Planning Commission forwards positive recommendation to rezone Lot 6D at Eastern Shore Center for hotel use

The Spanish Fort Planning Commission voted unanimously to forward a positive recommendation to the City Council for an application to rezone Lot 6D in Eastern Shore Center Phase 4 from B-3 (general business) to B-5 (hotel/motel).

Casey, KCU planning staff, told the commission the applicant, Grama Spanish Fort Hospitality LLC on behalf of Eastern Shore Boulevard LLC, proposes two hotels with complementary retail tenant spaces and additional parking on the parcel south of Spanish Fort Premier Cinema. "Therefore, staff recommends the Planning Commission forward a positive recommendation to the City Council regarding agenda item 250201," Casey said.

The parcel is identified as Highway Regional Commercial on the city's comprehensive plan future land use map. Casey told commissioners the applicant is coordinating a traffic analysis with the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) and plans to submit site plans at the next meeting. Staff also noted the property had previously been rezoned and reverted to B-3 after a rezoning extension lapsed.

Commission discussion focused on administrative details. One commissioner asked whether center license fees and curb-cut agreements should be documented at the time of building permits or certificates of occupancy; staff and other commissioners said adding a checklist item to capture required business-license fee obligations and related agreements would be appropriate. A commissioner also confirmed that, as with prior rezonings, the parcel would revert to B-3 if construction was not completed within the allotted extension period.

A motion "to forward a positive recommendation to City Council for agenda item 250201, application for zoning change" was made and seconded. Roll-call votes recorded commissioners Gant, Lemoine, Diamond, Vaughn, Lindsey Smith, Nelson, Lazenby and McMillan as voting yes. The motion passed and the matter will proceed to the City Council for final action.

The commission's recommendation does not approve construction; final site plans, ALDOT coordination and any required permits will be considered by staff and the City Council in subsequent proceedings.