Fairhope, Alabama
Update: At Monday's council meeting, no vote was taken on either of the proposals. The Hayek PUD was pulled from the agenda by the applicant -- and the Fly Creek laid over for two weeks until the next meeting. The Hayek is to be changed slightly and re-submitted in about a month.
COMMERCIAL REZONING AND 'PUBLIX' PUD CHANGES ON MONDAY'S AGENDA
A proposed plan to allow commercial development at the city's north Greeno Road entrance for the first time -- and a separate proposal to change already-approved plans (in 2006) for condominiums/townhomes behind the Publix grocery store to "luxury" apartments instead are expected to draw a big crowd for Monday's city council meeting -- to be held in the civic center at 6PM.
By majority vote, the council could approve or deny one or both -- or choose to let the Fly Creek one lay over for two weeks more before voting.
The new Greeno PUD should be voted on though, since it was introduced at the last meeting.
HAYEK PUD ON N. GREENO
The rezoning request (R-1 residential to commercial PUD) being proposed by Fred Hayek (east side of road, just north of Volanta Park) would allow commercial activity on N. Greeno for the first time, and would consist of four, two story buildings to be used for professional offices and some limited retail activities .
The plan could serve as a model for similar developments all along the highway; but it does not fully conform with the city's current or proposed comprehensive growth plans.
The Planning Commission did approve it anyway however, with only one dissenting vote.
The ordinance was introduced at the last council meeting but allowed to lay over two weeks without a vote.
Councilmen Ford and Burrell have publicly supported it, as did mayor Kant; opinions of the other three council members are unknown.
Burrell has called N. Greeno a "commercial corridor."
Proponents say the area along the highway is no longer suitable for residential use and landowners cannot sell their property as residential -- but critics worry about changing N. Greeno into another congested Airport Blvd. -- and point to Colonial Acres and Plantation Pines as successful residential neighborhoods there.
The Hayek property drains into the Fly Creek watershed.
Permitted commercial uses include:
FLY CREEK PUD AMENDMENT TOO
Also on Monday's agenda (not coincidentally according to some long-time city hall watchers) is the controversial amendment to phase two of the Fly Creek PUD to allow about the same number of "luxury" apartments (with some flats and townhomes) -- instead of all condominiums/townhouses called for in the current plan.
Rent for the proposed 240 apartments was estimated to be from $1,000 to $1,600 per month.
Phase one of the two-phase amendment will be the four apartment buildings at the lower right in the above photo. adjacent the creek.
Since the building "footprints" of the new proposal are smaller than those of the existing plan, it would be more environmentally friendly to Fly Creek (less rain runoff). according to city staff.
By increasing density near the village center, the amendment does conform to both the current and proposed comprehensive growth plans.
A conservation/wilderness buffer and walking trail are to be constructed along the creek as well.
Proponents cite being more environmentally friendly and better conformity to the Comp. plan; but opponents (mostly by the adjacent Rock Creek and Sandy Ford neighborhoods) worry about the increased traffic and the effect of (non-owner occupied) apartments on their property values.
Others have claimed the hilly terrain makes the site completely inappropriate for development.
At a meeting last December, the Planning Commission voted 5-4 against the amendment; but after the project was re-submitted and more details were revealed by its designer (Leaf River Group's, Stewart Speed), voted 8-1 for approval at the January meeting.
No reason has been given for the long delay before coming to the council; there were no previous public discussions in the interim.
Again councilmen Ford and Burrell have already publicly opposed the amendment; mayor Kant voted against it at the December meeting, then for it at the second one in January.
Councilman Boone, the council's current planning commission representative, voted for the amendment at the January meeting; opinions of the other two council members are not known.
Update: At Monday's council meeting, no vote was taken on either of the proposals. The Hayek PUD was pulled from the agenda by the applicant -- and the Fly Creek laid over for two weeks until the next meeting. The Hayek is to be changed slightly and re-submitted in about a month.
 |
| Fly Creek PUD project highlighted |
COMMERCIAL REZONING AND 'PUBLIX' PUD CHANGES ON MONDAY'S AGENDA
A proposed plan to allow commercial development at the city's north Greeno Road entrance for the first time -- and a separate proposal to change already-approved plans (in 2006) for condominiums/townhomes behind the Publix grocery store to "luxury" apartments instead are expected to draw a big crowd for Monday's city council meeting -- to be held in the civic center at 6PM.
By majority vote, the council could approve or deny one or both -- or choose to let the Fly Creek one lay over for two weeks more before voting.
The new Greeno PUD should be voted on though, since it was introduced at the last meeting.
HAYEK PUD ON N. GREENO
 |
| 958 N. Greeno Rd. |
The rezoning request (R-1 residential to commercial PUD) being proposed by Fred Hayek (east side of road, just north of Volanta Park) would allow commercial activity on N. Greeno for the first time, and would consist of four, two story buildings to be used for professional offices and some limited retail activities .
 |
| "residential looking" buildings |
The plan could serve as a model for similar developments all along the highway; but it does not fully conform with the city's current or proposed comprehensive growth plans.
The Planning Commission did approve it anyway however, with only one dissenting vote.
The ordinance was introduced at the last council meeting but allowed to lay over two weeks without a vote.
Councilmen Ford and Burrell have publicly supported it, as did mayor Kant; opinions of the other three council members are unknown.
 |
| Hayek property 958 N. Greeno |
Proponents say the area along the highway is no longer suitable for residential use and landowners cannot sell their property as residential -- but critics worry about changing N. Greeno into another congested Airport Blvd. -- and point to Colonial Acres and Plantation Pines as successful residential neighborhoods there.
The Hayek property drains into the Fly Creek watershed.
Permitted commercial uses include:
FLY CREEK PUD AMENDMENT TOO
 |
| Fly Creek PUD with Publix grocery at left |
Also on Monday's agenda (not coincidentally according to some long-time city hall watchers) is the controversial amendment to phase two of the Fly Creek PUD to allow about the same number of "luxury" apartments (with some flats and townhomes) -- instead of all condominiums/townhouses called for in the current plan.
Rent for the proposed 240 apartments was estimated to be from $1,000 to $1,600 per month.Phase one of the two-phase amendment will be the four apartment buildings at the lower right in the above photo. adjacent the creek.
Since the building "footprints" of the new proposal are smaller than those of the existing plan, it would be more environmentally friendly to Fly Creek (less rain runoff). according to city staff.
By increasing density near the village center, the amendment does conform to both the current and proposed comprehensive growth plans.
A conservation/wilderness buffer and walking trail are to be constructed along the creek as well.
Proponents cite being more environmentally friendly and better conformity to the Comp. plan; but opponents (mostly by the adjacent Rock Creek and Sandy Ford neighborhoods) worry about the increased traffic and the effect of (non-owner occupied) apartments on their property values.
Others have claimed the hilly terrain makes the site completely inappropriate for development.
 |
| examples |
No reason has been given for the long delay before coming to the council; there were no previous public discussions in the interim.
Again councilmen Ford and Burrell have already publicly opposed the amendment; mayor Kant voted against it at the December meeting, then for it at the second one in January.
Councilman Boone, the council's current planning commission representative, voted for the amendment at the January meeting; opinions of the other two council members are not known.
 |
| elevations |
Comments
Do not let the angry mob intimidate and rule the day Monday ... Should be approved, but our so-called city leaders need to get off their duffs for a change and start addressing traffic woes, or get better leaders?
Why I moved here from Atlanta to get away from.
We can do better here with the right leadership!
Obviously, it's time to replace this mayor and council with Citizens with Fairhope values instead of the one we have with strip mall mentalities.
It's easy to say "no new developments" after you were able to develop your property.
It's easy to say "let's keep the small town atmosphere" after you and your friends have moved here.
It's easy to call people you don't know "undesirables" from your lofty penthouse view.