Fairhope, Alabama
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| New Morphy Ave. subdivision entrance |
NEW MORPHY SUBDIVISION APPROVED
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| Fox Hollow |
The planning commission has approved Fox Hollow, a new 109 lot residential subdivision with its main entrance off of Morphy Avenue, two blocks west of Thompson Hall Road.
The volunteer fire department asked for additional restrictions on lots adjacent their training facility, but the commission decided they were not necessary by state law. (Fireworks are stored there, besides training)
The phased development adds to the hundreds of lots already approved in the Hwy 181 corridor area -- and puts even more pressure on infrastructure, particularly concerning traffic issues.
At one time, the Fairhope Single Tax Corporation was exploring funding a sidewalk down Morphy in the area, but that project became bogged down in drainage and right of way acquisition squabbles with a few property owners along the road.
181 CORRIDOR SPRAWL A GROWING CONCERN
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| Hwy 181 sprawl worsening |
One senior city official told the Times that more big box stores are "probably inevitable" in the area along Highway 181 especially -- because much of the area is un-zoned and beyond the city's control being not within city limits.
Zoning has never been enacted by the county there either.
He also said he had heard a large piece of property known as the Klump Airfield (between Fairhope and Gayfer Aves.) was up for sale -- and worried "some big thing" could pop up there too.
Some time ago a representative from the state highway department told the Times that the widening of the highway to four lanes is not expected to happen until the year 2022, if funding can be found.
That could relieve traffic congestion but actually spur even more rapid development in the area, he said.
'VILLAGE TASK FORCE' STILL NOT APPOINTED
A new
village plan task force, recommended by last year's update of the city's comprehensive growth plan to help implement the complex
village model has still not been appointed.
From part six of the city's comprehensive growth plan:
"During the planning process for this update, the Planning Team heard from various residents who were disappointed that more village‐style development had not taken place. It must be realized that the” Great Recession” in 2008 essentially stopped all development activity for a number of years and that the development market has not yet returned to the levels of 2005 and 2006. In fact, it seems that development activity is unlikely to return to those frantic days anytime soon. Therefore, appropriate expectations must be set. It has become clear that a detailed recommended “roadmap” must be developed in order to provide appropriate guidance to City Staff, so that the steps needed to help create additional Villages can be taken. Therefore, the following narrative is intended to provide this roadmap, which requires proactive action by the Planning Department. Simply reviewing and reacting to development proposals will not create the success that the City desires.
Step 1. Village Development Task Force:
This task force, to be comprised no more than 10 people, is to be appointed by the City Council. The purpose of the task force is to bring together interested people with varied skillsets necessary to understand and undertake village development. The task force should include an Engineer, a Banker, a Developer, a Commercial Real Estate Agent, a Lawyer, an Architect, and City representatives. This task force is to provide assistance to staff in working with landowners, who are interested or are potentially interested in creating a village. These professionals can advise and help form the basis for preliminary development plans."
Staffing of the city's planning department is inadequate to address the problem at this time, according to informed sources.
Citizen surveys were conducted, and several town hall and stakeholder meetings were held from 2013-15 to update the plan --
click.
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| Hwy 181 discussed at comprehensive plan meeting |
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| many other new subdivisions too |
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| Highway 181 problems |
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| traffic congestion worsening |
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| new Morphy Ave. subdivsion approved |
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| Fox Hollow phase one |
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| Fox Hollow subdivision under construction |
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| Klump airfield property for sale on 181? |
Some time ago a representative from the state highway department told the Times that the widening of the highway to four lanes is not expected to happen until the year 2022, if funding can be found.
Comments
Traffic is bad and accidents !!