Roy Williams is seen at a Cullman City Council Meeting

The Cullman Planning Commission’s endorsement of an amendment to a zoning ordinance is setting the way for an overhaul of those codes in the coming year.

A recommendation from city attorney Roy Williams at Monday night’s meeting amends the R-4 (residential) ordinance to change wording for apartment-type developments from condominiums to multi-family.

Williams said the city’s existing ordinance has never technically recognized apartments or multi-family dwelling developments.

“This would update the ordinance. We had no zoning to allow apartments or multi-family dwellings,” Williams said. “Cullman is in dire need of multi-family dwellings.”

The Planning Commission approved the recommendation from Williams. The proposal will now move to the Cullman City Council to consider.

A specialist in zoning ordinances has been contracted by the City Council to examine and recommend changes in existing zoning ordinances to modernize the city’s law and allow more flexibility in housing and business developments.

The Planning Commission also:

• approved site plans for Bill Smith Buick Used Cars at Brantley Avenue NW and Waldrop Streeet NW, and a parking lot plan at the same location.
• approved plans for a multi-residential facility, Village at Bridge Creek, at County Road 1402.
• gave approval for the storm water plan at the Grover at Fischer Farms subdivision, Phase II.