Anniston, AL – The Anniston City Planning Commission welcomed attendees to its regular March meeting, featuring a public hearing on the proposed zoning ordinance. Open to all, the meeting included an educational presentation by Jason Fondren from KPS Group on zoning. The meeting was held on Thursday, March 14th The meeting was a two hour event and afterwards a vote on a proposed zoning ordinance was held.
The proposed changes include allowing more commercial uses for tattoo studios, check cashing/payday loan businesses, vape shops, a medical marijuana dispensary, and bars within the Core District. Adult entertainment establishments, alternative financial institutions, tattoo parlors and studios, tobacco shops, and medical cannabis dispensaries are all subject to specific regulations outlined in the draft. In Febuary the Calhoun Journal did an article and spoke with Planning Commission Member Mindy Poe. She expressed her concerns about the extensive nature of the proposed changes, with a 118-page draft that may be daunting for residents to read thoroughly. However, she stressed the importance of the community attending meetings and voicning their opinions. She also stated “The Comprehensive Plan is the voice of the citizens of Anniston recorded. It was created through surveys, community work sessions, and public input meetings with many residents, and it is the Planning Commission’s duty to make sure we create a zoning plan that meets the needs of the whole community and aligns with the Comprehensive Plan.”
Councilwoman Harris has been vocal about her concerns for more payday loan business in the core district as well as the introduction of medical marijuana. She has also voiced concerns of clubs producing large noise and the over impact this will have on long term businesses in the area.
Local business owners have also threatened to leave Anniston if these changes go into effect. Much of this has been focused on Lucid Dreams Tattoo & Piercings who currently operates in Oxford, but has been vocal about wanting to move to Anniston. Many businesses owners voiced concerns over the cliental that may detract from their own businesses.
After all the presenting was completed the planning commission vote was largely noncommittal. Four commission members voted “yes,” two voted “no” and two abstained. They yes votes were from Jeff Waldrep, Ben New, Chris Lindsey and Terri Lloyd. The no votes were Ann Welch and Mindy Poe. The two abstaining votes were Mayor Jack Draper and Councilman “DD” Roberts This means that the matter will move forward to the council without a recommendation yay or nay from the planning commission.
