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Local Government Update - January 2022

Daphne City Council Meeting – January 3, 2022

Re-Zoning and Annexation Approved for Quartz Countertop Business

The Daphne City Council gave final approval to the re-zoning request on behalf of Cambria DC Holding, LLC. The 1.68-acre property is located southeast of Equity Dr. and County Rd. 64. The property is currently zoned B-1. The re-zoning approval will change the zoning to B-2 to accommodate a quartz countertop business and showroom. The company, Cambria, currently has a location in Saraland. The proposed Daphne location would employ approximately 15 workers in 15,000 square feet of building space which would include a warehouse and showroom. The concurrent request for annexation into the city was also approved by the city council.


Fairhope Planning Commission Meeting - January 3, 2022

Riverhorse Subdivision Re-Visited due to Mailing Error

The Riverhorse Subdivision was originally approved for a preliminary plat in 2019. Plans included a 25-lot residential subdivision on 22 acres. The R-2 zoned property is located ¼ mile north of Gayfer Ave. on the east side of Blueberry Lane, just north of North Station Subdivision. Construction on the property started a few months ago. The development will connect to the existing stub out street in North Station and to Blueberry Lane. Area residents voiced concerns to the city when construction began. Looking back at historical records, the city could not locate the required notices to adjacent property owners at the time of the original approval. To correct the error, the Fairhope Planning Commission re-heard the request for preliminary plat and allowed for a new public hearing on the matter. Residents voiced concerns over the removal of trees and impacts to wetlands. The Planning Commission voted to again approve the preliminary plat for the project. Additional information was given by staff that the city and county are in conversations to possibly extend Blueberry Lane to connect with Calibre St. If so, the removal of the planned cul-de-sac could allow for the creation of two more residential lots.


Orange Beach City Council Meeting – January 4, 2022

Wharf Allowed Minor Modifications to Master Plan

The Orange Beach City Council heard several requests from the Wharf to make minor modifications to their PUD Master Plan. A change was approved by the council to allow the Wharf to utilize food trucks onsite on a case-by-case basis. The Wharf hosts annual events that bring thousands of people to the venue. They have found that local restaurants do not have the staff or seating to handle the influx of visitors during special events. The Wharf was also granted a minor PUD modification to convert the Orange Beach Fire Dept. Station #5 building located at 4550 Main St. into the Wharf Management office. The exterior is expected to be re-painted, and hardie-board added where needed.

In a related request the city council denied an application to modify the Wharf PUD Master Plan to allow for the operation of a helicopter tour business from a current helipad location on Wharf Parkway West and Wharf Lane. They sought to offer year-round tours, 7 days a week between 10:00 a.m. to dusk. The city council cited concerns for flight patterns and disruptions to residential neighborhoods.


Baldwin County Planning Commission Meeting – January 6, 2022

Spanish Fort Townhome Apartment Development Receives Denial Recommendation

The Baldwin County Planning Commission heard a re-zoning request for a 37-acre property located on the east side of Stagecoach Rd. in Spanish Fort, near the Spanish Fort High School. The request drew united opposition from city officials, residents, and the Baldwin County Board of Education. The property is currently zoned RA. The requested zoning was RMF-6 to allow for a multi-family townhome apartment complex similar to Toro Ridge; to be named The Mill at Spanish Fort. The Planning Commission voted to send a denial recommendation to the County Commission which has the final vote on all re-zoning requests.

Site Plan Rendering – The Mill at Spanish Fort

RV Park Planned East of Fairhope

The Baldwin County Planning Commission voted to approve the PUD site plan for River Gardens RV Park. The 11.4-acre property is located on the north side of County Road 48, east of Hwy. 181 between Fairhope and Silverhill. The property is un-zoned. There are 49 RV lease spaces planned for the development with asphalt roads and concrete pads.


Orange Beach Planning Commission Meeting – January 10, 2022

Springhill Suites by Marriot Seeks Re-Zoning for Hotel

The Orange Beach Planning Commission gave their approval recommendation to a request to re-zone 2.8 acres from GB (General Business) to PUD (Planned Unit Development). The property is located at 24241 Perdido Beach Blvd., between Doc’s and Live Bait. Plans for the property include a 120-room hotel operated by Springhill Suites by Marriot. The proposed hotel would include a pool on the south side of the property and 150 parking spaces located in the rear of the structure, on the north side. Access would be through Ruby Lane, with no access point on Hwy. 182. The approval recommendation was contingent upon the developers submitting a revised building elevation to include more coastal architectural elements and an increased landscape buffer along the north property line. The City Council will have the final vote on the matter. Below are photos of the initial elevations submitted to the Planning Commission.

Springhill Suites Layout/Elevation Drawings


Springhill Suites Front Elevation


Spanish Fort City Council Meeting – January 18, 2022

Spanish Fort Adopts New Sign Ordinance

The City of Spanish Fort formally adopted a new sign ordinance replacing the old version that was over two decades old. The complete re-write was recommended by the Planning Commission and approved by the City Council after several public hearings and comment periods. A complete copy of the new sign ordinance can be found here.


Foley Planning Commission Meeting – January 19, 2022

Several Developments Receive Approvals in Foley

  • Preliminary approval was granted for Outpost Orchard, which consists of 247 lots on 59 acres. The property is located south of E. Michigan Ave. and west of S. Pecan St.

  • A recommendation was made to the city council to approve the re-zoning of 26 acres from B-1A (Extended Business District) to R-3 (Residential Multi-Family). The property is located west of State Hwy. 59 and north of County Rd. 20 S.

  • A recommendation was made to the city council to approve the pre-zoning of 22 acres to R-3 (Residential Multi-Family). The property is located west of Hwy. 59 and north of County Rd. 20 S.

  • The site plan was approved for a 25-unit attached residential complex. The property is zoned B-1-A and located at the northwest corner of S. Cypress St. and S. Commercial Dr.

  • The site plan was approved for Element Townhomes, a 420-unit residential attached townhome development. The property is zoned B-1-A and located south of County Rd. 20, east of Hwy. 59

  • The site plan was approved for West Laurel Apartments, a 21-unit development. The property is located north of Hwy. 98 and east of N. Beech St. It is zoned B-2.

Gulf Shores City Council Meeting – January 24, 2022

Short-Term Rentals Recommended for Island Villas

The Gulf Shores City Council gave final approval for a Conditional Use Permit to allow short term rentals at the Island Villas located at 325 E. 22nd Ave. The property is zoned R-4 and lies within the Waterway Village Overlay District. There is an existing 16-unit multi-family complex on the site. There are proposed improvements to the site which include a complete remodel of the exterior and interior, new landscaping, new pool, parking lot renovation, and new site lighting. Short term rentals were found to be a compatible use within the Waterway Village District which will help support the commercial uses within Waterway Village. It will also serve as a transition from surrounding commercial uses to adjacent R-4 and multi-family zoning.

Island Villas Rendering


Gulf Shores Planning Commission Meeting – January 25, 2022

Embassy Suites Site Plan Moving Forward

The Gulf Shores Planning Commission recommended approval of the site plan and conditional use permits for the Embassy Suites mixed-use development planned for the beach walking dist. at 112 West Beach Blvd. The development has been in the planning stages for several years. The eight-story hotel will house 247 rooms, restaurant, retail space, pool, conference center and parking garage. The plans were back before the planning commission to consider deviations from city regulations for allowable building coverage area and impervious surface requirements. The planning commission voted to recommend the site plan with those deviations due in part to the city stormwater management project underway in the walking area. A regional stormwater management project will allow transformation of the walking district into a dense compact, walkable, mixed-use area as envisioned by the Vision 2025 Plan. The project addresses stormwater on an area-wide basis instead of a site-by-site basis. Stormwater from sites within the walking district will be filtered on-site and collected and conveyed by the new infrastructure.

Site Plan Approved for Sandpiper Cottages

The Gulf Shores Planning Commission approved the site plan for Sandpiper Cottages, a 5-lot cottage residential development. The .52-acre property is located at 1476 Sandpiper Lane. The property is zoned BT-1. Amenities include a common pool and a pier extending into the lagoon with 5 boat slips. Cottages will be 2-stories on pilings with 4 bedrooms.

Site Plan Sandpiper Cottages

New Publix Coming to Gulf Shores

The Gulf Shores Planning Commission approved the site plan for a new 24,496 square foot Publix store. The site is located at the current Winn Dixie store at 1720 Gulf Shores Parkway. The Winn Dixie will be demolished, and the Publix re-built on the same location. The Publix design will have a front façade of stone and stucco. Plans also include reconfiguring the parking lot to comply with current landscaping and lighting requirements.


Daphne Planning Commission Meeting – January 27, 2022

Re-Zoning Sought for U-Haul Business

The Daphne Planning Commission heard a re-zoning request to change the zoning of property located southeast of the intersection of Whispering Pines Rd. and Hwy. 98. The 4.13-acre property is currently zoned B-1, Local Business. The requested zoning is B-2, General Business. The change is being sought to facilitate the development of a U-Haul enclosed self-storage facility with a truck and trailer rental component. The project is estimated to be a $10 million investment which will add 15-20 jobs. The Planning Commission voted 5-2 to recommend the zoning change to the City Council, which will have the final vote at a future meeting.

Site Rendering U-Haul Development

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