northeast, Seventh Avenue Northeast from U.S. 31 to Third Street Northeast and on Industrial Road from Short Street to U.S. 31.

“A lot of hard work has gone into this Medical Mile, and this moratorium is one step closer to that development because it accentuates the type of development we want in that area,” said City Council President Scott Brakefield. “Hopefully, this will help to beautify that area.”

The resolution specifically lays out the types of businesses allowed to get business licenses in the Medical Mile during the moratorium. The list incudes many types of medical, dental and pharmacy uses, government buildings, general-use office and professional buildings, retail stores taking up no more than 15 percent of a total building’s floor area, optical firms, florist shops, book and gift stores, restaurants and coffee shops, hotels, gas stations and convenience stores. Temporary vendor business licenses will not be granted, but mobile vendor business licenses will be granted.

Ward 5 City Councilman Russell Bedsole, who previously expressed concern about passing a moratorium, said he supported the action because it only affects a certain part of town for a limited amount of time.

“It does only pertain to the Main Street Medical Mile. It does not apply to any areas outside that Main Street Medical Mile,” Bedsole said. “It doesn’t affect any current businesses, only those seeking new business licenses. It ends on March 31, 2016, so there is an end date on the moratorium.”