Fairhope planning commission approves site plan for 6-unit Summit Street Inn at 131 Fairhope Ave

The Fairhope Planning and Zoning Commission on Tuesday approved SD25.1, the Summit Street Inn site plan, allowing a six-unit multiple-occupancy renovation at 131 Fairhope Avenue near the southeast corner of Fairhope Avenue and Summit Street.

The action, taken at the commission’s June planning and zoning meeting, followed staff review and public comment and passed unanimously on a motion to approve subject to staff recommendations.

Staff planner Mike Jeffries told the commission the property is zoned B-3-B and lies just outside the Central Business District. The project preserves the existing historic building footprint, includes a minor deck adjustment and adds gravel parking on the north side to serve future tenants. Jeffries said utilities plans were reviewed by appropriate providers and noted that impervious surface would decrease by 0.02 acres under the proposed site plan.

Owner Shelley Springer said the renovated inn "is absolutely zoned for short term rentals," and described the project as a renovation rather than a return to a traditional bed-and-breakfast. Resident Bob Griffin, who lives across the street, asked whether the project would be short-term or long-term rentals. "Is this gonna be short term rentals, long term?" Griffin asked during public comment.

Commission discussion and staff remarks emphasized that the hearing was a site-plan review rather than a zoning change. The chair noted, "This is basically a renovation site plan review we're approving. But whatever the zoning is on that particular property, she could change that tomorrow and do something else on the zoning," underscoring that the approval does not alter the underlying B-3-B zoning.

On site details, staff said seven parking spaces are provided to meet requirements: one parking space per dwelling unit (six) plus one space to satisfy the employee requirement (one employee, so one additional space). The single employee space is an existing gravel spot aligned with a 60-inch oak tree; reviewers decided retaining that space was preferable to relocating it to avoid harming the tree. The six tenant spaces will be accessed from the driveway on Summit Street.

Stormwater and drainage patterns will remain largely unchanged, with water continuing to sheet-flow toward Fairhope Avenue, staff said. Landscape buffering has been provided around the vehicular use area, but staff recommended as a condition of approval that additional plantings be added in the northwest corner of the site and that the final landscape plan be approved by the city horticulturalist at the building-permit stage. Garbage service will be handled with two roll-out cans stored on the west side of the building, a configuration the public works director confirmed staff could serve.

A traffic study was not required for the project, Jeffries said. The commission moved to approve SD25.1 "subject to staff recommendations." The motion was seconded and carried unanimously.

The commission’s approval is a site-plan decision; any future change of use that would require a zoning action or a different occupancy would be subject to separate review under the city’s zoning code and procedures.

Less urgent details discussed during the hearing included that the building is listed on the historic register and that staff and the applicant have worked to preserve the house’s appearance through the multi-year review process.