New construction is booming in order to meet the demands of the more than 230,000 residents that now call Baldwin County home. Each month Baldwin REALTORS® creates a report from local government meetings to highlight what new developments are in the works in Baldwin County. Below is a brief list of the plans addressed in August 2022. 

Gulf Shores

• The Gulf Shores City Council approved the Gulf Shores Transportation Plan for FY2023, including widening County Road 59, the Waterway East Extension, a pedestrian bridge over the Intracoastal Waterway and several other improvements.
• The newly passed amendments by the Gulf Shores City Council for multi-family and townhome developments will require a range of functional open space and recreational areas, a range of housing types, prohibit vinyl siding, require sidewalks to connect from residential units to public sidewalks, a minimum 18" building elevation from grade, garage requirement for townhomes, added architectural regulations, and an impact study with mitigation plan to address traffic and public utilities. 
• The Gulf Shores Planning Commission approved the site plan for the construction of a 9,375 square foot office and storage building for Cactus Cantina on the 1.72-acre property located at 939 Commerce Drive, within the Aviation Park overlay District. 

Orange Beach

• The Orange Beach City Council voted to amend small cell pole height regulations to allow up to 50 feet in height instead of 40 feet.
• A major PUD medication was approved by the City Council to allow construction of the Cobblestone Hotel at The Wharf, a four-story, 63-room hotel.

Foley

• The Foley Planning Commission approved a public project request to create a Pickleball Park north of the existing Farmers Market building.  The property will be upgraded with additional amenities including a road north of the market, pickleball courts, and other park amenities.
• The Foley Planning Commission gave a favorable recommendation for the pre-zoning of 35 acres, which is currently unzoned, for an 83-lot subdivision in the Foley area to be known as Hadley Village if ultimately approved.
• The Foley Planning Commission reluctantly granted a request for preliminary subdivision approval for Eastgate Subdivision.  The 30-acre property is located at the northwest corner of Bender Road and Springsteen Lane.  Because the property is outside the city limits and unzoned, the city cannot apply its greenspace standards, causing disappointment among commission members who did not like the basic design with very little green space or variety. 

County

• The Baldwin County Planning Commission denied a request for preliminary plat approval of Sherwood Grove Estates, a proposed 166-lot subdivision on a 50-acre tract located on Sherwood Highlands Road, south of County Road 24 and east of State Highway 181. It drew criticism from members of the surrounding area over traffic, drainage, environmental and density concerns.
• The Baldwin County Planning Commission agreed to table a rezoning request for 39 acres located on the south side of Highway 98 and east of County Road 9 after flooding caused developers to request two months to study the drainage issues of the area.
• The site plan for an additional 10,000 square foot building for U-haul in the Daphne area was approved by the Baldwin County Planning Commission. 
• The Planning Commission denied a zoning change to allow for a 24-pad luxury motor coach Resort in the Fort Morgan area on the north side of Highway 180, adjacent to the Fort Morgan Marina.
• The Baldwin County Planning Commission to gave a favorable recommendation for the rezoning of the 4.6 acres east of the Beach Express and south of Roscoe Road in the Orange Beach area from RA to HDR (high density residential) to develop a 42-unit townhome complex.
• Tealwood Estates Subdivision, located on Underwood Road between County Road 9 and County Road 49, received preliminary plat approval from the Planning Commission.

For details, visit BR's full report here.