Zoning board looks to state for development guidelines

CHEROKEE — As the town moves forward with developing zoning regulations, members of the zoning board say the goal is not to dictate what residents can do with their property, but to create fair, legally sound standards for future developments.

Zoning board members on Thursday reviewed guidance from the Alabama League of Municipalities’ Zoning in Alabama manual, which addresses common legal issues and public concerns surrounding zoning ordinances.

Board President Tina Meadows said the board’s role is to regulate land use — not to serve as a homeowner’s association or impose unnecessary restrictions on residents.

The ALM notes in its guidance that the complaint “it’s none of the city’s business what I want to do with my property,” is especially common in rural communities.

Meadows said the zoning board “wants everyone to have fair reign over your own property.”

One of the most complex issues municipalities face is determining how to handle properties that do not comply with newly adopted zoning regulations, according to the guide.

These properties are typically allowed to continue under what is commonly referred to as a grandfather clause “to avoid injustice,” while municipalities work toward bringing future development into compliance with zoning regulations instead of allowing nonconforming uses to expand indefinitely.

Meadows said understanding those legal principles will help zoning board members in their efforts to make sure Cherokee’s zoning regulations are applied fairly and consistently while respecting property owners’ rights.