FOLEY – New zoning regulations will help blend the transition from office to residential use in areas of Foley.
The Foley City Council voted in January to approve a first reading on changes in the city zoning ordinance. The ordinance is scheduled for final approval at an upcoming council meeting.
One change is intended to help the transition between commercial and home use in areas where business use is growing, such as near the Baldwin Health hospital, Wayne Dyess, executive director for infrastructure and development, said.
“Those are primarily residential and a few of those have been converted into businesses, office space and things like that,” Dyess said.
The Professional Office, or PO, zoning district covers a limited area. The district is primarily located along Alston Street between Violet Avenue and Camphor Avenue, as well as the hospital and a few surrounding properties.
While most of the buildings in the PO district have historically been homes, residential use is not permitted by right under the current zoning.
People buying residential property in the district have had to go to the Foley Board of Adjustments and Appeals to get residential zoning approved for their homes.
Dyess said the zoning changes will allow residential property to be used as homes, while ensuring that offices fit into the neighborhoods.
“This just makes that to where the home is the primary use, and the office use would be something that would have to be compatible with a neighboring property,” Dyess said.
No current requirements are also in place to ensure that professional uses maintain a residential character.
Under the new regulations, office buildings must resemble nearby residences in style and scale. Roofs, front doors and windows also must reflect residential designs. Office buildings cannot be larger than surrounding buildings.
A landscaped buffer must also be in place between offices and homes.
Office openings should be restricted to regular business hours, such as 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.