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By DONALD MOTTERN | Staff Writer

PELHAM – On Monday, March 18, the Pelham City Council unanimously voted to rezone an area of property along Huntley Parkway, a decision that will now allow a planned residential development to move forward.

The currently vacant 5.6-acre property, which sits on the eastern side of Huntley Parkway between the Grand Reserve apartments and Publix, was previously zoned as a commercial B-2, General Business District and has now been modified to R-T, Townhouse Residential District.

“The proposed use is a 42-lot for lease townhome community that will mirror the Huntley Park community that was recently completed by Tower Homes,” Pelham City Manager Gretchen DiFante said.

Tower Homes, which has worked with the city on a number of similar projects over the past several years, expressed its gratitude for the decision and will now begin the process of construction and development of the area.

Intentions and designs for the project were previously approved by the Pelham Planning and Zoning Commission during a regular meeting on Thursday, Feb. 8. During that meeting, the commission voted unanimously to recommend the city rezone the property and that Tower Homes be allowed to pursue the development. The commission went further to also voice that the development would, “be a good fit for the area.”

The Council issued its first reading for the rezoning measure at the preceding meeting of the Pelham City Council on March 4. At that time, no citizens of Pelham spoke for or against the proposal as part of the public hearing.

Speaking at the March 4 meeting, Price Hightower, president and owner of Tower Homes, expressed his continued appreciation to the city of Pelham for the ongoing relationship between the city and his company.

“We have worked closely with the city staff in bringing this proposed use before the Council.” Hightower said. “We did receive a favorable recommendation from planning and zoning and we are always happy to answer any questions people may have about the site.”

Hightower, who has spoken on previous occasions about his company’s long history with the city of Pelham, which includes their role as the first building team at the Ballantrae golf course, was present throughout the meeting that approved the rezoning. However, he did not address the audience or the council during the latest meeting.