Demopolis Planning Commission fast tracks new housing development on Maria Avenue site

The Demopolis Planning Commission fast tracked a new housing development for a site on Maria Avenue.

The commission shut down a development at the former Mauvilla Trailer Park in October because work wasn’t moving fast enough.

A developer brought a new plan for single-family homes and duplexes to the commission’s Feb. 10 meeting, and the commission kickstarted the project so it can be reviewed at their March meeting. The commission authorized staff to hire an engineer to review the plans.

Commission Chairman Andy Renner said the development calls for two horseshoe shaped roads side by side that open onto Maria. One loop will be single family homes of about 1,400 square feet, and the other side will be rental duplexes of about 800 square feet. The price of the homes should be about $250,000, which Renner called an “attractive price point.”

“This is way, way better than what was proposed before,” Renner said. The development that ran out of steam in October called for a neighborhood of tiny homes.

The commission also heard complaints about some mobile homes that were set up on Jackson Street. Architect Brian Brooker’s house backs up to the mobile homes, and he asked the commission to enforce city code concerning mobile homes and manufactured homes.

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Brooker and the commission agreed that the site has not been designated a mobile home park. It’s platted as four residential lots, but the lots have been occupied by trailers since the 1950s.

All parties also agreed that the intent of the city was that as mobile homes left, they would not be replaced. Some of the mobile homes left the Jackson Street site about four years ago, but two were recently brought in, which upset Brooker and his neighbors, according to Brooker.

One of the mobile homes has a 10-foot addition, which is against code, and another is too close to the neighboring yard, Brooker said. The site has also had sewer problems.

Renner said the commission will look into the situation.

The city council placed a six-month moratorium on mobile homes in the city limits at their last meeting.

The commission voted to ask consulting firm Goodwyn Mills Cawood to give them a price on updating the city’s comprehensive plan. The plan was first written in 2009 and was updated in 2020. The plan could cost up to $80,000.