Orange Beach City Council Meeting – January 2, 2024
PUD Modification Approved for Pandion Ridge
The Orange Beach City Council approved a PUD modification request for Phase 3 of Pandion Ridge RV Park. The modification will allow for the placement of a modular home to be used as a residence for the resort manager. The modular home plans call for a 27’ x 56’, 1,496 square foot unit. The approval was granted with the conditions that the modular home unit must meet the city’s wind rating requirements and can only be occupied by employees of Pandion Ridge. Rentals will not be allowed.
Fairhope Planning Commission Meeting – January 4, 2024
Old Battles Phase 6 Approved
The Fairhope Planning Commission gave final plat approval to Phase 6 of the Old Battles Village Subdivision. The 12.3-acre property is located on the north side of phase 5 of the Hamlet at Old Battles Village. There are 36 single family lots planned for this phase. A condition of approval included the extension of the sidewalk and roadway by 17 feet to dead-end at the property line and the planting of two additional trees as a replacement for a tree that must be removed to accommodate the roadway extension.
The Flats at East Bay Receive Final Plat
The Fairhope Planning Commission granted final plat approval to The Flats at East Bay. The 240-unit apartment complex is currently under construction and nearing completion. The 20-acre property is located southwest of the intersection of Twin Beech Road and Thompson Hall Road.
Baldwin County Planning Commission Meeting – January 5, 2024
Preliminary Plat Approved for Blueberry Fields
The Baldwin County Planning Commission approved the preliminary plat for Blueberry Fields. The 58-lot single family subdivision is to be located on the north side of County Road 12, east of Magnolia Springs Highway and south of Magnolia Springs. The 36.5-acre property is zoned B-2 and RSF-2. The smallest lot size in the subdivision will be 15,000 square feet. There were issues over the sewer capacity with Baldwin County Sewer Service. The applicant produced a letter from Baldwin County Sewer confirming they could service the development.
RV Park Application Receives Denial
The Baldwin County Planning Commission voted to deny a PUD and site plan request for Hillbilly Hideaway RV Park. The 16.9-acre property is located on the north side of Gardner Rd., ¼ mile east of County Road 95. The property is zoned RA. The application sought to construct a 49-unit RV Park. The denial was due to incompatibility with the surrounding area. There were also questions raised about a nearby airfield.
Gulf Shores City Council Meeting – January 8, 2024
Langston Animal Hospital Receives Final Site Plan Approval
The Gulf Shores City Council gave final approval for the site plan of a new 12,384 square foot veterinary hospital. The 4.5-acre property is located along the west side of the 6800 block of Hwy. 59, south of County Road 8, and is currently vacant and heavily wooded. Langston Animal Hospital has plans to expand and re-locate on the site. Upon completion the facility will house 6 doctors, 30 staff, 15 treatment rooms, 2 surgery rooms, intensive care, X-rays/CT room, pharmacy, kennel, offices, retail space, and a waiting room.
Gulf Shores Grants Vacation Rental Request
The Gulf Shores City Council granted a request for a Conditional Use Permit to allow dwelling units licensed for vacation rentals at Waterways 101. The .37-acre property is located at 101 East 22nd Ave. and zoned R-4 within the Waterway Village Overlay District. The site contains seven single family houses which are all two-stories.
Waterways 101
Spanish Fort Planning Commission Meeting – January 9, 2024
Spanish Fort Adding Pickle Ball Courts
The Spanish Fort Planning Commission approved the site plan for six new pickle ball courts at 29001 Bass Pro Dr. at the Spanish Fort Town Center. The property is adjacent to the container park and will share parking areas. In a separate action the Planning Commission also approved the site plans for the addition of two soccer fields and two basketball fields for Phase 2 of Integrity Park located at 35323 Jimmy Faulkner Blvd.
Baldwin County Commission Meeting – January 16, 2024
Commercial Re-Zoning Approved for Hwy. 104
The Baldwin County Commission gave final approval for the re-zoning of 2.1 acres from RA to B-2. The property is located on the north side of Hwy. 104 just east of Hwy. 181 and across from 3 Circle Church in Fairhope. No specific plans were made public for the site. Any further development will require site plan approval.
Orange Beach City Council Meeting – January 16, 2024
Turquoise Place North Re-Zoning Denied
The Orange Beach City Council denied the re-zoning of two parcels. On the north side of Perdido Beach Blvd an 18.5-acre parcel currently zoned RM-2 at 26303 Perdido Beach Blvd. sought PUD zoning. On the south side of Perdido Beach Blvd. there is a 1.2-acre parcel on the beachfront which is zoned RS-1 at 26302 Perdido Beach Blvd. Developers requested to re-zone both parcels to PUD (Planned Unit Development).
Plans for the north parcel included a 7-story condo building that would house 90 units. The first floor would include parking, lobby, and a tackle shop. The second floor would be residential, with a pool, spa, and meeting facility. Floors 3 through 7 would be residential. Developers proposed 382 parking spaces with an additional 41 spaces for RV and boat trailers and 90 boat slips on Cotton Bayou which would be used by condo owners. Vacation rentals would have been allowed.
Plans for the 1.2-acre parcel on the south beachside included a 2-unit beach house. Each unit would house 6 bedrooms. The four-floor building would be 65 feet in height and offer an outdoor swimming pool.
The Planning Commission had voted to send a favorable recommendation to the city council at their December meeting. Their recommendation was contingent upon the sale and closing of land transfer between the City of Orange Beach and the land developer as part of a proposed settlement to litigation.
The City Council reversed course and voted to deny the requests. After a lengthy public hearing the council heard complaints from the public over the height of the condo building, density, concerns over environmental impacts to Cotton Bayou with increased boat slips, and safety concerns with visitors traversing the highway to access the beachfront.
North Parcel Rendering
Fairhope City Council Meeting – January 22, 2024
Re-Zoning Approved in Fairhope Central Business District
The Fairhope City Council gave final approval for the re-zoning of .18 acres located at 404 Oak St. The property is located within the Fairhope Central Business District across from the Eastern Shore Art Center. The single-family home has been used as a residence and office space. Future plans for the property include transitioning the structure to a restaurant, which is allowed by right in B-2 zoning. A condition of approval was to keep the front façade of the home unaltered, except for minor changes.
Final Approval for Tin Tops at Gayfer
The Fairhope City Council gave final approval for a PUD (Planned Unit Development) concurrent with annexation into the city. The 5.3 acres are located at 8437 Gayfer Rd. Ext. A preliminary plan calls for 20 duplex units in 10 buildings, to be named the Tin Tops at Gayfer.
Gulf Shores Planning Commission Meeting – January 23, 2024
Commercial Re-Zoning in Gulf Shores Recommended
The Gulf Shores Planning Commission recommended approval of a re-zoning request. The .9-acre property is located at 19808 36th Ave. West. The property is currently zoned R-4. A zoning of BN (Neighborhood Business) is being requested. The Future Land Use Plan for that area calls for mixed-use and commercial development. No plans were disclosed for use of the property.
Canal Park Condo Site Plan Approved
The Gulf Shores Planning Commission approved the Conditional Use Permit and Site Plan for Canal Park Condo. The property is located at 416 24th Ave. East. There are currently two existing homes on the site which are in the process of being renovated and converted to duplex units. Another single-family home on the site is planned for demolition. In its place a 6-plex building is planned for construction. In total there are 10 multi-family units planned with a condominium form of ownership. A Conditional Use Permit was approved to allow for short-term rentals. The property is zoned R-4 and within the Waterway Village Overlay Dist.
6-Plex Rendering
Laundromat Planned for Gulf Shores
A Site Plan was approved by the Gulf Shores Planning Commission for the construction of a laundromat. The property is located at 208 E. 16th Ave. and zoned General Business. A 3,000 square foot facility is planned that will also include a dog wash station.
Daphne Planning Commission Meeting – January 25, 2024
594-Lot Development Receives Recommendation for Re-Zoning & Annexation
The Daphne Planning Commission voted to send a favorable recommendation to the Daphne City Council for the approval of the re-zoning and annexation of over 127 acres. The property is located southwest of the intersection of County Road 13 and Milton Jones Road. The site currently contains a mixture of zonings including RSF-E, RMF-6, RSF-2 and B-3. Developers are requesting the entire site be zoned to a PUD (Planned Unit Development) and annexed into the City of Daphne.
Plans for the development, to be named Rowan Oak, include a mixture of single-family homes and townhomes with a total of 594 lots planned, of which 204 would be multi-family units. The single-family lots would range in width from 42.5’, 52.5’, and 72’ wide. Townhomes are planned to be held as fee simple ownership. Total open space would be 28.5 acres with amenities.
In exchange for the PUD request the developer is agreeing to provide a list of public benefits which includes:
Donation of land for an 80-foot public right-of-way to the City of Daphne for the extension of Milton Jones Road from County Road 13 to Friendship Road.
Donation of right-of-way to the City of Daphne to enable the installation of a roundabout at the intersection of Milton Jones Road and County Road 13.
Provide the capital for surveying and engineering services for the Milton Jones Road extension.
Provide the design and construction of improvements at the intersection of Friendship Road and County Road 64.
Donation of 1.8-acre parcel to the City of Daphne for a public park with the construction of two pickle ball courts
Annexation of 11.6 acres of commercial property for potential future tax revenue to the City of Daphne.
Total direct public benefit value from the developer is estimated at $893,700.
Rowan Oak Conceptual Plan
Rowan Oak Multi-Family Rendering
Daphne Proposes New Architectural & Design Standards
The City of Daphne is considering changes to its Land Use Ordinance that would set forth new architectural and design standards for new construction. The changes would control what construction façade materials are used, roofline treatments, garage and alleyway placement, number of recurring house plans per subdivision, etc. The proposed changes will be considered at the February Planning Commission meeting on 2-22-24 at 5:00 p.m. at Daphne City Hall. The draft of proposed changes can be found here.