Commission approves conditional use for Brookhaven development; developer, resident discuss roundabout land exchange

The Opelika Planning Commission approved a conditional-use permit for a residential development presented by the Sanford Group and accepted staff recommendations, the commission announced.

Hayes Eifford, identifying himself as a representative of the Sanford Group, told the commission the project will include a total of 83 lots: “We have 79 plus 4 open space lots,” he said during his remarks. Eifford also said the developer and city staff have been negotiating a development agreement tied to a neighboring Brookhaven property and that the developer planned to deed about a quarter-acre to the city to accommodate a future roundabout at the corner of Cunningham and the new Highpack extension.

Eifford described a separate conversation with a nearby property owner, Miss Britton, who had been concerned a new road would be built through her house. He said the misunderstanding was resolved and that the owner would likely receive about two additional buildable acres as part of the eventual property transfer.

The commission moved and voted to approve conditional use with staff recommendations; the chair announced the motion carried. Commissioners asked clarifying questions about lot count and tree retention; Eifford said engineers remained finalizing details and that the developer would coordinate the legal instruments in the coming days.

The commission later considered a second part of the agenda item (engineering/water and power) that required a public hearing; staff and the commission addressed that procedural element and voted on the associated matters. The approved conditional-use item requires the developer to continue working with staff on engineering, utilities and the development agreement before building permits are issued.