Daniel G. Voketz Planning Consultant
Recent Consulting Projects
2018
Comprehensive Revision to the Zoning Ordinance of the City of Warrior, Alabama. Adopted in 2001, the ordinance contained significant omissions and oversights, and was inadequate for addressing the significant annexations and new growth that is now taking place. It was also prepared without the benefit of being based on a Comprehensive Plan – another oversight that the City is seeking to remedy in 2019 (in conjunction with the completion of the Ordinance overhaul). While I have corrected many of the most pressing issues with the Zoning Ordinance (adopted early in 2019), I am continuing to work with the City to develop their Comprehensive Plan and complete the rewriting of their Zoning Ordinance to better reflect and achieve their development goals and objectives for the future.
2017
City of Clay, Alabama, Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance Revision and Update, including alterations to the City’s zoning district regulations such that no changes to their official zoning needed to be made other than changing the names of the existing districts. Having assisted the City (through Jefferson County) in establishing its first comprehensive plan and zoning ordinance in 2002, a subsequent rewrite of both in 2006 by another agency had attempted to make everything “Smart Growth” oriented. However, over the ensuing 10 years, the Clay City Council had determined that the revised ordinance contained too many errors, omissions, contradictions and redundancies; was too cumbersome upon the City and its citizens; and, in fact, had proven to be counterproductive to the City’s development goals and objectives. Working with the City Manager, I developed a complete and updated new ordinance that was easier to both understand and administer; has a more practical overall application within the City; and better reflects and addresses the actual true character, conditions, needs, goals and development objectives that are unique to the City of Clay – all in a mere two (2) months from our initial meeting to the Council’s adoption. Of particular note in this project was the development of simplified sign regulations, and the retention of certain Smart Growth elements as either options or incentives to developers.
2016
Development and adoption of Bylaws for the Sylvan Springs Planning Commission and Zoning Board of Adjustment to cover omissions in the Code of Alabama, and to solidify their operational and procedural guidelines for present and future boards.
Town of Sylvan Springs, Alabama, Comprehensive Plan 2016 Update to its original 1990 Comprehensive Plan, including specific recommendations on annexations; extensive updates to the existing Zoning Ordinance; and the rezoning of appropriately-used properties to bring them into compliance with the zoning regulations – said rezonings to be initiated by the Town at no expense to the property owners. Subsequently facilitated the rezoning of those 103 properties by compiling property owner information (out to within 500 feet of each), and preparing the notification letters, notices for posting, planning commission and council agendas, etc.
Comprehensive Revision to the Zoning Ordinance of Sylvan Springs, Alabama, including provisions for urban (backyard) chickens and other agriculturally-related standards; enhanced standards regarding mobile homes; addition of a Current Use District, primarily for annexations; and overall clarifications, improved language and re-codification to improve the people’s understanding and application of the Ordinance.
Council and Voting Ward Redistricting for the City of Lipscomb, Alabama, to reflect the most recent Census population counts, balance the populations to achieve less than 5% differential across all districts, and correct gerrymandering in some of the pre-existing district lines; coordinated the processing of the new districts by and through the County’s Board of Registrars.
2015
Downtown Master Plan for the City of Leeds, Alabama, adopted as an addendum to the City’s Master Plan of 2012, designed specifically for the City’s downtown redevelopment district and calling for the development and implementation of a form-based zoning code to take the place of the existing zoning. Unique document design calls for projects to be evaluated as to how well they promote one or more of six (6) Core Values deemed critical to the success of the downtown (rather than the more common approach of simply listing goals and objectives), with the implementation of both the Plan and future projects to be governed under a new SmartCode being developed specifically for that purpose.
SmartCode Floating Overlay District for the City of Leeds, Alabama, created and adopted in conjunction with the Downtown Master Plan as an alternative to all other regulations and requirements of the Zoning Resolution. In most cases, this is an option that developers of property meeting certain criteria can choose in lieu of developing under the standard zoning, subdivision and construction regulations of the City of Leeds. However, in cases where a SmartCode-based plan (or “regulating plan”) has been adopted, the SmartCode Floating Overlay District is mandatory. In all cases, application of this District is dependent upon approval of a plan in accordance with the policies and procedures set forth in the Leeds Master Plan and/or Leeds Downtown Master Plan.
Comprehensive Revision to the Zoning Ordinance of the City of Lipscomb, Alabama, in conjunction with the preparation of a new Official Zoning Map for the City (the original having become lost over the years). Conducted complete land use survey and adjusted the zoning districts’ area and dimensional requirements accordingly to make the map and ordinance consistent with one another; made other needed adjustments to the ordinance and re-codified the entire document; and GIS-coded the new map for easy update and retrieval through Jefferson County’s Land Planning & Development Services Department.
2014
Developed and conducted a training seminar of the Powers, Duties & Responsibilities of Class 8 Municipal Town Planning Commissions and Boards of Adjustment for the board members, staff, mayor and council of Sylvan Springs, Alabama, including presentation and handouts, plus materials for orientation of future new members.
Zoning Ordinance Update for the Town of Sylvan Springs, Alabama, to address cellular communication towers.
Updated and converted the 1990 the original paper Official Zoning Map of the Town of Sylvan Springs, Alabama, to digital form through Jefferson County’s GIS (Geographic Information System) for easy update and retrieval through the County’s Land Planning & Development Services Department.
Prior Projects & Documents at Jefferson County, Alabama (and before)
2011
Designed and directed an intense 3-month program to prepare community plans and mobilize community action associations, in partnership with the FEMA Long Term Community Recovery team, working with the residents of three (3) unincorporated communities in Jefferson County that were impacted by the tornado outbreak in April. The Concord Community Plan was adopted and made part of the County’s Comprehensive Plan – with the support of the community – while I oversaw the development and adoption of similar plans for McDonald Chapel and North Smithfield.
Illicit Discharge Ordinance, companion to the 2009 Erosion and Sedimentation control ordinance, also in conjunction with the County’s NPDES permit.
2010
Directed the development and adoption of a SmartCode Floating Overlay District to further the implementation of the new comprehensive planning program. This SmartCode can be pulled down by developers and used in place of the existing zoning, subdivision and construction regulations; it is mandatory where there is an adopted village plan. Recognized nationally as the largest jurisdiction ever to calibrate and adopt a SmartCode ordinance wholly in-house.
2009
Erosion and Sedimentation Control Ordinance, adopted into the County’s Construction Regulations, pursuant to federal law, and state and local responsibility under the Clean Water Act and the County’s NPDES permit (National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System).
2008
Designed and developed the new Comprehensive Plan of Jefferson County, Alabama, based on Andres Duany’s SmartCode, and directed the development of the Shades Creek Watershed Plan which, with the General Plan, made up the initial installment adopted by the Planning & Zoning Commission in August/September. Plan was declared “cutting edge” by national organizations such as PlaceMakers and the National Charrette Institute.
Worked with area residents in developing an Eastern Valley/Pocahontas Road Village Plan, adopted by the Planning & Zoning Commission in December with support from the residents.
2005
Jefferson County, Alabama, Zoning Ordinance amendment: Restrictions, Regulations and Requirements Regarding Land-Disturbing Activities. Made necessary by the practice of certain developers to "dig first and ask questions later", this amendment basically made it a requirement to have approved plans and a zoning approval (permit) before commencing any kind of clearing or earthwork on an undeveloped property.
2003
Expanded Z.I.S. (Zoning Information System) again, now Version 4.5, this time to include subdivision cases and to provide enhanced search and report functions.
Prepared procedures and helped develop staffing, budgeting, equipment list and computer systems design for an interdepartmental Centralized Permitting Office for Jefferson County (never actually implemented, but given an award by the County Commission).
Comprehensive revision, re-codification and on-going maintenance of the Jefferson County Subdivision Regulations (to provide for Planning & Zoning Commission approval of plats, as required by state law and ordered by the courts), the complete work being re-published in 2005.
2002
Comprehensive revision, re-codification and on-going maintenance of the Jefferson County, Alabama, Zoning Ordinance.
Zoning Ordinance for the City of Morris, Alabama.
2001
Expanded Z.I.S. (Zoning Information System) to include variance as well as zoning cases, and implemented a “public” version for use by all departmental staff in accessing case information (replacing antiquated index card system).
2000
Designed and implemented P.R.I.S., Plans Review Information System to track and monitor the progress of construction plans being reviewed by departmental staff.
1997
Jefferson County, Alabama, Zoning Ordinance amendments:
- C-5 Adult Entertainment zoning district, with accompanying regulations and definitions
- U-2 Communications Tower zoning district, with accompanying regulations
and a procedure for exempting camouflaged towers.
1996
Jefferson County Land Use Plan: Area ‘E’ (adopted in 1997).
1995
Comprehensive revision of the Zoning Ordinance for the City of Mountain Brook, Alabama.
1994
Comprehensive Plan for the Town of Kimberly, Alabama; Zoning Ordinance for the Town of Kimberly, Alabama, including creation of a U-P Present Use zoning district and accompanying regulations.
Developed a Customized Area Population & Housing Profile database program (an automated system for extracting and compiling unique user-defined geographic configurations of census data).
A Number-Cruncher’s Guide to Low-Moderate Income Areas in the Jefferson County Consortium.
1993
1990 Census Information for Jefferson County, Alabama: Summary Report of Median Income Levels and General Race Characteristics.
Jefferson County, Alabama, Zoning Ordinance amendment (adopted in 2007): C-U Current Use zoning district regulations and implementation strategy.
A Planning Commissioner’s Notebook orientation and training manual.
Deerfoot Parkway Corridor Study (northeast Jefferson County, Alabama).
District realignment plan for the Jefferson County, Alabama, Planning & Zoning Commission.
1992
1990 Census Technical Report: Housing and Populations for Places in Jefferson County, Alabama.
Plan For Improved Fire Protection In Jefferson County, Alabama.
1990
Comprehensive Plan for the Town of Sylvan Springs, Alabama; Zoning Ordinance for the Town of Sylvan Springs, Alabama, including creation of a R-R Rural Residential zoning district and accompanying regulations.
Voting Ward Redistricting Plan for the City of Homewood, Alabama.
Developed and copyrighted Z.I.S. (Zoning Information System), computerized database system for tracking zoning cases in Jefferson County, Alabama.
1987
Jefferson County, Alabama, Zoning Ordinance amendments:
- R-G Residential Garden Home zoning district and accompanying regulations
- C-N Neighborhood Commercial zoning district and accompanying regulations
- R-7 P.U.D. (Planned Unit Development) zoning district, with accompanying regulations
and a site plan review/approval process.
1985
Center Point & Pinson: A Land Use and Zoning Guide.
1982
Rural Fire Suppression Rating Study, 1982 (North Alabama Regional C.O.G.).
PROJECTS I PLAYED A DIRECTORIAL OR SUPERVISORY ROLE IN:
2011 McDonald Chapel and North Smithfield Community Plans
2006 Requested by the Planning & Zoning Commission to serve as facilitator to their review and recommendations
regarding a Jefferson County, Alabama, Higher Regulatory Standards Floodplain Ordinance (in process
since 2004)
Conversion and integration of Z.I.S. (Zoning Information System) data into a true G.I.S.
(Geographic Information System) program – Z.G.I.S. (Zoning GIS) – by the Department
of Information Technology, and oversee the implementation and use of the new program
in Land Development (replacing Z.I.S.)
2005 Comprehensive Land Use Plan for the Town of Cardiff, Alabama
2004 Requested by the Co-Chairmen of the Technical Committee to facilitate completion of the Greenprint
component of the multi-jurisdictional, multi-county Upper Cahaba Watershed Study (in process since 2003,
completed in 2005, won state planning award)
2002 Comprehensive Plan for the City of Morris, Alabama
Comprehensive Plan for the City of Clay, Alabama
Zoning Ordinance for the City of Clay, Alabama
2001 Implemented departmental timesheet program to track employee hours for program, staffing and
budgeting purposes
2000 Zoning Ordinance for the Town Maytown, Alabama
1999 Comprehensive Plan for the Town of Maytown, Alabama
1997 Jefferson County Land Use Plan, subsequent Areas and General Policies, on-going
1991 City of Mountain Brook, Alabama, Master Plan
OTHER PROJECTS I WAS INVOLVED IN:
1991 Rocky Ridge Road Area Study (corridor plan in southeast Jefferson County)
1990 Eastern Area Study (multi-jurisdictional land use plan for eastern Jefferson County)
1986 Park and Recreation Management Study of Jefferson County, Alabama
Grants applications, environmental reviews, zoning case reports and other such items have been excluded here for the sake of brevity.