The Urban Food Ordinances, Part II

A row of raised planters, a type of community garden, in Lewter Park near Five Points. (Photo credit: James Vandiver)

This week, a zoning ordinance that includes regulations for community gardens, farms, farmers' markets and poultry was introduced to the Zoning Committee. If all goes well, the ordinance will reach the City Council in late October. Below is a layman's guide to the proposed regulations.

Development Review: July 2013

Note: Around the first of each month from now until further notice, I will be reporting the preceding month's construction data for projects within Huntsville city limits. 

Permits for commercial projects over $100,000 and within Huntsville city limits:

201 Airport Rd. A new medical office building for Covenant Health Services. Contractor: Joe Still Building. $5.75 Million.

310 Pelham Ave. A new building for Publix. Contractor: James C. Hudson Construction. $2.5 million.

5760 Cove Commons Dr. A new building for Sweet Potato Enterprises, LLC. Contractor: Fite Building Co. $1.6 million.

300 Pelham Ave. Shell for a new retail building for PGM Properties. Contractor: James C. Hudson Construction. $240,000.

Residential Permits (new construction) in Huntsville city limits:

In July, 157 housing units were permitted, including 101 single- and 56 multi-family units. The top census tract for building permits last month was 112 (the Martin-Zierdt area), where 84 units were permitted. This is a 34.2% increase over July 2012, when 117 housing units (92 single-family and 25 multi-family) were permitted.

Residential Certificates of Occupancy (new construction) in Huntsville city limits:

112 housing units were granted certificates of occupancy (CO’s), including 86 single- and 26 multi-family units. The top census tract for CO’s in the month of July was 106.22, commonly known as the area in and around Providence, where 29 housing units were added. This is a 28.7% increase over July 2012, when 87 housing units (all single-family) were granted CO’s.