Controversial PUD request hits Orange Beach council

By: Crystal Cole/ Islander Editor
Posted 2/13/18

A PUD request on a parcel just west of Phoenix West and Romar Tower would potentially put 11 homes on a 1.47 acre plot of land.

WAS Design, on behalf of Greg Kennedy, requests recommendation to …

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Controversial PUD request hits Orange Beach council

Posted

A PUD request on a parcel just west of Phoenix West and Romar Tower would potentially put 11 homes on a 1.47 acre plot of land.

WAS Design, on behalf of Greg Kennedy, requests recommendation to City Council for preliminary and final PUD approval to rezone 1.47 acres from BR-2 (Beach Resort High Density) to PUD (Planned Unit Development) for a single-family residential subdivision project with nine new single-family houses, two existing single-family houses, and a common pool area.

The Planning Commission held public hearings and considered this application at its regular meetings on December 11, 2017, and January 8, 2018. At the January 8th meeting, the Planning Commission APPROVED (vote 7-1) a motion for POSITIVE recommendation. Councilwoman Annette Mitchell, who sits on the planning commission, gave the one dissenting vote.

“The look of this project is adorable,” Mitchell said. “I appreciate how the developer has worked with us on our major concerns. The initial offering did not have a street wide enough for a fire truck. They came back; they worked with the fire department. I don’t think it’s safe. The bottom line for me is that this is too dense of a project for that small piece of land.”

Councilman Jeff Silvers confirmed that this is a relatively lower density project compared to the other options available to the developers.

“Well, by right they can have 48 bedrooms,” Silvers said. “Here they’re going to have 34 bedrooms. So, there’s a density equation right there.It’s less intrusive to hazard or life safety or traffic.”

Drawing a lot of criticism in this project are the deviations from the zoning ordinance and subdivision regulations. Some of the deviations include lots widths of 40 feet instead of the required 100 feet, front setbacks reduced to 0 feet as opposed to the required 25 feet, separation between buildings at 12 feet instead of 20 feet and an easement needed for the front roof overhang which will go into a private right-of-way.

“I really, really have grave concern over this piece of property,” Mitchell said. “Although I was only one vote, I’m hoping that my council members will take into consideration public safety in this case. This is going to be a nightmare if their is an emergency.”

Larry Cannon, resident, echoed Councilmember Mitchell’s concerns regarding emergency vehicle access and stated his belief that striping does not work..

Greg Kennedy, the applicant, stated that the intent is to build nine cottages, sell nine cottages, and keep the two existing houses as personal residences. He stated the intent to hire a security company to monitor the properties, including any illegal parking. Jim Alwin, partner, stated that as long as the developer is an owner, they would require that a security company be kept on staff through the covenants of the Owners’ Association.

Troy Strunk, WAS Design, and City staff verified that the higher density condominium option that may be built by-right meets setback requirements.

Approved at the meeting were:

-Resolution authorizing execution of a task order with TTL, Inc., to provide design and permitting services at city marina site in an amount not to exceed $25,000.

-Resolution authorizing the purchase of three vehicles for the public works department from the National Joint Purchasing Alliance in the amount of $84,550.47: $28,183.49 each for three (3) new and unused 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Pickup Trucks.

-Resolution awarding the bid for submersible pumps for the utilities department to Jim House & Associates, Inc., in the amount of $39,532.

-Resolution awarding the bid for a UTV for the fire department to Hall's Motorsports of Daphne in the amount of $17,451.96.

-Resolution awarding the bid for two personal watercrafts with a tandem trailer for the fire department to Hunter Power Sports, LLC, d/b/a Dal-Kawa HPS, in the amount of $20,644.48.

-Resolution authorizing the purchase of a pickup truck for the fire department from state bid in the amount of $29,479.60.

-Resolution authorizing execution of a contract for billboard advertising with the Lamar Company in an amount not to exceed $6,850.