The Birmingham City Council has set a May 6 public hearing to consider creating three new zoning districts to preserve parks, natural areas and greenways.

This hearing follows a public meeting on January 16 to explain the proposed districts.

The Planning and Zoning Committee of the City Council recommended creating those new zoning districts because the city now has no designated zoning for open spaces. So, the large number of parks that are not “dedicated” by the city have zoning that is tied to the surrounding area and could be bought and developed. City officials said the new designations would offer an additional layer of protection for the city’s parks and green spaces.

The public hearing will be during the May 6 council meeting, which begins at 9:30 a.m. on the third floor of City Hall.

The proposed zoning districts would be:

Open Space Neighborhood and Greenway Districts: This district is for open space recreation areas such as neighborhood parks, dog parks, playgrounds and playing fields.

Open Space Regional Park Districts: These are for the six larger parks that draw visitors from inside and outside the city – Railroad, Red Mountain, Ruffner Mountain and Vulcan parks and the Birmingham Zoo and Botanical Gardens.

Open Space Natural Areas District: This will be for places in the city that planners want to keep natural, and primarily it will be focused on Fresh Water Land Trust Properties, FEMA buyout properties and all the property around Lake Purdy, which is the city’s primary drinking source.