Fairhope planning commission tables five AT&T utility-review cases after members cite unfinished line work

The Fairhope City Planning and Zoning Commission on an unspecified date tabled five utility-review consent items related to AT&T after commissioners said the company had not completed burying or repairing lines in multiple locations.

The commission voted unanimously to table UR 25.01, UR 25.02, UR 25.03, UR 25.04 and UR 25.05 until the next meeting, and commissioners said they want an AT&T representative present and documentation showing the outstanding line work has been completed before the cases are considered again.

Why it matters: Commissioners said the unresolved line work has created recurring citizen complaints and hazards in the public right-of-way. Several members argued that routinely approving utility reviews without evidence that prior work was finished lets contractors leave exposed lines and boxes in place for months.

Mike Jeffries, City of Fairhope staff, presented the consent agenda and noted the five items were AT&T utility reviews and the approval of minutes. "So on the consent agenda tonight, we have cases UR 2501 through UR 2505 and the approval of the minutes," he said. A commissioner who identified themselves only during the meeting expressed frustration, saying, "I'm getting…