Daphne City Council Meeting – July 6, 2021
Daphne Cottages Townhome Development Receives Approval
The Daphne City Council granted final approval for the re-zoning and annexation of property located at the northeast corner of Pollard Rd. and Well Rd. The zoning will change from RSF-2 to PUD (Planned Unit Development). The 17.9-acre property is the future site of Daphne Cottages, a 137-unit townhome development. Amenities will include a clubhouse, pool, walking paths, and pocket parks. The units will range in size from 969 sq. ft. to 1312 sq. ft, with expected rents ranging from $1,500 to $1,700/month.
Fairhope Planning Commission Meeting – July 8, 2021
Fairhope Ave. Lot Division Approved
The Fairhope Planning Commission approved a 4-lot minor subdivision of a lot located at the southwest corner of Fairhope Ave. and Mershon St. The 1.07-acre lot will be divided into 4 single family lots that meet the R-2 zoning requirements. The historic home, which was in disrepair, that occupied the original single lot has been demolished.
Baldwin County Planning Commission Meeting – July 8, 2021
Re-Zoning Requested for Future Nursing Home
The Baldwin County Planning Commission gave a favorable recommendation to a re-zoning request for property located on the west side of Hwy. 181, south of Summerset Dr., in the Daphne area. The 9.7-acre property is currently zoned RSF-E. The requested zoning is CR (Conservation Resource Dist.) to facilitate the development of a nursing home on the property. If the re-zoning receives final approval by the County Commission, a Conditional Use Permit will also be required for the nursing home use. A female-only nursing home and memory care facility is planned.
Re-Zoning Recommended for Two Lakes RV Park
The Baldwin County Planning Commission gave a favorable recommendation for a re-zoning request for property located on the west side of Roscoe Rd., between Gulf Shores and Orange Beach. The 40-acre property is currently zoned B-3. The requested zoning is RV-2. Plans for the property include the development of a RV park where each lot would be subdivided and could have individual ownership. Phase I of the project will have 45 lots. Future additional phases are anticipated.
Two Lakes RV, Phase 1
Fairhope City Council Meeting – July 12, 2021
Fairhope City Council Gives Final Approval for First HTD Zoning
The Fairhope City Council voted to give final approval to the city’s first re-zoning request under the newly created Highway Transitional District (HTD). The .73-acre property is located at 520 N. Greeno Rd., on the east side of Greeno, just south of Volanta. The zoning will change from R-1 to HTD. The request was made due to the increased development of the area which no longer allowed it to be conducive to residential use. No plans were disclosed for the property. There is a vacant single-family home with carport and shop building currently on the site.
Magnolia Ave. Mixed-Use Project Receives City Council Denial
The Fairhope City Council denied a site plan request from FST Wise Properties -TN, LLC for the site plan of a 26-unit Multiple Occupancy Project. The property is located on the north side of Magnolia Ave, just east of Church St. The .31-acre property is zoned B-2 (General Business) and is within the Fairhope Central Business Dist. The proposal was for a 3-story mixed-use building, with two office spaces and a parking garage on the ground floor. The second and third floors would each house 8 residential units and 1 commercial space, for a total of 16 residential units and 2 commercial spaces on the upper floors. The project was tabled by the Planning Commission in February due to design concerns. The request came back to the Planning Commission in April with minor modifications and received a denial recommendation from the Planning Commission due to concerns over impacts to adjacent properties and surrounding neighborhoods from noise, traffic, visible intrusions, potential physical impacts, and property values. An overall sense that the project packed too much into a small space without providing an overall benefit to the community led to the denial.
Mixed-Use Development in Downtown Receives Site Plan Approval
The Fairhope City Council approved the site plan for a mixed- use development proposed for the northeast corner of Magnolia Ave. and Church St. The request had previously come before the Planning Commission in December of 2020 and was tabled for further review. The plans received a positive recommendation from the Planning Commission when re-submitted in February 2021. The .5-acre property is zoned B-2 and within the Central Business District. The plans included a two-story building housing 7 residential units and 3 commercial units. The 3 commercial units would be on the ground floor, along with 3 of the residential units.
Bancroft St. Re-Zoning Approved
The Fairhope City Council gave final approval to a re-zoning request for property located at the northeast corner of Bancroft St. and Pine Ave. in downtown Fairhope. The .25-acre property, which is within the Central Business District, will change from B-4 to B-2. Both zoning classifications allow mixed use development, which the applicant has contemplated. The B-4 zoning requires a rear setback, while the B-2 zoning does not. A zoning of B-2 will allow more developable space by allowing construction to each lot line. The re-zoning approval was conditioned upon at least 50% of the ground floor of any future development be for commercial use.
Orange Beach Planning Commission Meeting – July 12, 2021
Mariott Seeks Re-Zoning for Romar Beach Hotel
The Orange Beach Planning Commission heard a request for preliminary and final PUD approval to re-zone 1.7 acres from RM-2 (Multi-Family Residential High Density) to PUD (Planned Unit Development). The property is located at 23370 Perdido Beach Blvd. on the site of the existing Romar Beach Baptist Church. The re-zoning is requested to allow the construction of a Loft Hotel by Marriott. The boutique style hotel would have 76 guest rooms on 4 stories, plus a parking deck. The Planning Commission voted to send a favorable recommendation to the city council for the re-zoning request. The recommendation was conditioned upon a re-design of the building to include more attractive coastal design components. The original design concept elevation (shown below) was not considered to be an attractive design by members of the Planning Commission.
Marriott Hotel Draft Design
Baldwin County Commission Meeting – July 20, 2021
County Enacts Billboard Moratorium
The Baldwin County Commission voted to enact a moratorium on the construction of new billboards located within the boundaries of all municipal planning jurisdictions in Baldwin County until February 18, 2022. The action is being taken to combat a gap in coverage due to the passage of Alabama Act 2021-297 which created changes in the law governing the boundaries of municipal planning jurisdictions.
Re-Zoning Approved for RV Park
The Baldwin County Commission gave final approval for the re-zoning of 3 acres located at the northwest corner of County Road 26 and Grantham Rd. The zoning change from RSF-1 to RV-2 will facilitate the development of an RV Park.
Daphne Planning Commission Meeting – July 22, 2021
Aldi Grocery Store Planned for Daphne
The Daphne Planning Commission gave approval for the plat and site plan for a new Aldi store coming to Daphne. The site is located northeast of Whispering Pines Rd. and Hwy. 98. The 10-acres property is zoned B-1.
Gulf Shores Planning Commission Meeting – July 27, 2021
Sloop Restaurant Seeks Waterway Village Overlay Zoning
The Gulf Shores Planning Commission voted to send a favorable recommendation to the City Council to re-zone property located at 103 W. Canal Rd. The property is commonly known as the Sloop Restaurant, located on the south side of the Intracoastal Waterway. Owners are requesting the city apply the Waterway Village Overlay Dist. Zoning to the property. The Waterway Village Overlay Zoning is a neighborhood plan utilizing form- based code for East Gulf Shores and the ICW area. It is intended to encourage the area to develop into a walkable mixed-use downtown, commercial, entertainment district, and to strengthen the ties between the east and west residential areas of the city. Owners are seeking the change to officially be included in future festivals, marketing materials, tourism websites, and to be part of the district designation.
Aventura Phase II Final Plat Approved
The Gulf Shores Planning Commission approved the final plat for the Aventura Subdivision. The property is located on the northwest side of the city. Phase II consists of 53.2 acres with 109 residential single-family lots. A children’s playground is being added as a new amenity for Phase II.
Gulf Shores Center for Ecotourism & Sustainability Coming to Gulf Shores
The Gulf Shores Planning Commission approved the site plan for the Gulf Coast Center for Ecotourism and Sustainability (GCCES). The project is a result of a $9.7 million award of RESTORE funding from BP. GCCES will be located on the 12.2-acres of city-owned property located at the end of 15th Ave, between the school and Gulf State Park. The property also includes 57 acres of wetlands. There are 8 buildings planned for the campus which will provide indoor and outdoor learning spaces to experience nature for students, tourists, local visitors, etc. The campus is designed to demonstrate the latest technology in sustainable building design while providing meeting and gathering facilities, educational classrooms, organic gardens, greenhouses, learning labs, trails, and administrative offices. The city will retain ownership of the facility and be responsible for programming. The Jean-Michel Cousteau’s Ocean Futures Society is a major partner in the project.
GCCES Design Concept
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