Director: Michelle Gilliam-Jordan , AICP

Department Phone No:
(256) 341-4720
Department Fax No:
(256) 341-4727

Documents/Links
Subdivision Regulations (PDF)
Zoning Ordinances
Application Requests
GIS Section
Site Plan Review Ordinance (PDF)
Site Plan Review Application (PDF)

The Planning Department is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and is located in the City Hall Annex at 308 Cain Street N.E.

DEPARTMENT FUNCTIONS/RESPONSIBILITIES:
The Planning Department is responsible for the following:

  • Maintaining and updating all City base maps, including coordinating with the GIS Department the accuracy and currentness of city maps
  • Corporate Limits legal descriptions
  • Processing application requests for:
    • Subdivision of land, certificate to subdivide, major or minor subdivision
    • Rezoning, zoning of recently annexed property
    • M-1A and B4 site plan review
    • Site Plan review for proposed developments in the RD zone
    • Annexations
    • Vacation of public right-of-ways and easements
  • Administration of the Subdivision Regulations for the City of Decatur
  • Maintaining and administering all subdivision and frontage road bonds
  • Coordinating and facilitating:
    • Planning Commission, (9 member appointed public board)
    • Subdivision Committee (sub committee that makes recommendations to the Planning Commission)
    • Zoning Committee meetings (sub committee that makes recommendations to the Planning Commission)
    • Maintaining official records of Planning Commission
  • Administering and approving all City street names and maintaining a master file
  • Liaison with E-911 regarding addressing in the police jurisdiction
  • Administering and updating Voting Precinct/Voting District/Corporate Limits legal descriptions
  • Providing demographic information (including Decatur's current estimated population and projected population growth)
  • Serving as advisor/liaison for civic groups
  • Coordinating Flint Sewer Project as established by the City Council
  • Providing research/recommendations for future growth of the City
  • Maintaining and updating the Comprehensive Plan for the City of Decatur
  • Making recommendations for Annual Capital Improvements to the City Council
  • Assigning and approving address and block numbering system
  • Liaison with the U.S. Justice Department/approval of annexations in compliance with Voting Rights Act
  • Liaison with the U.S. Census Bureau

Meeting INFORMATION:
Important Planning Meetings

Subdivision Committee: The City of Decatur, Subdivision Committee, meets on the Tuesday prior to the Planning Commission Meeting at 1:15 p.m. in the Conference Room of the City Annex. This Committee consists of City service providers whose responsibility is to review applications made to the Planning Department for subdivision of land, M-1A permitting, vacations of easements or right-of-ways, and annexation. This board is responsible for making recommendations to the Planning Commission. The applicant, or his representative, should make every effort to be present at this meeting.

Zoning Committee: The City of Decatur Zoning Committee is composed of the Chairman or Vice-Chairman of the Planning Commission, and Chairman of the Board of Zoning Adjustment. This meeting is also attended by the Building Director as the enforcement arm of the Zoning Ordinance, Planning director and City Attorney. It meets on the Tuesday prior to the Planning Commission Meeting to review applications for zoning or rezoning of land and ammendments to the Zoning Ordinance. Recommendations from the Planning Director, Building Director and Zoning Committee are forwarded to the Planning Commission for review and approval.

Planning Commission: The City of Decatur, Planning Commission, meets on the next to last Tuesday of each month at 3:15 p.m. in the City Council Chambers of City Hall. The Planning Commission consists of nine Commissioners. The Commissioners are made up of six Mayoral appointments, the Mayor or his designee, one appointed by the City Council from it's membership and an administrative official of the City. All applications made to the Planning Department are reviewed by the Planning Commission for disposition. The applicant, or his representative, should be present.

Application Deadline:
All applications must be submitted to the Planning Department 21 days prior to the Planning Commission meeting: except for a layout plat which is due 14 days prior to the meeting.

CONTACT PERSONNEL:
Karen J. Smith, Planner
Hannah Pearson, Planning Technician
Steve Kelso, Planning Technician
Sandra Letson, Department Secretary