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By JOYANNA LOVE/ Senior Staff Writer

The Clanton Planning Commission has unanimously approved a rezoning request for 108 acres near Lakeview Heights and Little John Road from residential (R-1) to agriculture (AG).

The request will go to the Clanton City Council for final approval at a later date.

Dr. Jon Binkerd made the request because he wants to have a homestead farm on the property.

“I fully intend to make this a fully-functioning farm,” Binkerd said.

Plans include a house, barn, cattle, horses, additional animals and cash crops.

Building inspector Gene Martin said he had reviewed the 2030 master plan, and the land in question had been marked as being agriculture or open space use.

“It has historically been a farm … There is land there that is very suitable for growing,” Binkerd said. “It is really just what the land deserves to be.”

A portion of the land is in the flood zone, meaning permanent structures cannot be built on it.

“I enjoy rural life, that is why I am here and not in Birmingham,” Binkerd said.

Planning Commission member Jeff Mims expressed concerns about the rezoning because of the vastness of what is allowed in the agriculture zone.

Even with the agriculture rezoning, Binkerd would be required to have at least 100 feet between livestock and the property line.

Binkerd said it will be a farm that the city could be proud of and could be a “showplace.”

A request by another property owner to allow a mobile home to be located on his property on Enterprise Road was recommended to go to the Board of Adjustments and Appeals. A special exception had been approved for the property several years ago, but the mobile home had since been removed. Recently, the property owner had placed a mobile home back on the property. The mobile home would not be seen from the road.

The Board of Adjustments and Appeals meets on an as needed basis, so a meeting will be scheduled to discuss the issue.