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Planning

Dallas Fanning, Director
308 Fountain Circle
Huntsville, Alabama 35801
Phone: (256) 427-5100

The Planning Division provides for the orderly growth, development, and redevelopment of the City of Huntsville. Its employees strive to prepare for the present and future growth of the City of Huntsville through the implementation of responsible planning initiatives and priorities.
The Planning Division is divided into three inter-related sections to support these efforts: Long-Range Planning, Current Planning, and Geographic Information Systems. Each section provides a variety of services to residents, elected officials, department heads, and developers.
Additionally, the Planning Division staff provides support, policy recommendations, and advice concerning the city's future growth and development to the Planning Commission, Metropolitan Planning Organization, and elected officials.

Long-Range Planning Section
The Long-Range Planning staff prepares and updates the city's long range plans governing land use, transportation, community facilities, downtown development, recreation, greenways, and open space. The staff maintains a computer model for projecting traffic counts and assessing proposed street and highway improvements. The staff also maintains a database of the city's demographics. The Long-Range Planning staff works concurrently with the Current Planning staff to meet these objectives.

Long Range Transportation Plan
The Long Range Transportation Plan edentifies the major roadway facilities that need to be widened or built to accommodate projected traffic flow within a 25-year period. The plan is updated every three years.

Current Planning Section
The Current Planning staff implements the adopted long range plans through established zoning and subdivision regulations. The staff reviews, evaluates, and recommends action to the Planning Commission on subdivision proposals, and provides recommendations to the Planning Commission and City Council on rezoning requests and urban design. The Current Planning staff also administers annexation procedures, coordinates capital projects, and advises on environmental and historic preservation issues.

Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
The Geographic Information Systems staff updates and maintains the geodetic reference network in addition to a computerized system of geographic data tailored to planning criteria. The staff additionally provides graphics support in the form of charts, aerial photographs, and maps for land use analysis and presentations.

Zoning Administration
The goal of Zoning Administration of the City of Huntsville is to protect the value and character of neighborhoods and to promote the health, safety, morals and general welfare of the city by enforcement of the City of Huntsville Zoning Ordinance.