Public invited as committee discusses possible zoning ordinance for Flomaton town limits at 4 p.m. in town hall
Flomaton's committee charged with developing a zoning plan for the town limits, which will be voted on by the town council, will hold its second meeting today (Thursday, Aug. 30) at town hall. The public is invited to attend.
The committee, appointed by Mayor Bondurant and approved by the council, held its first meeting on July 21 and was presented a preliminary zoning plan as a starting point.
Diane Burnett with South Alabama Regional Planning Commission is helping the town develop a zoning plan that best fits Flomaton.
She told the group on July 21 that there were three counties and 31 municipalities in the planning commission's region. Of the 31 municipalities, Burnett said 29 have zoning ordinances. She said Flomaton, Riverview and Pollard are the only municipalities in the region that do not have an adopted land use ordinance.
Burnett, along with Jess Nicholas, director of the Escambia County Industrial Authority, said having zoning is an important part of attracting new business and industry to an area.
Nicholas said it sends a good message to businesses wanting to locate in an area.
“It makes the whole process look more professional,” Nicholas said. “Zoning is a question we are asked on every property list we get from the Economic Development Partnership of Alabama. I can't remember getting interest in a property that is not zoned.”
Mayor Dewey Bondurant, Jr., said he wants to make the zoning as simple as possible. He said the town's lack of zoning has prevented the town from landing new businesses in the past.
“People don't come because we are not zoned,” Bondurant said. “We're trying to stay afloat and this is the first step toward keeping our police department and utility department.”
