By Cathy Higgins
BAY MINETTE, Ala. — Thanks to the Bay Minette City Council’s approval of a rezoning request Monday night, a new assisted-living facility could be one step closer to opening in the city.
The action approved the first reading of the proposal to re-zone property located at 1705 Hand Ave. from R-2 to B-1.
“The property is located south of the hospital,” Bay Minette Mayor Jamie Tillery said.
As previously reported, property owner Gerald and Margaret Redmond first brought the matter to the Bay Minette City Planning Commission in October. Gerald Redmond explained that the rezoning would enable the property to be transformed into an assisted-living facility. The commission approved the request, enabling it to be brought before the city council this week.
Monday’s vote was passed with a lone abstention from City Councilman Mike Phillips, who cited a conflict of interest. It was also preceded by a public hearing, in which no questions or comments were made.
Also Monday, the council approved the first reading of a resolution to redraw the city’s voting-district boundary lines.
As previously reported, the new proposed map indicates a shift northward in the majority of the city’s five districts. Prior to Monday’s reading, two informational meetings and one public hearing were held.
During Monday’s meeting, Bay Minette City Attorney Scott Lewis said slight adjustments will be made to the map before the resolution undergoes its second reading on Dec. 5.
“I think we can see the finish line,” he said.
Tillery explained that those changes will be affected by city blocks drawn out by the U.S. Census.
“We will continue work to make this as easy as possible so that each resident is represented,” she said of the process that is required to take place once every 10 years by federal and state regulations.
