"font-size: small;">BAY

MINETTE, Ala.  — Bay

Minette residents Danny and Sharon Stevens made a return visit to

the Bay Minette City Planning Commission this week in hopes of

having their home daycare center re-zoned.

"font-size: small;">During

Tuesday’s regular meeting of the commission, the couple reminded

the commission that the center, which is located at 1002 Moran St.,

is currently zoned as R-3 and their request is to change it to R-4

to accommodate more children.

"font-size: small;">Commission

Chairman Karmen Still asked the couple to remind the group how many

children are currently served at the center.

"font-size: small;">“We keep

12,” Danny Stevens said.

"font-size: small;">He

explained that plans are not firm for the increase. Instead, the

project hinges on how many children the Department of Human

Resources would approve.

"font-size: small;">“We’d like

to keep up to 40,” Stevens said.

"font-size: small;">If

improving the property would only allow for a small increase of

patrons, such as a total of 18, he said doing so wouldn’t prove

financially feasible.

"font-size: small;">“We don’t

even know if we’re going to be able to pursue it at this time,”

Stevens said.

"font-size: small;">The

commission first heard this proposal in November. As previously

reported, the couple explained that they had run the center at that

location for 19 years  and

that it is located near the church he pastors, the Potter’s House,

which shares an R-3 zoning.

"mso-spacerun: yes;">  The commission’s examination of a

city map at the November meeting revealed that the majority of

properties surrounding the daycare center are also R-3, with the

exception of nearby M-1 and M-2 properties.

"font-family: Calibri;">During

Tuesday’s meeting, Bay Minette Planning and Zoning Administrator

GeeGee Watts told the commission that part of the Stevens’

improvement plan would address an increase in

traffic.

"font-family: Calibri;">“They

propose putting in a circle drive,” she said.

"font-family: Calibri;">“We

understand the city’s concerns with parking,” Stevens added,

explaining that a circle drive would accommodate eight vehicles at

one time.

"font-family: Calibri;">Watts also

told the commission that she received letters from neighbors in the

area, approving of the upgrade. Stevens added that two neighbors

had not done so because he had not been able to get in touch with

them.

"font-family: Calibri;">Members of

the commission then asked whether it would be feasible to R-4 one

location for a specific purpose. Watts advised providing

contingencies on the change that it would revert back to R-4 in a

year if the upgrade isn’t made.

"font-family: Calibri;">“That way,

you’d protect yourself,” she said.

"font-family: Calibri;">Also

Tuesday, the commission:

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"font-size: small;">·

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"font-family: Calibri;">agreed to change its upcoming meeting times

to 5:30 p.m. the second Tuesday of each month, effective next

month.

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"font-family: Calibri;">Agreed to begin holding monthly work

sessions to review its comprehensive plan.