[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",5978161,"mediaKeyId","5792916-4ade0a98de105793d57e6da78f3904ac","parentId",5792916,"title","Planning commission approves major modification for three‑lot PUD on West I‑65 Service Road South despite fire‑access and landscaping concerns","audioSeconds",2012,"startMs",188000,"endMs",2200000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5792916-4ade0a98de105793d57e6da78f3904ac&start=188&end=2200","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5792916-4ade0a98de105793d57e6da78f3904ac/thumbnail_188000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/5978161/Mobile-City/Mobile-County/Alabama/Planning-commission-approves-major-modification-for-threelot-PUD-on-West-I65-Service-Road-South-despite-fireaccess-and-landscaping-concerns","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5978161-aca0a9bff0278d969f738c03b49532e8/orig.mp4?Expires=1770504185&Signature=oxEs7gAXBbXO9EI58jW-7lq7qxMxp8I6LXKx3X3I0vgj43NG~blPloQgrsqnAU3V6WC4oZRViE-rq3bJbDZZu9Cyl5GeGd2d8ejPbtDIynq3bcGK5r5yAfsXqKD1ASZVf817yHwkY~VgqRGWhg5IjSePezDFzwW1Zq-18ThG2gQ4GcuJBY2BsVV2~LgXIBYXYyDUHWAh8NCkMv3PSAXgYErzpABN~QtTdXhiQ7oyY8vE3oCyw71wu8mOlC-WrP~UQm595FE9yzrN0Vt5Efob6ME-agyjp8kbZ2a78ezdP-boL8aisxVaJYthmPFdMGsx2HuqVvw87LMWfqw552YXNA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Mobile City, AL","date","2025-09-19T07:58:31Z","article","The Mobile Planning Commission on Sept. 18 approved a major modification to a planned unit development at 607 and 800 West I‑65 Service Road South that would allow shared access and shared parking across three lots and the demolition of existing hotels to make way for a proposed multifamily development. The applicant told the commission the number of units has been reduced from about 240 to 217.

The change matters because it alters an existing PUD approval for three separate lots in the northwest quadrant of Airport Boulevard and I‑65, including an older Best Western Plus on the northern parcel and two aging hotels on the middle and southern parcels. The commission’s approval removed condition No. 9 from the staff conditions and amended condition No. 8 to reflect a reduction in required frontage landscape area from roughly 25,000 square feet to about 5,000 square feet.

During the public hearing, applicant representative Jay Watkins of Maynard Nexon said the central and southern hotels would be demolished and replaced with a multi‑building apartment complex and asked the commission for flexibility to substitute a playground for the site plan’s labeled pet park. Staff confirmed the landscaping shortfall appears in the staff report and noted that, because this is a site‑plan specific PUD modification, the commission may choose to adopt the submitted landscape plan.

Commissioners and staff raised questions about fire access. A staff speaker noted the fire department’s comment that the current design does “not meet adopted fire access” standards and that an emergency‑access‑only drive may be required by the fire ordinance rather than the Unified Development Code. The applicant said they would comply with any fire‑department requirements and, if necessary, would modify the site plan — including reinstating a previously shown gated emergency access with a Knox box — to meet those requirements.

The commission’s deliberation focused on whether the reduced frontage landscaping should be allowed under the PUD modification. Staff said approving the modification would require revising condition No. 8 to reflect the reduced landscaping and removing condition No. 9. A commissioner moved to approve staff recommendations with findings A through H, removing condition No. 9 and amending condition No. 8 to change the landscape square footage from 25,000 to 5,000; the motion passed.

No members of the public spoke for or against the application during the public hearing. The approval directs staff to implement the amended conditions during permitting; the applicant will still need to address any outstanding fire‑access requirements identified by the Fire Department before permits are issued.

The commission’s action applies only to the PUD modification on the three lots; any future changes to unit counts, site layout, or the addition of uses beyond the approved site plan would require further review and, if necessary, a new application to the commission or to the City Council.

Details that remain to be completed include final resolution of fire‑department access requirements and any necessary site‑plan adjustments to accommodate a second, emergency access point if required. The applicant and staff said they will work together to ensure compliance during permitting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City of Mobile Planning Commission Meeting Sept 18, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Mobile Planning Commission on Sept. 18 approved a major modification to a planned unit development at 607 and 800 West I‑65 Service Road South that would allow shared access and parking across three lots and the demolition of existing hotels to make way for a proposed multifamily development.","taxTitle","Mobile City, Mobile County, Alabama","taxId",3866,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},5978153,"Staff announces public hearing Oct. 16 to reformat Downtown Development District code; revisions emphasize clarity and graphics",650,2550000,3200000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5792916-4ade0a98de105793d57e6da78f3904ac&start=2550&end=3200","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5792916-4ade0a98de105793d57e6da78f3904ac/thumbnail_2550000.jpg","/articles/5978153/Mobile-City/Mobile-County/Alabama/Staff-announces-public-hearing-Oct-16-to-reformat-Downtown-Development-District-code-revisions-emphasize-clarity-and-graphics","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5978153-3789d5327d35f1dca3779aa275ded256/orig.mp4?Expires=1770504185&Signature=oUYbtO~tKW2ZnYhIkk0d5ZiuwPRGUZ7cSBlsBnPHRAoeuSqM9NRKRK8tFnzLwrGljz~fbQEQ7If6PG2F-cD6NEkWVSllw7tUfX5nq8d-KtLst16FFb1OGsshidPb48VqZJUUr0CnHBENapo-zi5ElQk16J5Ib9h2yvtJL7EJvzPgzMwUq-9JBAqPf7ekk81Y9xuaWPidEwsLnx9f9QBXxhOu5oRgD83FdrLY8J7Jd2GqLSBEj8Jdi0CK4B1kos9NNIBBT-mIsRBsBugDnoPRWjo0G-Z1bXjv9LWuh9PAYKb5O2qCaUsJa7FcQSs9JV3W-xtxri2pELlyen5DO0c7kA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City planning staff told the Mobile Planning Commission on Sept. 18 that they will hold a public hearing Oct. 16 on proposed revisions to Appendix A (Downtown Development District) of the Unified Development Code.

Staff said the draft reorganization focuses on improving clarity and usability — replacing dense text with tables and graphics, consolidating zoning subdistrict regulations, unifying street‑furniture and frontage standards, and streamlining the development standards (parking, landscaping, signage and fences) into more accessible sections. The stated goal is to preserve the original meaning and intent of the downtown regulations while making them easier for developers, designers, neighborhood groups and staff to use.

According to the presentation, the city worked with consultants (Planning Next and Clearinghouse & Associates) and conducted stakeholder outreach beginning in October 2024. Staff said the consolidated draft also formalizes current administrative practice by redistributing some responsibilities formerly vested in the consolidated review committee (CRC) to staff review steps, while retaining the review role in practice.

Commissioner and stakeholder comments were largely supportive of a clearer, more visual format. Commissioner Renfrew, speaking for the downtown group, said staff had been cooperative and collaborative. Staff noted they intentionally avoided making significant substantive changes in this draft; the purpose is to create a more usable template so that future substantive edits can be made more easily and transparently.

The commission voted to call for the public hearing on Oct. 16, 2025. Staff said the full draft and a public input portal will be posted on the City of Mobile’s websites and that final adoption, if recommended by the commission after the hearing, will rest with the City Council.

The public hearing will be held at the conclusion of the Planning Commission’s Oct. 16 meeting, staff said. Stakeholders and the public were invited to review the draft code and submit comments through the city’s online portal or at the hearing.","City planning staff told the Mobile Planning Commission on Sept. 18 they will hold a public hearing Oct. 16 on proposed revisions to Appendix A, the Downtown Development District, focused on reorganizing the code into tables and graphics for clarity.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},5978156,"Commission approves rezoning to R‑3 at Cottage Hill Road after debate over density and future office use",1642,703000,2345000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5792916-4ade0a98de105793d57e6da78f3904ac&start=703&end=2345","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5792916-4ade0a98de105793d57e6da78f3904ac/thumbnail_703000.jpg","/articles/5978156/Mobile-City/Mobile-County/Alabama/Commission-approves-rezoning-to-R3-at-Cottage-Hill-Road-after-debate-over-density-and-future-office-use","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5978156-4577cc8e01a401afeebadb1166c15efc/orig.mp4?Expires=1770504185&Signature=HV4nwvAr1W7NY2HRsohoatengpaT-fXPjw4UobyZwkxN4N0pzZeiCqCIAt~p~sfQfF5d9xn4gP22bdPkfunfmj0Qf7W2PXq3wKXB9BQSc02Hg3N3VhEEhfx78MW-Pme~o95IpBipPVN9UhdWSEKMvsYTIhSlhraCDuQRGxQAYEuVAj2QJcaY8CfDSAwWc1KFiu3eAoKhjsgsvGPe-aQXeXVJ-8xrNX8jpE~hhgUmePgEiEpmUg5YxJy7CZVD0kSPBn5pnqfBqAxiP4J-3InnUmJgHHibnlxvbQ8Nrudp8npt0T8YmMb6~1Gm-O7MXxKiO-n8S1wZJ6v9li0Apc0anw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Mobile Planning Commission on Sept. 18 approved a rezoning from R‑1 (residential suburban) to R‑3 (multifamily residential) for property at 7211 and 7221 Cottage Hill Road, allowing multifamily development on the site.

Applicant Shabir Hussain told the commission he intends to construct 16 units on the site and asked the commission to consider the rezoning. Commissioners questioned whether R‑2 zoning (two‑family district) would allow the same immediate development while limiting future density, and whether a voluntary density restriction should be attached to an R‑3 approval to limit future owners.

Hussain said he would be open to an approval that limits development to the 16 units shown on the submitted site plan, but staff clarified that R‑2 would constrain the owner to duplexes on individually subdivided lots — requiring multiple lots and additional cost — whereas R‑3 provides flexibility to build duplexes or larger multifamily buildings without subdividing every structure. Staff also explained that R‑3 governs dwelling units and dimensional standards such as site coverage, while accessory office uses would be limited to leasing or other uses accessory to the multifamily development.

Commission discussion covered parking and density. Staff said a multifamily development’s parking requirement is 1.5 spaces per dwelling unit and that office space is calculated at one space per 400 gross square feet; density under R‑3 was discussed in terms of dwelling units per acre that could be allowed by right. Commissioners noted the practical tradeoffs between imposing a binding, long‑term density restriction and using an R‑2 rezoning that would force subdivision of each duplex unit onto separate lots.

After debate, the commission voted to approve the rezoning to R‑3 as applied. Commissioners who spoke in opposition raised concerns about the potential for higher density in the future without restrictions. The rezone action applies to the zoning classification only; any future change of use (including conversion of a unit to a non‑accessory office use) or a different site plan would require additional approvals.

The subdivision application tied to the same property was withdrawn at the meeting and will be resubmitted separately, staff said.","A rezoning request for property at 7211 and 7221 Cottage Hill Road was approved Sept. 18 to R‑3 (multifamily residential) after commissioners debated density limits, whether to instead rezone to R‑2, and possible voluntary unit caps. The applicant proposed 16 units and discussed potential future mixed uses.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Planning commission approves major modification for three‑lot PUD on West I‑65 Service Road South despite fire‑access and landscaping concerns

Staff announces public hearing Oct. 16 to reformat Downtown Development District code; revisions emphasize clarity and graphics

Commission approves rezoning to R‑3 at Cottage Hill Road after debate over density and future office use