Foley City Council is set to hold a public hearing on Monday, Nov. 4, to discuss a proposed ordinance aimed at enhancing the city's roadways through the addition of trees and landscaping.

The ordinance would require new subdivisions bordering high-traffic corridors to include a "greenbelt zone" — a landscaped buffer designed to improve both the aesthetic appeal of city streets and the experience for residents and drivers.

Wayne Dyess, Foley's executive director of infrastructure and development, said the initiative serves a dual purpose.

"The greenbelt zone will enhance the aesthetic experience for the traveling public while also serving as a visual and sound barrier for residents, shielding neighborhoods from the noise and traffic of passing vehicles," Dyess said.

In recent years, Foley has experienced growth that has led to long rows of fences surrounding some large subdivisions. These fences, according to Dyess, create a monotonous, "canyon-like" effect along certain streets. The new ordinance aims to break up this uniformity by incorporating greenery, such as trees, shrubs and ground cover, to soften the appearance of fences and reduce their visibility from the road.

Under the proposed ordinance, the greenbelt would be at least 25 feet wide and located along the perimeter of new developments.

"The goal is for this to be under common ownership as part of HOA property," Dyess said. "This way, there is a single entity — either the POA or HOA — responsible for maintenance, rather than multiple individual property owners."

Foley's Public Works Department is also working on separate plans to plant trees along municipal rights-of-way. The department is collaborating with a landscape architect to determine the best locations and plant species for these projects, which will further contribute to the beautification of Foley's streets.

Landscaping would also help soften the appearance of perimeter fences around a development, making them less visible to those outside the subdivision and reducing the visual impact of potential maintenance issues or disrepair over time.

"The fence would not be as prominent," Dyess said. "It would be there if they wanted it, but it would be hidden to some degree by the landscaping."

Mayor Ralph Hellmich emphasized that some existing subdivisions already have landscaped perimeters, similar to what the ordinance would require.

"That's what this ordinance will do," Hellmich said. "It will encourage a small belt of trees that will allow you to have a little setback and then their fences behind that."

The ordinance would apply only to future developments, leaving current subdivisions unaffected by the new regulations. Additionally, the Foley Planning Commission would have the flexibility to waive or modify the greenbelt requirement in areas where it may not fit, such as the downtown central business district or developments with superior design.