The Alabaster City Council continues to take steps to advance retail shopping in the city.

Following a public hearing, the council approved an amendment to the zoning ordinance to accommodate mall/shopping center parking at its Dec. 5 meeting.

The new requirement is one parking space per 250 feet of floor shopping area. The old requirement was one parking place per 200 feet of floor shopping area.

A public hearing to establish a new overlay district on Highway 11 was continued until Jan. 3 over the objection of Councilmember Jim McClain.

The overlay district would restrict outdoor night activities; restrict noise and separate entrances from commercial and residential areas while preserving natural features.

It would also allow continued uses of industrial, community business and residential and residential multi-family zoning with restrictions.

McClain said, &8220;I think it should have been voted on because we have put it off this long already.&8221;

The council, however, unanimously approved the rezoning of 5.42 acres for Mark Gonzales from Municipal Reserve to Community Business.

This is land owned by Colonial Properties for the new Colonial Promenade Alabaster South Shopping Center.

In other matters, the council:

– Set a public hearing for Jan. 17 on a rezoning request of 207 acres from municipal reserve to PRD-1 (Planned Residential) and R-7 (Multi-Family) on Smokey Road for Maverick Enterprises.

– Approved a street light request for 141 Mission Circle.

– Appointed J.D. Johnson to the Commercial Development Authority.

– Set a work session for Dec. 19.

– Saw Veterans Park recognized by the National Baseball Players Association as the Best Baseball Facility in the South