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By JOYANNA LOVE | Managing Editor

The Clanton City Council is set to consider multiple changes to the city zoning ordinance addressing accessory buildings, billboards and wrecker services.

The first reading of the ordinance changes is expected at the May 8 voting session.

Mayor Jeff Mims explained in a May 4 work session that the ordinance would limit accessory buildings, such as a large shed, to one per acre.

“You know how a lot of these houses are right now,” Mims said. “They don’t have but half an acre or an acre, and they’ve got four or five of them.”

Size restrictions on such buildings will also be included.

Proposed changes would also limit how many and where shipping containers could be used on a property. Mims said there was an organization in town that had several next to their building, and “right now, we haven’t got any teeth to make them do anything.”

Changes to the billboard ordinance would set restrictions on size and limit placement to certain areas. Mims said there are two existing billboards outside of the proposed zones, but these would be “grandfathered in” and allowed to stay up.

The city has been tweaking the wrecker service guidelines for a while.

Mims also gave an update that deeds were being finalized with Mansa CTN LLC for the Hampton Inn by Hilton proposed for Big M Boulevard. The company is purchasing slightly less than two acres from the city for $850,000.

Under grant updates, Mims said the city has received an $8,000 grant from Community Action. The city has been discussing funding options with ADEM to drill wells in order to stop getting water from the Coosa River and treating it to make it usable.

“They have been telling us they want us out of the river for over a year,” Mims said.

He said there was a good spot for a well on the 500 or so acres the city owns near Interstate 65, Exit 212.

Also at the May 8 meeting, the council is expected to consider making one of the streets within the Clanton Housing Authority a one-way street because of traffic concerns.