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By NOAH WORTHAM | Managing Editor

ALABASTER – Alabaster City Hall was full of concerned residents from the Saddle Lake Farms subdivision during a meeting on Monday Oct. 15 that featured a public hearing for the rezoning of property at 101 Equestrian Drive.

During the meeting, the Alabaster City Council held a public hearing for an ordinance to rezone 101 Equestrian Drive without restrictions from municipal reserve to agriculture district. The request for zoning was for property owner Allison Hollins.

The property under consideration previously went before the Alabaster Planning and Zoning Commission during a meeting on Oct. 24, 2023 where it received an unfavorable recommendation from the commission.

During the public hearing on Oct. 15, Hollins spoke in favor of the rezoning of the property and claimed that she was not given a reason as to the denial by the planning and zoning commission.

“The only thing that happened in that meeting was a bunch of mean, ugly people from the subdivision came in and said a bunch of ugly things and then suddenly it was a no vote,” Hollins said.

Several residents spoke during their public hearing and expressed their disapproval for the proposed rezoning.

Melissa Wiley, president of the Saddle Lark Farms Homeowner’s Association spoke during the hearing and shared that she was against the rezoning.

“We’re opposed to it being zoned agriculture,” she said. “The pasture is the first visual part of our professionally maintained and manicured entrance.”

Wiley claimed that a rezoning to agriculture would compromise the aesthetics of the neighborhood and would reduce home values.

Resident Michelle Weaver lives next door the property under consideration and expressed her disfavor with the proposed rezoning.

“We have had our home on the market for seven months trying to sell it, and we cannot sell our home because everyone is concerned about what is going to be in our backyard,” Weaver said.

After closing out the public hearing, the Alabaster City Council unanimously denied the rezoning request for agriculture zoning without conditions.

In other news, the Alabaster City Council approved the following items on the agenda:

• An ordinance to rezone property of Peavine Crossing located at 2112 Simmsville Road from Peavine Creek Overlay, multifamily and single-family residential to planned development district
• Ordinances to prezone and annex 1805 Smokey Road into the city of Alabaster
• Ordinance to rezone 136 Newgate Road from single-family residential to institution district
• Set a public hearing for Monday, Nov. 25 at 6:30 p.m. to rezone 1334 Old Highway 31 from single-family residential to manufactured and mobile home residential district
• Set a public hearing for Monday, Nov. 25 at 6:30 p.m. to rezone 2025 Butler Road from community business district within State Rout 119 Overlay to general business district
• A resolution updating the city of Alabaster’s pay plan with the pay period beginning on Oct. 24
• A resolution granting an easement to Alabama Power for the Alabaster Amphitheater project
• A resolution awarding a bid related to the abatement of structures at 1305 Navajo Trail to Cornerstone Construction at a cost not to exceed $10,000
• A resolution authorizing the mayor to sign a contract with Alabama Power for a streetlight to be located at 202 10th Ave. Southeast
• A resolution reappointing Nancy Hicks and Judy Mosely to Place 3 and Place 4 on the Albert L. Scott Library Board
• A resolution awarding a bid to Varsity Sports, LLC for youth basketball uniforms
• A resolution authorizing the mayor to sign an agreement with the Alabaster Water Board for temporary sewer office space rental in the amount not to exceed $1,5000 per month plus electric power bill
• A resolution authorizing a grant application in the amount of up to $100,000 from Shelby County for additional restrooms for Veterans Park