Story by Donna Thornton donna@southerntorch.com

A request to rezone the back half of a piece of property on Alabama Highway 35 at Marshall Street failed after neighboring property owners opposed it in a public hearing, held during Rainsville’s council workshop meeting Monday.

The front portion of the property was zoned B-3 commercial, and has been sold to Circle K. The back portion is zoned Agriculture, and the request was made to change it to B-3 also. The zoning board recommended the change be made, and it was argued that for the property to be of any use, it’s zoning needed to change.

Residents said the back portion of the property is close to homes, and expressed worry about traffic, safety and property values if the zoning was changed.

A motion to accept the board’s recommendation failed for lack of a second.