Fairhope Planning Commission Meeting – November 4, 2024
Site Plan Approved for Re-Location of Close Encounters House
The Fairhope Planning Commission recommended the approval of the site plan for the re-location of a historical home which is commonly known as The Close Encounters house. The house is part of the Encounter Commercial Development located at the northeast corner of Highways 181 and 104 in Fairhope. The Fairhope City Council gave final approval for the site plan at its November 21st meeting.
Encounter Development House
Daphne City Council Meeting – November 4, 2024
U-Haul Re-Zoning Receives Denial
Property located southeast of the corner of Whispering Pines Rd. and Hwy. 98 has been the subject of a prolonged debate. The U-Haul company originally received a zoning of B-2A for the site which they intended to use as warehouse storage, mini-storage, and truck rentals. After they initially received the B-2A zoning they failed to submit a site plan, and approximately eight months later the city changed its table of permitted uses and removed storage warehouses as a permitted use under B-2A. The U-Haul company then requested a zoning change to B-2 with the hopes to get conditional use approval for the warehouse storage. The City Council denied the request. The denial will result in the loss of the warehouse storage use but will not affect the other intended uses for storage pods and truck rentals.
Spanish Fort Planning Commission Meeting – November 12, 2024
Amendment Recommended to Spanish Fort Zoning Ordinance
The Spanish Fort Planning Commission recommended an amendment to its zoning ordinance that would regulate and limit the sale of storage sheds. The amendment would only allow for the sale of storage sheds as a by-right use in M-1 zoning districts and with Planning Commission approval in B-3 and B-4 zoning districts. In addition to limiting the zoning districts, it will also place limits on the number of storage sheds, create minimums for lot size and roadway frontage, and add buffer requirements.
Foley Planning Commission Meeting – November 13, 2024
Massive Development Planned for Foley Area
The Foley Planning Commission voted to recommend approval for the pre-zoning and annexation of over 720 acres located on the east side of the Foley Beach Expressway near the intersection of the Foley Beach Express and Fern Avenue. Kolter Homes is seeking to develop an active adult, 55+ single family residential community with 1,318 lots. The amenity package is proposed to include a clubhouse, event lawn, pickle ball courts, bocce ball courts, resort style pool, walking trails, and community garden. The community is planned to be gated and golf-cart friendly. The entrance to the community would be located at the intersection of the Foley Beach Express and Fern Ave. The development is planned to be named Cresswind.
Cresswind
Baldwin County Commission Meeting – November 19, 2024
Spanish Cove Expansion Receives Approval
The Baldwin County Commission voted to approve a request to re-zone 22.8 acres located east of County Road 95, west of Ridgewood Dr. from RA to RSF-3. The approval vote is in contrast to the Planning Commission which recommended denial. This is the second time the application has been submitted after a previous request for RSF-4 failed. The site is currently vacant and was included in the 1973 plan for the Spanish Cove subdivision. Developers sought to change the zoning to develop a future phase of Spanish Cove subdivision which could add 89 new lots. The Property Owners Association of Spanish Cove sent a letter of support for the re-zoning. Members of the public complained about the added growth in the area and strained infrastructure. A representative from Mobile Baykeeper objected to the request citing negative impacts development could have on nearby streams and wetlands.
County Denies Request for 445-Lot Subdivision
The Baldwin County Commission voted to deny a request to re-zone over 152 acres to RSF-2. The property is located at the intersection of County Rd. 54 and County Rd. 55 in the Robertsdale area. Developers requested the zoning change with plans to subdivide the property into 445 single family residential lots, to be named Cambridge Subdivision. There was significant public opposition due to concerns about traffic, drainage, wetland, flooding, and non-compliance with the master plan.
Cambridge Site Plan
Gulf Shores Planning Commission Meeting – November 19, 2024
Airport Master Plan Update
The Gulf Shores Planning Commission heard an update on the city’s airport progress. Allegiant Air will start offering commercial carrier service to the Gulf Shores International Airport in May of 2025. There are six non-stop routes that will be served from Gulf Shores. Those include Knoxville, TN, Cincinnati, OH, Houston, TX, Northwest AK, Belleville, IL, and Kansas City, MO. Construction of the temporary terminal is still ongoing. Once the airport has over 50,000 enplanements it can qualify for additional grant funding to build a permanent terminal.
Orange Beach City Council Meeting – November 19, 2024
PUD Modification Approved for Fish Camp Landing
The Orange Beach City Council gave final approval for a minor modification to the Fish Camp Landing PUD. The Fish Camp Landing Condo Owners Association requested a modification to the PUD Master Plan to update the marina. The property is located at 25777 West Perdido Ave. Currently the development consists of 40 single-family cottage units and 11 multi-family lodge units. The original plans from 25 years ago called for 19 marina slips. Over the years that has been expanded to 30 marina slips. This modification to the PUD will allow for the addition of 22 new slips, bringing the total number to 52 slips. The boat slips will be for the private use by the residential unit owners and will not be for commercial use.