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By EMILY SPARACINO / Staff Writer

MONTEVALLO – A housing developer gained the approval he needed from the Montevallo City Council on Feb. 10 to start construction of a new apartment complex on property at the southwest intersection of Overland Road and Shoshone Drive.

Following a public hearing, the council in a 4-2 vote approved developer Paul Widman’s site development plan for Bluegrass Apartments, a 46-unit multi-family complex.

In November, the council approved Widman’s request, on behalf of property owner Brenda Zigarelli, for an amended special district for the property in November.

The Planning and Zoning Board reviewed and recommended approval of the site development plan in January, according to Shelby County Department of Development Services Sharman Brooks. With a building permit in place, the City Council’s approval was needed in order for construction to begin.

Brooks said the plan meets all requirements of the city’s zoning ordinance and has approval from the city engineer.

Regarding density, the three 16-unit building plan will bring the development to maximum capacity, Brooks said.

Councilmen Rusty Nix and Arthur Herbert voted against the site development plan.

Herbert said the development’s potential impact on nearby property values was his main concern.

The Bluegrass development since last year has been the subject of numerous comments and questions from residents, many of whom have cited concerns about property values, increased traffic and water drainage issues in the area.

Widman said the notion that the complex will cause nearby property values to decrease was “extremely subjective.”

The council did not approve a request from Chris Reebals, on behalf of property owner Montevallo Cottages LLC, to change the zoning district from R-2 Special District to R-4 Special District for the construction of a multi-family housing community off Alabama 25 near Shelby County 19 (Enon Road).

The proposed community would feature “for lease” row home designed units.

Brooks said the Planning and Zoning Board reviewed the request and recommended that it not be approved based on the increased density being inconsistent with the surrounding area and the comprehensive plan.

The Montevallo Cottages matter died for lack of a motion.

The council considered but did not take action on a request from Ammersee Lakes developer Tom Bagley to divide the cost of repaving roads in the first and second sector of the subdivision this year to allow for construction of the third sector.