DAPHNE, Ala.—After more than a year of planning and deliberation, the Daphne City Council is almost ready to vote on a new land use and development ordinance, which addresses many items not in the previous ordinance and creates new zoning districts.

The 410-page document outlines the city’s policies on future land use, zoning, subdivisions, Olde Towne Daphne, duties and powers of the planning commission, building permits, the establishment of districts, parking requirements, drainage and stormwater management facilities, landscape standards, tree protection, coastal protection, annexations, sign provisions and self-service vending units. The ordinance will create a golf-course district and an outdoor entertainment district, as well as expand the multi-family zoning designation into different categories.

“I am excited to stand here and open the floor for the land use and development ordinance for the city of Daphne. The Planning Commission sent a favorable recommendation to the council in March of last year. Since that time, we have had several work sessions with the council to discuss the ordinance and we have made changes since the original recommendation,” Adrienne Jones, community development director, said.

The city council held a public hearing Tuesday evening to hear comments from the public, but no one stepped forward to voice his or her opinion. 

Copies of the ordinance are available at http://www.daphneal.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Council-Packet-Reduced.pdf.