Controversial Hotel and Easement Votes Delayed

Fairhope, Alabama


Boutique hotel vote delayed

TABLED FOR MORE STUDY

By a 4-1 vote, the city council decided to table a final decision on the boutique hotel to allow more time for the developer to consider  a design change to move the public courtyard to the front (clock corner); and unanimously to delay a proposal putting the Dyas Triangle property into a 'conservation easement' to give city attorneys time to verify if the procedure is actually legal for municipalities in Alabama.

Hotel developer  Bowers
The possible "swap" of courtyard property now owned by the city along Section Street (shown in the picture above) for  a similarly-sized parcel on the clock corner (owned by the developer) was brought up during the planning commission meeting months ago -- and some discussions were actually held by councilman Burrell and owner Matt Bowers -- but they never came to anything.

Bowers said there are ingress/egress issues to be worked out with the swap.

TRIANGLE PLAN ON HOLD

Putting the city's Dyas Triangle property into a 'conservation easement' with the Weeks Bay Foundation was delayed after city attorneys (and councilman Robinson who is also an attorney) questioned if such a thing is even possible for a municipality in Alabama to do.

When asked if anything similar has ever been done in the state,  Foundation Executive Director Yael Girard said she knew of a few in the process now, but none have been completed yet.

City attorney Marcus McDowell said seeking an attorney general's opinion may be advisable since there is so little case law on the issue.


Weeks Bay Foundation Director Yael Girard


Comments

Anonymous said…
It's truly embarrassing how the City Council handled the Boutique Hotel issue. "Forty-six" emails from concerned constituents and Jay Robinson folded like a cheap suit. Robinson should hope those forty-six concerned constituents are enough to get him reelected in 2020, but doubtful. Matt Bowers has every right to develop the hotel on that corner. 2020 can't arrive soon enough.
Anonymous said…
thanx to the council for stopping this awful project!
Anonymous said…
I don't understand why people are so upset about this hotel. I think that it will be very attractive and beneficial to the City. As far as the City Council, look at what they did after thousands of voters begged them to deny the Fly Creek Apartments. If Corte wanted that hotel, it would already be built.
Anonymous said…
Local yocals want and get special treatment. This guy did everything right, by the book.
Anonymous said…
I agree. If the Council doesn't approve this project, the Developer has a dead lock case against the council members who vote no. Fly Creek Apartments taught us a lot about this group.
Anonymous said…
Any considerations for the hotel occupants parking ??
Anonymous said…
I read that commercial developments downtown are not required to provide parking; they will probably park in the parking garage that the Hampton guests use.
Anonymous said…
This one looks like the Hilton compared to the boxy Hampton Inn across the street.
Anonymous said…
I could not agree more with the previous poster who touted the curb appeal of the new boutique hotel as contrasted with the Hampson. I would love to know who these protesters are (they are never seen at meetings discussing the new hotel and they only communicate with Jay Robinson by email).........come out and state your case in front of your neighbors. Clearly, someone with connections is opposed to this project. I hope that it gets the 'all clear' soon and that we have a new Council soon also.
Anonymous said…
And it's a wonder as to WHY Aldi grocery stores backed out and returned the property to the previous owners.Fairhope has made it too difficult to business in.
Anonymous said…
You people are going to mess around and get another bank with just lawyer and realtor offices upstairs.