Board approves Casa Azul restaurant in B‑1 zone with access limited to Greeno Road

The Fairhope City Board of Adjustment voted to approve a special exception allowing a restaurant called Casa Azul to operate at 18348 Greeno Road in a B‑1 zoned parcel, with access restricted to Greeno Road; the motion carried by roll call vote of board members present.

Staff told the board the site is about 2.82 acres with an existing house, well and gravel driveway and an approximately 1-acre vegetative buffer along the subdivision. The staff report recommended approval with conditions including a tree inventory by a professional before land disturbance, compliance with the city’s tree, sign and noise ordinances, submission of a photometric plan and resolution of vehicular access and stormwater discharge with ALDOT. The staff presentation said restaurants in a B‑1 district are permitted only on appeal and may be subject to special conditions.

The recommendation reflects unresolved access questions. Staff said the applicant has not secured ALDOT approval for vehicular ingress and egress off Greeno Road and that the city does not prefer access from Southland Place because that road serves a residential neighborhood. Staff recommended approval limited to restaurant use only and limited access from Greeno Road; staff warned that if ALDOT or the neighboring property owner refuses access, the restaurant use could be infeasible. The staff presentation noted the property was annexed to the city by Ordinance No. 18‑30 on April 14 (as stated in the meeting record).

Philip Owens, architect with Coast Architects, representing the applicant, told the board the owner currently has no plans to subdivide the property and that the project team has contacted ALDOT and the neighboring property owner to seek access. Owens said the owner intends to invest in the site, add sidewalks and landscaping and that the restaurant will serve alcohol and operate to about 10 p.m. Owens described the proposed concept as an upscale restaurant and said, “we're talking about something that that is not even in the cards at this point,” referring to subdivision plans.

Several residents spoke at the public hearing and raised traffic, noise, light pollution, hours of operation, deliveries and potential impacts on property values and neighborhood character. Bruce Margrader, vice president of the Southland Place homeowners association, told the board that turning movements from Greenough/Greeno Road into Southland Place are constrained and that the neighborhood roads are narrow; he said the HOA has not taken a full vote but that the consensus is concern about additional traffic. Victor Whatley said the board should not approve a design that relies on an access route the applicant has already been told is likely to be denied. Jennifer Renier described morning and afternoon school‑related congestion at the neighborhood entrance and said the patio‑home section depends on the Southland entrance.

After discussion, a board member moved to approve the special exception with the condition that access be only via Greeno (Greenough) Road and to limit the approval to restaurant use; the motion was seconded and carried on a roll call vote. The record shows ayes from the board members introduced at the start of the meeting: Bridal Baker; Donna Cook; Anil Viera; Kathy Slagle; and Frank Lamia.

The approval is conditional. Staff and the applicant must resolve ALDOT permitting for access and stormwater, complete required landscaping and tree inventory work, and submit final civil/site plans for staff and permitting review. If ALDOT or the adjacent property owner withholds required access permits, the applicant would need to revise the proposal or reapply for a different use or revised access plan.