Baldwin County Planning Commission Meeting – June 3, 2021
Re-Zoning Recommended for Future RV Park
The Baldwin County Planning Commission voted to send a favorable recommendation to the County Commission for re-zoning of 3 acres located along the northwest corner of County Road 26 and Grantham Rd. The property is currently zoned RSF-1. The requested zoning is RV-2. Property nearby to the east is already zoned RV-2, and Country Livin RV Park is less than half a mile from the property. No site plan was provided.
Daphne City Council Meeting – June 7, 2021
Jubilee Farms PUD Amendment Receives Denial
The Daphne City Council denied a request from developers of the Jubilee Farms Subdivision seeking to modify lot sizes in the Planned Unit Development (PUD). The proposal included decreasing the number of 70’ wide lots by 89 and increasing the number of 52’ wide lots by 89. The total lot count of the development would remain the same, at 909 lots. Market condition adjustments and increasing prices of building materials were cited by developers as the reason for the request for an increase in the number of smaller lots. The Planning Commission heard the request in March and voted to send a favorable recommendation to the City Council. The City Council departed from the recommendation of the Planning Commission and voted to deny the PUD modification.
City of Daphne Purchases Bayfront Property
The Daphne City Council approved the purchase of property located at 6275 Shriner Ave. which is generally located behind the Hooters Restaurant. The property has 100’ of frontage on D’Olive Bay. There are no immediate plans for the property, but officials intend to preserve the property with the possibility of creating a public park space.
Fairhope Planning Commission Meeting – June 7, 2021
Preliminary Plat Approved for Fairhope Downs Subdivision
The Fairhope Planning Commission approved the request for Preliminary Plat for a residential subdivision to be known as Fairhope Downs. The 51-acre property is located on the east side of County Road 3, ½ mile south of County Road 24. The property is un-zoned and outside of the Fairhope city limits. Fairhope exercises its subdivision regulations due to the property being within their Extra Territorial Jurisdiction. A 64-lot single family residential subdivision is planned with lot sizes of 100’ x 150’. The approval was conditioned upon developers acquiring a 200’ section of property to allow for connectivity to a secondary ingress/egress point on Highway 98.
Orange Beach City Council Meeting – June 8, 2021
Caribe Seaside PUD Receives Final Approved
The Orange Beach City Council gave final approval for a PUD request from Turquoise Properties, LLC. The request was to re-zone 3 + acres from BR-2 (Beach Resort High Density) to PUD (Planned Unit Development) for the purpose of constructing a 30-story beachfront condominium, to be named Caribe Seaside. The property is located at 26026 Perdido Beach Blvd, between the Tides and Cotton Bayou Beach Access. There are 115 units planned, with 46 of those being 5-bedroom units, and 69 being 3-bedroom units.
Caribe Seaside Rendering
Moratorium on Business Licenses for Watercraft Rentals Extended
The Orange Beach City Council voted to extend the moratorium on the issuance of business licenses for any charters and delivery of rental watercrafts in public access areas. The moratorium was enacted in March for a 90-day period. This extension will continue that moratorium through September 12, 2021. The city cited a need for additional time to consider code amendments to address concerns over rental operations of boats, kayaks, jet skis, etc. operating out of public boat launch areas. The moratorium does not include businesses operating out of a private marina.
Gulf Shores City Council Meeting -June 14, 2021
North Lagoon Estates Granted Wetland Waiver
The Gulf Shores City Council heard a wetland waiver request from developers of North Lagoon Estates Subdivision, a 15-lot subdivision on 5.65 acres. The property is located at 17790 Hwy. 180 West in the location of the former Calloway Cottages which were destroyed by Hurricane Ivan. A subdivision plat for the development was approved by the Planning Commission in March with lots fronting the Lagoon. The plat approval was conditioned upon the granting of a wetland waiver by the City Council. The property contains fringe marsh wetlands along the Lagoon front. Wetland Protection Regulations prohibit the platting of wetlands on new single-family lots and require all wetlands to be buffered by 30 feet unless granted a waiver. The City Council approved the wetland waiver with conditions requiring a minimum 30’ buffer and required the wetland areas be placed within a recorded conservation easement. Signage on each lot notifying future owners of the protected nature of the wetlands were also a condition of approval.
Orange Beach Planning Commission Meeting – June 14, 2021
24-Lot Development Request in Bear Point Draws Public Opposition
The Orange Beach Planning Commission heard a request from 68V Port Washington 2021 LLC, to re-zone 9 acres in Bear Point from RS-1 and GB to PUD (Planned Unit Development). The request was made with the intent to develop a 24-lot single-family residential subdivision. Limitless by Truland is the builder of the proposed development. The property is located on the east side of Washington Blvd, north of Canal Rd. in the Bear Point community. Developers presented a plan for 24 single family residences. The lot size of 5,500 square feet with an average of 50’ width was met with opposition from neighboring residents. The property consists of 7.1 acres currently zoned RS-1 and 1.7 acres currently zoned GB. Under the current zoning developers could build a “by-right” plan with 19 residential lots on the RS-1 portion and 50 units on the GB portion. The request for 24 homes was less than possible density of what could be developed “by-right” without any zoning changes. The Planning Commission voted 4-3 to send a denial recommendation to the City Council. The Orange Beach City Council met the following day, 6-15-21 to consider the request. The City Council upheld the decision of the Planning Commission by voting unanimously for the denial of the request for a PUD. The City Council was not in favor of the PUD due to the small lot sizes, parking overflow in the right-of-way, and what some considered a tract home look with the garage being the dominant architectural feature.
Mississippi Ave. PUD Recommended for Approval in Bear Point
The Orange Beach Planning Commission recommended approval to re-zone 10.5 acres from RS-1 (Single-Family Residential) to PUD (Planned Unit Development). The property is in Bear Point, at 5362 Mississippi Ave. Plans for the property include the development of a 27-lot single-family residential subdivision with a common area and pier access for residents. Average lot sizes will be 75’ wide. Plans include making this a gated neighborhood with privately maintained streets. Developers presented photos and renderings of planned home designs which feature an upscale coastal look. The recommendation of the Planning Commission will be forwarded to the City Council, which has final approval on all re-zoning requests.
Proposed Home Design Rendering
Foley Planning Commission Meeting – June 16, 2021
Site Plan Approved for 249-Lot Residential Subdivision
The Foley Planning Commission approved the site plan for what will be known as Outpost Orchard. The 249-lot residential subdivision is to be located on 59 acres west of Pecan St. and south of Michigan Ave. Amenities for the subdivision will include a pool, clubhouse, outdoor kitchen and dining plaza, firepit, community gardens, playground, splashpad, pickleball courts, putting green, and event lawn space with stage. Rendering of site plan is below.
Outpost Orchard Site Plan Rendering
Re-Zoning Recommended for RV Park
The Foley Planning Commission voted to send a favorable recommendation to the City Council for a re-zoning request to develop an RV park. The 18-acre property is located north of Keller Rd. and east of State Hwy. 59. The property is currently zoned AO (Agricultural Open Space) the proposed zoning is RV Park District.
Gulf Shores Planning Commission Meeting – June 22, 2021
No Shark for Alvin’s Island
Representatives from Alvin’s Island again made their case before the Gulf Shores Planning Commission to allow the construction of a 17-foot great white shark structure in front of their store located at 100 West Beach Blvd. The proposed structure is classified as Novelty Architecture and requires Conditional Use Permit approval by the City. Alvin’s Island initially made their case at the March 2021 Planning Commission meeting for a 27-foot-long shard suspended from a marine pole. When that design was met with criticism, they tabled their request and worked on a modified design. The smaller 17-foot design was re-positioned horizontally in a swimming pose. The modified design was also met with disapproval from the Planning Commission who felt the shark structure was not appropriate for the Beach District and detracted from the sense of place and visual appearance of the walking beach district. The Planning Commission voted to deny the request for the Conditional Use Permit.
Plat Approval Creates Four Commercial Lots
The Gulf Shores Planning Commission approved the final plat to divide 1 lot into 4 lots. The 1.92-acre property is located on the west side of West 2nd St. across from Midtown Gulf Shores at 1550 West 2nd St. Each proposed lot will be 90 feet wide and front on West 2nd St. The property is zoned BN (Neighborhood Business). Commercial use is proposed for the newly created lots. No specific plans were disclosed.
Oyster Research Facility Coming to Gulf Shores
The Gulf Shores Planning Commission granted site plan approval for a 10,741 square foot facility in the Business & Aviation Park. The property is located at the southeast curve of Commerce Dr. and is currently vacant wooded land. In addition to the 1-story building there will be four ponds on the property each with differing levels of brackish water, salt water, and temperature. The purpose of the Oyster Research Facility is to work with government and non-government entities to expedite oyster restoration efforts, perform oyster research, and supply oyster seed to the farmed oyster industry along the Gulf Coast. When fully functional the Oyster Research Facility can produce up to 1 billion diploid oysters annually.
Daphne Planning Commission Meeting – June 24, 2021
More Home Development Sought in Daphne Hwy. 181 Corridor
The Daphne Planning Commission heard a request for pre-zoning and annexation into the city limits for property located northeast of Hwy. 181 and St. Michael Way. The 32-acre property is just south of the Dunmore Subdivision. The property is currently zoned RA (Rural Agriculture) under Baldwin County zoning. The developers are seeking to annex the property into the City of Daphne and change the zoning to R-6(G), Garden Patio Homes. The request for the smaller Garden Patio Home lot size was met with opposition from the Planning Commission who cited the inconsistencies with the area. Neighboring developments in the surrounding area have a mixture of lot sizes. Under the current zoning request developers could use the R-6(G) lot size throughout the entire development. The Planning Commission voted to send a denial recommendation for the zoning request. However, they voted to send an approval recommendation for the request to annex the property. The City Council will have the final vote on the matter.
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