Council approves Margaritaville ‘Wharf Landing Villas’ PUD for 12 gated single‑family lots

The Orange Beach City Council voted unanimously Sept. 2 to adopt Ordinance No. 172, rezoning Lot 3 within the Margaritaville Resort to a planned unit development called Wharf Landing Villas, allowing a gated single‑family subdivision of 12 lots.

Planning staff told the council the request had received a favorable 7–0 recommendation from the Planning Commission. The proposed Lot 3 totals 6.65 acres, of which 2.82 acres are uplands and 3.83 acres are wetlands, and will be subdivided into 12 residential lots with an average lot size of about 18,800 square feet (ranging from 12,100 to 25,300 square feet). The developer described the product as 3‑ to 4‑story homes with three to six bedrooms; each lot would provide six parking spaces (two in a garage plus four surface spaces).

The developer requested several deviations from the current general‑business standards: a reduction of front setbacks from 30 feet to 20 feet, side setbacks from 10 feet to 5 feet, and a right‑of‑way width reduction from 60 feet to 50 feet. The planner said the project’s gross density would be about 1.8 units per acre and about 4.26 units per acre when wetlands are excluded. Site commitments include a 15‑foot buffer from the wetlands, about 24% common area across the development and roughly 37% of the site in landscaping. The Villas district will be private and gated but remain accessible to emergency vehicles; a Property Owners Association will be a subsidiary of the master resort association and sidewalks will connect into the resort’s pedestrian network.

Developer representatives said the units will be sold and will also be available for rental as part of the resort’s offerings. Planning staff noted the development is intended to provide an additional residential product type for the resort. Council members asked questions about setbacks, wetlands conservation and parking; the planner and developer responded that lot placement would be staggered, that lots are sized to accommodate the largest proposed house type and that a secondary emergency access would tie into the resort’s larger parking area.

The council used unanimous‑consent procedures to suspend the rules for immediate consideration and then adopted the ordinance by roll call: Council Members Silvers, Johnson, Mitchell, Blaylock and Boyd and Mayor Kenan voted yes.

The Planning Commission record, developer submission and staff conditions (including required covenants, restrictions and POA documents at final plat) were cited as conditions of approval. The council action allows the developer to proceed toward preliminary plat/road construction and final plat submittal to the city.