The Russellville Planning and Zoning Commission voted Monday to recommend that the Russellville City Council approve amendments to the Russellville Downtown Business Zoning Ordinance, the next step in the city's downtown revitalization process.
The commission unanimously made the recommendation after hearing a presentation from Nathan Willingham with the North Alabama Council of Local Governments, or NACOLG, which was commissioned by the city to help develop Russellville's downtown revitalization efforts.
Essentially, the revised ordinance focuses on two primary areas. First, upstairs residences will be permissible in certain cases within the Russellville Downtown Overlay District. Second, specific design guidelines will be in place that will govern renovations and new projects within the downtown area.
The area of downtown falling under the guidelines begins at the intersection of Green Avenue and Tuscaloosa Street, then east along Tuscaloosa to the railroad tracks, then north along the railroad to Cotaco Street, then west along Cotaco to Green Avenue, then south along Green to the point of beginning.
A second more restrictive district, known as the Focused Development District, runs from the intersection of Green and Montgomery Street, east along Montgomery to the railroad, then north along the railroad to Lauderdale Street, then west along Lauderdale to Green, and south along Green to the point of beginning.
Several members of the Russellville Downtown Revitalization Committee attended Monday's meeting. Working with Main Street Alabama, city officials hope to implement a four-point process to revitalize downtown Russellville. The first step is organization and building partnerships among the various groups that have an interest in the downtown area. Second comes promotion of the area, with the goal of creating a positive image that will ignite pride and interest in downtown.
The next step is design, where the Main Street district is worked into top physical shape as a safe, inviting environment for shoppers, workers and visitors. Finally, the fourth step involves economic restructuring, which strengthens the community's existing economic assets while diversifying its economic base.
“We looked extensively at other cities to try and develop the best possible zoning ordinance for downtown revitalization,” Russellville mayor David Grissom said. “From Charleston, South Carolina, to Cullman, the Shoals and Columbus, Mississippi, we looked at what other cities have done right. We're not trying to re-invent the wheel.”
The proposed amendments, which must be advertised locally prior to being placed on a city council meeting agenda, include very specific guidelines within a tight boundary area, Willingham explained, designed to preserve the historic condition of downtown so future owners will maintain cohesiveness with the specific architectural guidelines.
Once the council passes the ordinance, NACOLG officials will create an administrative guidebook to help city officials market the community and to help business owners see visual examples of permissible renovations. A design review committee will be charged with oversight to determine if proposed renovations comply with ordinance guidelines.
All existing businesses within the district will be 'grandfathered' in, and the guidelines will only affect proposed future renovations and construction.
“Whatever is proposed for new construction or renovation is what is subject to the ordinance,” Willingham said.
While downtown business owners will likely incur additional costs coming into compliance during future renovations, Willingham said those monies are offset by an increase in property value within the district.
“Downtown property owners will see the benefit of the value of their property as we see greater compliance with these ordinances,” Willingham said.
Grissom hopes to see the council consider the amendments next month, or as soon as publication requirements can be satisfied.
For more information on the downtown revitalization project and proposed ordinances, contact City Hall at 256-332-6060.
