ROBERTSDALE, Alabama — The Robertsdale City Council voted to accept one rezoning request, while denying another at its regular morning meeting Dec. 19.

A pair of public hearings were held during the regular meeting with several residents speaking out during a request by Robert Plato to rezone property on Alabama 104 from B-1 to B-2.

“I just think more information is needed before you go forward with this,” said one resident.

According to Mayor Charles Murphy, the property, located across from Citizens’ Bank and formerly used as a church, was being used by Plato as an automobile storage facility, which is allowed in Zone B-1.

“Mr. Plato wanted to use the property for auto repair sales and storage, which is not allowed in B-1, but is allowed in B-2,” Murphy said. “While we believe Mr. Plato’s intentions are good, we felt like rezoning the property to B-2 so close to a residential area might open up the property for owners in the future whose intentions are unknown at this time.”

After suspending the rules for an immediate roll-call vote, Mayor Pro-Tem Joe Kitchens made a motion to deny the rezoning request, as recommended by the city’s Planning Board. The council voted unanimously to deny the request with all council members present.

The city council voted to approve a request from Leonard Cody Jr. to rezone property on County Road 54 from R-1A to B-1.

The 3-acre parcel is part of an 18-acre tract of land owned by the applicant which is currently vacant, Murphy said. Most of the surrounding property is agricultural and the request was to rezone the property from R-1A, rural agriculture, to B-1.

Plans are to construct a telecommunications facility at the location, which is allowed under B-1 with a special exception from the Board of Adjustments.

Cody addressed the council, but no other residents spoke during the public hearing.

After voting to suspend the rules to call for an immediate vote, the council approved the request by unanimous roll-call vote.

In other business, the council voted to reschedule meetings in January because of holidays. The council voted to move its Jan. 2 meeting to Jan. 3 because city offices will be closed on Jan. 2 in observance of New Year’s. The meeting will include the council’s regular monthly work session beginning at 5 p.m., followed by its regular evening meeting at 6 p.m. The council also voted to move its Jan. 16 meeting to Jan. 17 because city offices will be closed in observance of the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service. Regular meeting time is scheduled for 8 a.m.

George P. Thames Senior Center Director Sarah Duncan and several members of the senior center were also on hand to express their appreciation to the city.

The Senior Center recently celebrated its 30th anniversary with a Birthday Bash Tailgate Social at the PZK Civic Center.