(a)

The City Council hereby divides the City of Jasper into zoning districts which shall be known by the designation, titles, and intent statements which follow:

Agricultural Districts

(1)

AG Agricultural District. This district consists primarily of undeveloped lands where agricultural and related pursuits may occur within the City and where agricultural support centers may serve outlying rural areas beyond the City. Further, the intent of the AG District is to hold these lands in agricultural, forestal, outdoor recreational, rural residential, and other limited yet compatible uses until City services can be expanded to accommodate a higher intensity of development.

Residential Districts

(2)

R-1 Single Family Residence District. This district consists of areas suitable for single family residences at a very low density. The district is appropriate for residential estate neighborhoods or residential areas not served by public sewer. The R-1 District allows for certain accessory uses customarily associated with single family dwellings. Further, the district provides for institutional uses which are integrally related to single family residential neighborhoods.

(3)

R-2 Single Family Residence District. This district consists of areas suitable for single family residences at a low density. The R-2 District allows for certain accessory uses customarily associated with single family dwellings. Further, the district provides for institutional uses which are integrally related to single family residential neighborhoods.

(4)

R-3 Affordable Housing District. This district consists of areas suitable for an affordable housing mix—small lot single family residences, patio homes, townhouses, duplexes, multiplexes, and manufactured homes—at a moderate density. The district is appropriate for neighborhoods of low and moderate income families where housing affordability is a primary concern. The R-3 District allows for certain accessory uses customarily associated with housing. Further, the district provides for institutional uses which are integrally related to residential neighborhoods.

(5)

R-P Planned Residential District. This district consists of areas suitable for planned residential developments of single family detached, semi-detached, and attached dwellings—single family residences, patio homes, and townhouses—at a medium density. A minimum site area of five contiguous acres is required to establish this zone, and the development must devote a minimum of 20% of the site to common open space maintained through a homeowners' association or equivalent to common open space maintained through a homeowners' association or equivalent legal entity. At least half of the required common open space must be developed for recreational facilities. The district provides for greater efficiency of land development than in a conventional development of single family housing, thus passing along reduced development costs in the form of savings to the home buyer. Residents also enjoy the sharing of common facilities within the development and less home maintenance than incurred by conventional housing subdivisions. The R-P District also provides for institutional and accessory uses commonly associated with planned residential developments.

(6)

R-4 Urban Dwelling District. This district consists of areas suitable for a variety of urban dwelling types—single family residences, patio homes, townhouses, duplexes, and multiplexes—at a moderately high density. The provisions of the district may be applied to neighborhoods where residential infill developments or single family conversions to multi-family uses at a limited density are desired. The R-4 District also provides for certain accessory uses and institutional uses which are integrally related to residential neighborhoods.

(7)

R-5 Multi-Family Dwelling District. This district consists of areas suitable for a variety of multi-family and other compatible dwelling types—single family residences, patio homes, townhouses, duplexes, multiplexes, and garden apartments—at a high density. The provisions of the district may be applied to areas of the City where high intensity development is appropriate. The R-5 District also provides for certain accessory uses and institutional uses which are integrally related to residential neighborhoods.

Commercial Districts

(8)

B-T Transition Business District. This district consists of certain highway frontage and buffer areas where a transition in land development from low density to a higher density may occur. Compatibility with adjacent, low density development and management of commercial sprawl are encouraged. Commercial uses must be conducted within a fully enclosed building, and limited retail uses may be subject to strict performance standards. The B-T District also allows for a compatible mix of non-commercial land uses—high density residential and institutional—which likewise meet the transitional objectives of the district.

(9)

B-1 Neighborhood Center District. This district consists of areas where a wide, yet somewhat limited, range of commercial uses may serve the needs of a large neighborhood. The district, with few exceptions, prohibits outdoor commercial activity and to a moderate degree manages the intensity of site development. The underlying objective of the district is to encourage the development of small-scale neighborhood centers for a variety of activities. The B-1 District also allows for a compatible mix of non-commercial land uses—high density residential and institutional—which may contribute to business activities in neighborhood centers.

(10)

B-2 Community Service District. This district consists of areas where the widest range of commercial uses are permitted at the highest degree of intensity. The district encourages commercial centers to serve the community or region at-large. Commercial activity may be conducted either indoors or, with few exceptions, outdoors. The B-2 District also allows for institutional uses which are compatible with commercial activities.

(10.5)

B-2(MC) Medical Cannabis Dispensary District. This district consists of areas located within the B-2 Zoning District where medical cannabis dispensaries are permitted to be operated. The B-2(MC) District shall consist solely of properties which border and abut U.S. Highway 118 in Jasper, Alabama. Further regulation of such Medical Cannabis Dispensaries shall be subject to the supplemental district regulations for such district.

(11)

B-3 Downtown Business District. This district consists of the downtown area where a wide variety of commercial activities, particularly pedestrian-oriented, are accommodated. The district also provides for downtown housing alternatives, such as multi-story apartments, upper story apartments, loft conversions, and elderly housing, which are attractive to the downtown core. The primary intent of the B-3 District is to encourage the most intensive and attractive use of the downtown core so as to preserve the City's historical center and maintain its vitality.

(12)

B-4 (I-22 Business Corridor) District. The purpose of this district is two-fold: (1) To maintain long-term traffic safety by reducing congestion, conflict points and by promoting safe and efficient traffic and pedestrian circulation; and (2) to establish minimum standard for exterior architecture, landscaping and signage of buildings that contribute to a community image of quality, visual aesthetics, permanence and stability which are in the best interest of the citizens of this city.

Industrial Districts

(13)

M-1 Light Industrial District. This district consists of areas where limited industrial uses are permitted. The district encourages employment centers with a low degree of environmental impact. Principal industrial activities include light manufacturing; industrial services; research labs; enclosed warehousing, wholesaling, and distribution services; and other limited impact activities. The M-1 District also allows for commercial and institutional uses which are supportive of industrial employment centers.

(14)

M-2 Heavy Industrial District. This district consists of areas where heavy industrial uses are permitted. The district encourages employment centers with a potentially high degree of environmental impact. Principal industrial activities include general manufacturing, heavy industry, salvage yards, resource extraction, solid waste disposal, and other heavy impact activities. The M-2 District also allows for commercial and institutional uses which are supportive of industrial activities.

(15)

M-3 Industrial Park District. This district consists of areas in which all permitted uses, conditional uses and special exceptions otherwise allowed by paragraphs (13) and (14) of Section 30(a) shall be deemed to be permitted uses, except that in no event shall a garbage transfer station, as the same is defined by this regulation, be allowed.

(16)

M-3(MC) Medical Cannabis Production District. This district consists of areas located within the M-3 Zoning District where facilities for the production of medical cannabis, including medical cannabis cultivation facilities, medical cannabis processing facilities, medical cannabis testing facilities, medical cannabis secure transportation facilities and medical cannabis integrated facilities (other than any portion of such facility which contains a medical cannabis dispensary) which are licensed by the State of Alabama for the conduct of such activities are permitted to be operated. Operation of any medical cannabis facility shall be subject to the supplemental district regulations for such district.

(b)

The City Council hereby divides the City of Jasper into special purpose zoning districts which shall carry out the special purposes assigned by Article V, Special Purpose District Regulations, and shall be known by the designations and titles which follow:

(1)

PUD Planned Unit Development District.

(2)

MR Municipal Reserve District.

(3)

F Flood Hazard District.

(Ord. No. 2001-717, § 1, 2-3-01; Ord. No. 2006-01, § 1, 1-17-06; Ord. No. 2024-05, § 2, 4-2-24)

(a)

The zoning districts established by this ordinance are bounded and defined by an official zoning map which shall be known as the Jasper Zoning Map and which, together with all explanatory materials contained therein, is hereby made a part of this ordinance.

(b)

The official zoning map shall be drawn on durable transparent material from which prints can be made and shall be kept in the office of the Zoning Administrator.

(c)

The Zoning Administrator shall arrange for updating of the official zoning map within thirty days after amendments to it are adopted by the City Council.

(d)

Should the official zoning map or any portion be lost, destroyed, damaged, or difficult to interpret because of the nature or number of revisions, the Zoning Administrator shall have a new map drawn and adopted by resolution of the City Council. The new map may correct drafting or other errors or omissions in the prior map, but no such correction shall have the effect of amending the map. Any map amendment shall follow rezoning amendment procedures contained in this ordinance.

The rules of this section shall be used to determine the precise locations of any district boundary shown on the Jasper Zoning Map.

(1)

Boundaries shown as following or approximately following any jurisdictional limits shall be construed as following such limits.

(2)

Boundaries shown as following or approximately following streets, alleys, or rights-of-way shall be construed as following such streets, alleys, or rights-of-way.

(3)

Boundary lines which follow or approximately follow platted lot lines or other property lines as shown on the Walker County Tax Maps shall be construed as following such lines.

(4)

Boundaries shown as following or approximately following railroad lines shall be construed to lie midway between the main tracks of such railroad lines.

(5)

Boundaries shown as following or approximately following shorelines of any lakes or ponds shall be construed to follow the mean high waterlines of such lakes or ponds. In the event of a change in the mean high waterline, the boundaries shall be construed as moving with the actual mean high waterline.

(6)

Boundaries shown as following or approximately following the centerline of streams, rivers, or other continuously flowing water courses shall be construed as following the channel of such water courses taken at mean low water. In the event of a natural change in the location of such streams, rivers, or other water courses, the district boundary shall be construed as moving with the channel centerline.

(7)

Boundaries shown as separated from and parallel or approximately parallel to any of the features listed in paragraphs (1) through (6) above shall be construed to be parallel to such features. In the absence of specific dimensions, the scale of the map shall determine the distance from such features.

Cross reference— See § 164 for flood hazard district boundaries.