SPANISH FORT, Ala. — Asphalt Services Inc. has withdrawn its request before the Planning Commission seeking approval to allow concrete crushing on the Old Highway 31 site, but company officials are still pursuing commission approval to allow a contractor’s storage yard at the location.

A letter dated Feb. 8 stated that because the company has removed its concrete-crushing equipment from both the city property and adjoining unincorporated county property, Asphalt Services will no longer seek approval for that activity.

Asphalt Services will, however, continue to petition for clearance to use the property for the storage of equipment and materials, but the commission has postponed consideration of that request until the City Council votes as early as Feb. 15 on whether the company will be granted the necessary rezoning to allow the activity.

The Asphalt Services site is currently zoned B-3, or business, but is seeking an M-1, or light industrial, designation.

Former City Engineer Ronald Gibson addressed the commission during the public participation portion of Monday’s regular meeting and urged caution as the body proceeds because the activity he has personally witnessed on the site in recent weeks indicates Asphalt Services is operating sieve machinery designed to separate and grade materials for stockpiling.

“That is a process,” Gibson said, noting that the company’s removal of the concrete-crushing equipment will be moot if city leaders allow the processing of raw materials to take place on the site.

“This is the wrong place for that kind of activity,” Gibson said.

In other business the commission:

The next regular meeting of the Planning Commission will be held at 6:30 p.m. March. 8, following a 6 p.m. work session at the Gathering Place in the Prodisee Center. An informal work session originally slated for 6 p.m. Feb. 22 could be combined with another special meeting at which a draft version of the proposed Comprehensive Plan will be reviewed, but it was not immediately clear if the meeting would take place on Feb. 22 or Feb. 24.