Mobile City Planning Commission Choose a topic: General Information Meeting Agendas, Minutes and Staff Reports Meeting Procedure Application Descriptions Download Planning Commission Applications and Forms Schedule of Meeting Dates and Deadlines (pdf) Comment on Public Hearings Smart Growth for Mobile Policy Document (pdf) Smart Growth for Mobile: A New Alternative - Implementation Initiatives Document Incentive Matrix Incentive Breakdowns A Consolidated Plan and Strategy 2003 (DRAFT) (pdf) General Information First established on September 7, 1944, the Mobile City Planning Commission is comprised of an 11-member board of volunteers. Ten members are appointed by the Mayor and one member is appointed by the City Council. In order to help develop the Master Plan and work to enforce it through the Zoning Ordinance and the subdivision of land, the Planning Commission maintains a staff of professional planners and technicians. Urban planning utilizes law, government and public participation to create a more efficient, aesthetic and economically viable city, and the most important element of Urban Planning is the adoption of, and adherence to the City’s Comprehensive Plan. The Comprehensive Plan is the City’s policy statement outlining the manner in which physical development should generally occur. The Plan describes current and future development patterns of the City in regard to existing roads, schools, parks, libraries and land use patterns, recommending methods for the City in dealing with, and improving upon these conditions. However, the Plan serves as a general guide for the Planning Commission and City Council, not a detailed district plan or mandate for development. The current Comprehensive Plan was adopted in 1995. The Planning Commission meets regularly to recommend amendments to the Zoning Ordinance as well as review applications for Planned Unit Development, Planning Approval and Subdivisions of land. The Commission also hears appeals of the denial of Tree Removal/Trim Permits and Sidewalk Waiver requests. Below is a brief description of meeting procedure and the aforementioned applications. (back to top) Meeting Agendas, Minutes and Staff Reports This site provides a portal to meeting and agenda items information. Please enter a phrase below to bring up search results relevant to a particular item, or you may select from the date of a specific meeting. Search For: Search For: Or, you may choose the date of a specific meeting: To view a Staff Report and/or letter of decision, click on the date you are interested in. To obtain a Meeting Agenda, click on "Meeting Agenda". To obtain minutes, click on "Meeting Minutes". 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2004 | Meeting Agenda | Meeting Minutes Sep 02, 2004 | Meeting Agenda | Meeting Minutes Aug 19, 2004 | Meeting Agenda | Meeting Minutes Aug 05, 2004 | Meeting Agenda | Meeting Minutes Jul 15, 2004 | Meeting Agenda | Meeting Minutes Jul 01, 2004 | Meeting Agenda | Meeting Minutes Jun 17, 2004 | Meeting Agenda | Meeting Minutes Jun 03, 2004 | Meeting Agenda | Meeting Minutes May 20, 2004 | Meeting Agenda | Meeting Minutes May 06, 2004 | Meeting Agenda | Meeting Minutes Apr 15, 2004 | Meeting Agenda | Meeting Minutes Apr 01, 2004 | Meeting Agenda | Meeting Minutes Mar 18, 2004 | Meeting Agenda | Meeting Minutes Mar 04, 2004 | Meeting Agenda | Meeting Minutes Feb 19, 2004 | Meeting Agenda | Meeting Minutes Feb 05, 2004 | Meeting Agenda | Meeting Minutes Jan 22, 2004 | Meeting Agenda | Meeting Minutes Jan 08, 2004 | Meeting Agenda | Meeting Minutes Dec 18, 2003 | Meeting Agenda | Meeting Minutes Dec 04, 2003 | Meeting Agenda | Meeting Minutes Nov 20, 2003 | Meeting Agenda | Meeting Minutes Nov 06, 2003 | Meeting Agenda | Meeting Minutes Oct 16, 2003 | Meeting Agenda | Meeting Minutes Oct 02, 2003 | Meeting Agenda | Meeting Minutes Sep 18, 2003 | Meeting Agenda | Meeting Minutes Sep 04, 2003 | Meeting Agenda | Meeting Minutes Aug 21, 2003 | Meeting Agenda | Meeting Minutes Aug 07, 2003 | Meeting Agenda | Meeting Minutes Jul 24, 2003 | Meeting Agenda | Meeting Minutes Jul 10, 2003 | Meeting Agenda | Meeting Minutes Jun 19, 2003 | Meeting Agenda | Meeting Minutes Jun 11, 2003 | Meeting Agenda | Meeting Minutes Jun 05, 2003 | Meeting Agenda | Meeting Minutes May 15, 2003 | Meeting Agenda | Meeting Minutes May 01, 2003 | Meeting Agenda | Meeting Minutes Apr 17, 2003 | Meeting Agenda | Meeting Minutes Apr 03, 2003 | Meeting Agenda | Meeting Minutes Mar 20, 2003 | Meeting Agenda | Meeting Minutes Feb 20, 2003 | Meeting Agenda | Meeting Minutes Feb 06, 2003 | Meeting Agenda | Meeting Minutes Jan 23, 2003 | Meeting Agenda | Meeting Minutes Jan 09, 2003 | Meeting Agenda | Meeting Minutes Dec 19, 2002 | Meeting Agenda | Meeting Minutes Dec 05, 2002 | Meeting Agenda | Meeting Minutes Nov 21, 2002 | Meeting Agenda | Meeting Minutes Nov 07, 2002 | Meeting Agenda | Meeting Minutes Oct 17, 2002 | Meeting Agenda | Meeting Minutes Oct 03, 2002 | Meeting Agenda | Meeting Minutes Sep 19, 2002 | Meeting Agenda | Meeting Minutes Sep 05, 2002 | Meeting Agenda | Meeting Minutes Aug 22, 2002 | Meeting Agenda | Meeting Minutes Aug 08, 2002 | Meeting Agenda | Meeting Minutes Jul 25, 2002 | Meeting Agenda | Meeting Minutes Jul 11, 2002 | Meeting Agenda | Meeting Minutes Jun 20, 2002 | Meeting Agenda | Meeting Minutes Jun 06, 2002 | Meeting Agenda | Meeting Minutes May 16, 2002 | Meeting Agenda | Meeting Minutes May 02, 2002 | Meeting Agenda | Meeting Minutes Apr 18, 2002 | Meeting Agenda | Meeting Minutes Apr 04, 2002 | Meeting Agenda | Meeting Minutes Mar 21, 2002 | Meeting Agenda | Meeting Minutes Mar 07, 2002 | Meeting Agenda | Meeting Minutes Feb 21, 2002 | Meeting Agenda | Meeting Minutes Feb 07, 2002 | Meeting Agenda | Meeting Minutes Jan 24, 2002 | Meeting Agenda | Meeting Minutes Jan 10, 2002 | Meeting Agenda | Meeting Minutes Dec 20, 2001 | Meeting Agenda Dec 06, 2001 | Meeting Agenda Nov 15, 2001 | Meeting Agenda Nov 01, 2001 | Meeting Agenda Oct 18, 2001 | Meeting Agenda Oct 04, 2001 | Meeting Agenda Sep 20, 2001 | Meeting Agenda Sep 06, 2001 | Meeting Agenda Aug 16, 2001 | Meeting Agenda Aug 02, 2001 | Meeting Agenda Jul 19, 2001 | Meeting Agenda Jun 21, 2001 | Meeting Agenda Jun 07, 2001 | Meeting Agenda Archives (Prior to 2002): Letters of Decision Agendas Minutes (back to top) Meeting Procedure The Mobile City Planning Commission generally meets the first and third Thursday of each month at 2:00 p.m. in the auditorium of the Mobile Government Plaza (Meeting/Deadline Schedule (pdf)). Meetings are divided into two sessions. The first is the public hearing in which cases are heard and the public has an opportunity to voice their concerns and ask any questions they may have. The Commission allows four speakers in support of an application and four speakers in opposition to an application; each speaker is given five minutes to express their views. The second portion of the meeting is the deliberation session. It is in this session that the Commission members discuss the issues and vote. Everyone is permitted to remain and listen to the discussion and voting; however, the Commission allows no additional input from the audience. (back to top) Application Descriptions Zoning Amendments Zoning Amendment Application (pdf) Zoning Amendment applications are most often requests to rezone land from one type of zoning classification to another. Based on sound planning principles, surrounding zoning classifications, land uses and past trends, the Commission makes a recommendation to the City Council. Another less frequent amendment changes the text of the Zoning Ordinance as it relates to the development of land citywide. For all Zoning Amendment applications, the Mobile City Council is the final authority. (back to top) Planning Approval Planning Approval Application (pdf) Planning Approval is required for specific uses in certain districts to evaluate the appropriateness of the use in relation to the surrounding development. This would include such uses as churches and schools in residential areas. The Commission reviews the surrounding area and site plan to determine the compatibility of the proposal. Appeals of the Commission’s decision are made to the City Council. (back to top) Planned Unit Development Planned Unit Development Application (pdf) The Zoning Ordinance requires a separate building site for each building other than accessory buildings; however, in order to accommodate flexible site design, an applicant may request Planned Unit Development approval from the Commission. This application reviews the proposal to ensure that the site is suitable for the size, location and character of the uses and buildings proposed, and most typically applies to residential developments of an innovative nature, as well as shopping centers and industrial parks. (back to top) Subdivision Subdivision Application (pdf) Subdivision Approval is required whenever a new lot is being created, or an existing lot line is being removed, or shifted. The Planning Commission reviews all such applications within the corporate limits of Mobile, as well as the Planning Jurisdiction which extends five miles beyond the corporate limits. This approval ensures that the proposed subdivision of land complies with the minimum requirements of the Subdivision Regulations, including but not limited to minimum lot size and adequate access. All appeals of the Commission’s decision regarding subdivision applications are to the Circuit of Mobile County. (back to top) Sidewalk Waiver Request Sidewalk Waiver Request (pdf) The Subdivision Regulations (pdf) require the provision of a sidewalk along all street frontages whenever a lot is developed; however, due to existing topographic features and other unique circumstances, the provision of a sidewalk may not be feasible. In these unique situations, an applicant may apply to the Commission and request a waiver of the sidewalk(s) requirements. (back to top) Contacts Anyone wishing to submit an application or inquire about the Planning Commission can contact the Commission’s staff for assistance by calling (251) 208-5895 or via e-mail at palombo@cityofmobile.org or hoffmanb@cityofmobile.org. (back to top) Download Application Forms Acquisition of Private Right-of-way Easement by Eminent Domain (pdf) Administrative Planned Unit Development Application (pdf) Appeal of Denial of Tree Removal/Trim Permit (pdf) Planning Commission Application (Planning Approval, Planned Unit Development and Rezoning Applications) (pdf) Sidewalk Waiver Request (pdf) Subdivision Application (pdf) (back to top)