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 October 2022. 

Fairhope

• The Fairhope Planning Commission gave approval for a new 3-story, 24,000 square foot office building at 314 Magnolia Avenue. The plans gained approval with the condition that the courtyard enclosure does not exceed 42" on the north side.
• While no specific plans were disclosed from the property, the Commission approved a recommendation for the initial zoning of B-2 and conditional annexation for 1.7 acres.  
• The plans for Sunset Storage, a 46-unit storage facility is to be located on the north side of Highway 98, were approved by the Commission. The older home currently on the property will be used as the office for the facility.

Spanish Fort

• The Spanish Fort City Council gave approval for the re-zoning of Lot 6 of the Eastern Shore Centre, Phase IV.  The parcel, located east of the Dillard's store, is currently vacant.  The property will be re-zoned from B-3 to B-5 to accommodate the construction of a national brand hotel.
• The Spanish Fort Planning Commission recommended the approval of a re-zoning request for Lot 13 of the Woodside Business Park (Broken Branch Circle) from R-1 to B-2.

Daphne

• The Daphne Planning Commission gave a favorable recommendation for a mixed-use development to be located northeast of the intersection of Main Street and Daphne Avenue.  The 1.73-acre property is zoned B-2.  Plans for the property include the development of a multi-story building with retail space on the lower floor and 36 residential units on the upper floors. 
• The Daphne Planning Commission voted to approve the site plan and master plan for 7 Brew.  The coffee shop is to be located on a 1.93-acre site in Historic Malbis southeast of the intersection of Highway 181 and Papa George Street.  It will be part of a larger space consisting of four tenant spaces for future retail or office use that will be 1,800 square feet each.
• The Daphne Planning Commission voted to send a favorable recommendation to the City Council for changes to the Land Use Ordinance.  The proposed changes would make amendments to Article 6 (Procedures for the Transaction of Business), Article 11 (Minimum Standards and Required Improvements for Subdivisions and Commercial Site Developments), Article 13 (District Requirements), Article 15 (Procedures for Site Plan Review), Article 19 (Landscape Standards and Tree Protection), Article 34 (Schedule of Fees), Article 37 (Eastern Shore Park Overlay District General provisions).  The changes favor more stringent design and landscape standards where the Planning Commission determines the design would be more compatible with the development and/or more beneficial to the aesthetics of the city

Orange Beach

• The Orange Beach City Council gave final approval for a major PUD modification to the Mariner Lakes Master Plan.  The amendment is for the Bel Air Towers, a multi-family residential development located at 3299 Loop Road. The requested amendment will change the number of buildings down to two buildings, between four and five stories in height, and only 152 units. A mixture of 1-, 2-, and 3-bedroom apartments are planned.
• The Orange Beach City Council approved a major amendment to the Wharf PUD which will allow for the construction of a Culver's Restaurant. The Culver's is planned for a 1.8-acre parcel near the northwest corner of Wharf Parkway and Canal Road.  The city worked with the developer to incorporate coastal design elements in the 4,500 square foot building plans.
• The Orange Beach City Council gave final approval for the re-zoning of 1.7 acres to a PUD.  The PUD will consist of three combined lots located at 23518, 23524, and 23530 Perdido Beach Blvd.  There are three cottage homes planned for the site with a shared drive and shared dune walkover.  
• The City Council denied a request for the rezoning of 1.6 acres located at 26400 Cotton Bayou Dr from RS-1 to PUD for the development of four single-family residences with a shared single driveway and single access pier on Cotton Bayou.  The City Council was not in favor of creating a PUD in a traditional residential neighborhood. 
• The Orange Beach Planning Commission voted to approval the site plan for a multi-family residential townhome development located on Canal Road. There are 82 units planned for the site which will be spread out in 14 separate buildings.  Units will be 2-story, 1,579 square feet, 3 bedrooms, with a single car garage. 
• Top Tier Water Sports received a favorable recommendation from the Commission to change the zoning for 1.5 acres located at 26023 Perdido Beach Boulevard, behind Cotton's Restaurant, to Planned Unit Development (PUD).  The change is sought to develop a parking area with over 50 spaces, an office building, and docks for Top Tier Water Sports boat rentals and dolphin cruises. 

Gulf Shores

• The Gulf Shores Planning Commission recommended approval of a re-zoning request from the Gulf Shores Presbyterian Church.  The church is seeking to re-zone the westernmost 350 ft of the property to BG (General Business). The re-zoning is sought to meet a need in the community by operating a hand-in-hand business center which aims to provide affordable office space for small businesses, entrepreneurs, artists, and others who have a need for permanent or temporary office space.

Baldwin County

• The Baldwin County Planning Commission approved the site plan for an addition to Coastal Church.  The church currently has a campus on 28.8 acres on the north side of County Road 64, east of County Road 54W.  The approval will allow for the construction of a new classroom facility and walkway. 

For details, visit BR's full report here.