Battles Trace Phase 9 preliminary plat tabled after residents press concerns about tree clearing, drainage and density

The Fairhope Planning and Zoning Commission opened a public hearing on SD 25.04 — Battles Trace Phase 9 — on Feb. 3, heard more than a dozen residents and stakeholders, and tabled the preliminary plat to the commission’s next meeting after the developer agreed to meet with city staff on landscaping, tree protection and pond maintenance.

SD 25.04 covers a portion of the larger Battles Trace TR (tourism/resort) district and, as presented by staff, proposes an 81‑lot major subdivision on about 22.4 acres. Planning staff told the commission the TR district contains customized rules and a separate set of guidelines adopted when the TR zoning was created; staff noted the phase meets the TR density cap and 20% open/green‑space requirement as presented but called attention to areas of steep graded slope where additional trees and shrubs would help…