DAPHNE, Ala. — The Daphne Planning Commission denied a favorable recommendation to stand-alone vending machine regulations that will be part of the Land Use and Development Ordinance. The commission did, however, approve the regulations by a vote …
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DAPHNE, Ala. — The Daphne Planning Commission denied a favorable recommendation to stand-alone vending machine regulations that will be part of the Land Use and Development Ordinance. The commission did, however, approve the regulations by a vote of 4-3 at Thursday’s meeting.
Commissioners Bo White, Larry Chason, Dan Gibson and Joe Lemoine voted in favor of the regulations. Commissioners Mayor Fred Small, Cathy Barnette and Victoria Phelps voted against it.
Regulations allow portable vending machines and stand-alone, self-service vending machines no larger than 5 feet wide, 3 feet deep and 7 feet high to be placed without Daphne’s site plan approval. But if larger, they must be approved by the city. These vending units are permitted in a B-2, General Business district and in a C/I, Commercial Industrial district, upon approval of the site plan review committee.
“The most recent ice vending machine was placed two or three months ago. The city and the planning commission wanted to know how it got there, because we didn’t have regulations for it. The planning commission decided regulations needed to be created,” Director of Community Development Adrienne Jones said.
Earlier this year, a company that placed an ice vending machine on the north side of Daphne Avenue got frosty reception from the Daphne Planning Commission. Despite the vending company’s obtaining the necessary permits, Jubilee City planning commissioners said they were unaware of the machine’s size, which stands more than 10 feet tall. There were questions raised as to whether a structure this size could be regarded as a vending machine for Daphne’s planning purposes.
Self-service vending machines and all similar uses are prohibited in Old Towne Daphne districts and village overlay districts. The nature of the district is more residential, which is why they are being prohibited in these areas, Jones said.
Phelps wanted the machines prohibited from Jubilee Square Shopping Center, but the regulations being sent to the council do not include such restrictions.
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