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During the most recent Jefferson County Commission meeting (you can view both the pre-commission and commission meeting in our video archive), Commission President Jimmie Stephens brought up concerns from his constituents about garden home communities and how some in his district have become rental communities.
Since 2022, the County Commission has voted to deny 6 of the last 8 requests to rezone property for garden homes. The 2 approvals were done so with conditions for development. The Future Land Use designations for areas are one of several factors considered when rezoning recommendations are made. Jefferson County’s Comprehensive Plan and Future Land Use Map is outdated and may fail to account for the development that occurred in the area, the comprehensive planning of surrounding municipalities, and/or infrastructure considerations.
Development Services and Roads and Transportation are currently working with consultants to update the County’s Comprehensive Plan, associated Land Use Map, Zoning Ordinances, and Zoning Map. Over the past week, members of Development Services, Roads and Transportation, and Environmental Services, met with several municipalities to update them on the plan’s progress, and coordinate on key elements such as infrastructure, available land, community, and economic development. County staff collaborated with and learned from the policies of several cities that are also seeing a surge in rezoning requests for more dense residential development.
Director of Development Services Josh Johnson said they are looking at all feedback that was received last year in the public meetings, and are working with other county departments, along with the County Attorney and County Manager’s Office to create policies and procedures that create more desirable, sustainable, and flexible communities. The new Comprehensive Plan will be presented for public feedback. So stay tuned!
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Jefferson County business owners rejoice! Starting Oct. 1, 2024 you can renew your state and county business license online! The Department of Revenue has been working hard to make this option available. This year, businesses will still get a notice with forms in the mail, but it will direct them on how to renew online at SRT.jccal.org. You will still need to provide the same forms, affidavits, and permits, if applicable, that you have in the past. And, if you use an accounting or licensing service for your tax and license compliance needs, those entities will be able to set up a user account and link your license account in order to renew the license for your business. But wait there's more. If you use an e-check, credit card, or debit card, there is no extra processing fee. If business owners have questions they can email JeffCoBusinessLicense@jccal.org and that goes directly to the correct personnel to answer questions.
Jefferson County (and Alabama) has had a sweltering summer and we've seen some Ozone Alert Days. These alerts come from the Jefferson County Department of Health, a separate agency, but we wanted to sit down and understand what goes into issuing these alerts. Meteorologist Matt Lacke with JCDH walks us through the process, and also addresses the summer burn ban in the County. (Fun fact: that burn ban doesn't include grilling)
716 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd. N Birmingham, AL 35203 | 205-325-5300
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