Fairhope Planning Commission Meeting – October 3, 2022
Site Plan Approved for New Downtown Building
The Fairhope Planning Commission gave approval for a new 3-story building on Magnolia Ave. The .47-acre property is located at 314 Magnolia Ave. It is zoned B-2 and within the Fairhope Central Business District. Until recently there were two older homes located on the site. They have since been demolished. A 40’ high office building is planned with over 24,000 square feet of space. There was no public disclosure of what will be housed in the building, only that it will be one entity. The plans gained approval with the condition that the courtyard enclosure does not exceed 42” on the north side.
Street View 314 Magnolia Ave.– Both homes have been demolished
Architecture Rendering
Commercial Zoning Sought Near New Publix South of Fairhope
The Fairhope Planning Commission approved a recommendation for the initial zoning of B-2 and conditional annexation for 1.7 acres. The property is located at the northeast corner of Old Battles Rd. and Hwy. 98, across from the new Publix site. No specific plans were disclosed for the property.
Sunset Storage Planned for Lillian
The Baldwin County Planning Commission approved the plans for Sunset Storage. The 46-unit storage facility is to be located on the north side of Hwy. 98, approx. 1 mile west of the Lillian Bridge. The 6.75-acre property is zoned RA. The older home currently on the property will be used as the office for the facility.
Orange Beach City Council Meeting – October 4, 2022
Changes to PUD Lessens Density
The Orange Beach City Council gave final approval for a major PUD modification to the Mariner Lakes Master Plan. The amendment is for the Bel Air Towers, a multi-family residential development. The property is located at 3299 Loop Rd., west of the Fairfield Inn and Suites. The original plan, which was approved in 2007, called for three buildings between 14 and 18 stories in height and 375 total units. The requested amendment will change the number of buildings down to two buildings, between four and five stories in height, and only 152 units. A mixture of 1-, 2-, and 3-bedroom apartments are planned.
Bel-Air Rendering
Baldwin County Planning Commission Meeting – October 6, 2022
Coastal Church Expanding Outside Daphne
The Baldwin County Planning Commission approved the site plan for an addition to Coastal Church. The church currently has a campus on 28.8 acres on the north side of County Rd. 64, east of County Road 54W. The approval will allow for the construction of a new classroom facility and walkway. The new addition will contain over 10,000 square feet of space. The campus currently houses a worship center, café, splash pad, baseball field, basketball courts, and walking track.
Orange Beach Planning Commission Meeting – October 10, 2022
Lost Bay Townhomes Seeking Site Plan Approval
The Orange Beach Planning Commission heard a site plan review request to construct a multi-family residential townhome development. The 27.8-acre property is located on Canal Road, south of the Brett/Robinson Laundry Facility and Posh Interiors and west of The Island Church. There are 82 units planned for the site which will be spread out in 14 separate buildings. Units will be 2-story, 1,579 square feet, 3 bedrooms, with a single car garage. The Orange Beach Planning Commission voted to approve the site plan.
Re-Zoning Sought for Cotton Bayou Cottages
The Orange Beach Planning Commission voted to send a favorable recommendation to the City Council for the re-zoning of 1.6 acres from RS-1 to PUD. The property is located at 26400 Cotton Bayou Dr. the applicant is seeking the development of four single-family residences with a shared single driveway and single access pier on Cotton Bayou. The cottages are planned as two-story on pilings with two near the water and two near Cotton Bayou Dr. There would also be a shared pool and shared pier access with four boat slips. The cottages will contain 6 and 7 sleeping rooms and be approximately 2,700 square feet each. A condo form of ownership is planned and short-term rentals will not be allowed.
Top Tier Water Sports Seeks Re-Zoning
Top Tier Water Sports is seeking a zoning change for 1.5 acres located at 26023 Perdido Beach Blvd, behind Cotton’s Restaurant. The property is currently zoned Multi-Family Residential Medium to Low Density (RM-1). Owners are seeking to change the zoning to Planned Unit Development (PUD). The change is sought to develop a parking area with over 50 spaces, an office building, and docks for Top Tier Water Sports boat rentals and dolphin cruises. The docks on Cotton Bayou could accommodate 8 pontoon boats, a 64’ cruise boar, and an 8-slip marina with pier docking. The Planning Commission voted 5-3 to send a favorable recommendation to the city council for consideration.
Spanish Fort Planning Commission Meeting – October 10, 2022
The Spanish Fort Planning Commission recommended the approval of a re-zoning request for Lot 13 of the Woodside Business Park (Broken Branch Cir.). The property is generally along Rt. 31 south of Cambron Subdivision. If the recommendation is approved by the City Council the zoning will change from R-1 to B-2.
Spanish Fort City Council Meeting – October 17, 2022
Re-Zoning Approved for Hotel at Eastern Shore Centre
The Spanish Fort City Council gave approval for the re-zoning of Lot 6 of the Eastern Shore Centre, Phase IV. The parcel is currently vacant, east of the Dillard’s store. The property will be re-zoned from B-3 to B-5 to accommodate the construction of a national brand hotel.
Orange Beach City Council Meeting – October 18, 2022
Wharf PUD Amendment Approved to Allow Culvers Restaurant
The Orange Beach City Council approved a major amendment to the Wharf PUD which will allow for the construction of a Culver’s Restaurant. The Culver’s is planned for a 1.8-acre parcel near the northwest corner of Wharf Parkway and Canal Road. The city worked with the developer to incorporate coastal design elements in the 4,500 square foot building plans.
Culver’s Design Elevations
PUD Request on Cotton Bayou Denied
The Orange Beach City Council voted to deny a request for a Planned Unit Development (PUD) at 26400 Cotton Bayou Dr. The request was to change the zoning from RS-1 to PUD for the development of four homes with a shared driveway and shared pool under a condo form of ownership. The City Council was not in favor of creating a PUD in a traditional residential neighborhood. In light of the denial the developer stated an intent to pursue an alternate plan to subdivide the lot and place two homes on each lot which are allowed under the existing zoning.
Saltwater Cottages Approved for Beachfront Lots
The Orange Beach City Council gave final approval for the re-zoning of 1.7 acres to a PUD. The PUD will consist of three combined lots located at 23518, 23524, and 23530 Perdido Beach Blvd. There are three cottage homes planned for the site with a shared drive and shared dune walkover. The 3-story 4,400 square foot homes are planned to include 6 bedrooms each.
Gulf Shores Planning Commission Meeting – October 25, 2022
Presbyterian Church Seeking to Provide Affordable Office Space
The Gulf Shores Planning Commission recommended approval of a re-zoning request from the Gulf Shores Presbyterian Church. The church is seeking to re-zone the westernmost 350 ft of the property to BG (General Business). The re-zoning is sought to meet a need in the community by operating a hand-in-hand business center which aims to provide affordable office space for small businesses, entrepreneurs, artists, and others who have a need for permanent or temporary office space.
Daphne Planning Commission Meeting – October 27, 2022
Downtown Mixed-Use Project Gains Favorable Recommendation
The Daphne Planning Commission gave a favorable recommendation for a mixed-use development to be located northeast of the intersection of Main Street and Daphne Ave. The 1.73-acre property is zoned B-2. Plans for the property include the development of a multi-story building with retail space on the lower floor and 36 residential units on the upper floors. The project was generally well received by the Planning Commission in September, but questions remained about the traffic pattern and the traffic engineering required for turn lanes. The project was tabled at that time to allow for more time to study the traffic engineering. After further study and engineering an agreement was reached on a traffic turn lane.
Artist Renderings of Mixed-Use Daphne Development
Site Plan Approved for 7 Brew Coffee Shop The Daphne Planning Commission voted to approve the site plan and master plan for 7 Brew. The coffee shop is to be located on a 1.93-acre site in Historic Malbis southeast of the intersection of Hwy. 181 and Papa George St. The coffee shop will be part of a larger space consisting of four tenant spaces for future retail or office use that will be 1,800 square feet each.
Amendments Proposed for Land Use Ordinance The Daphne Planning Commission voted to send a favorable recommendation to the City Council for changes to the Land Use Ordinance. The proposed changes would make amendments to Article 6 (Procedures for the Transaction of Business), Article 11 (Minimum Standards and Required Improvements for Subdivisions and Commercial Site Developments), Article 13 (District Requirements), Article 15 (Procedures for Site Plan Review), Article 19 (Landscape Standards and Tree Protection), Article 34 (Schedule of Fees), Article 37 (Eastern Shore Park Overlay District General provisions). The changes favor more stringent design and landscape standards where the Planning Commission determines the design would be more compatible with the development and/or more beneficial to the aesthetics of the city. The proposed changes are likely to come before the City Council for a hearing sometime in November.
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