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Residents object to notification and safety as commission approves Serenity Acres; staff says notification complied with requirements
Summary
Neighbors of Gabriela Lane raised concerns about insufficient public notice, fire protection and a hazardous intersection during public comment, but the Planning and Zoning Commission approved Serenity Acres (SPP25-24) for four 20-acre lots subject to staff conditions for shared driveways and inspections.
The Baldwin County Planning and Zoning Commission on Aug. 7 approved Serenity Acres Subdivision (SPP25-24), a four-lot large-residential subdivision of roughly 81.244 acres, while hearing multiple residents express safety and notice concerns about Gabriela Lane, the road serving the proposed lots.
Residents who live on Gabriela Lane said they did not receive clear notice of the subdivision and that the county’s posted sign was placed on a different corner they described as far from the lane. "This was not posted correctly," said Deidra Hart, who lives at 24610 Gabriela Lane and said certified-notice letters were difficult to read and the posted sign was far from Gabriela Lane. Hart also raised fire-protection concerns, asking whether hydrants would be provided if four additional homes were built.
Ken Hart, another Gabriela Lane resident, said the lane is a dead-end street with 16 households and several children who use the road to bike and play. He asked whether egress could be provided from U.S. 49 rather than through Gabriela Lane to avoid additional traffic in the neighborhood.
Staff explained how notices are posted and distributed. Planner Mosley said the county places signs at the busiest nearby streets for maximum visibility and mails certified notices to adjoining property owners; she told the commission that the department had met the state and county notification requirements for the hearing. "We put signs on the property that's being subdivided at the busiest intersection to make sure the most people will see it," Mosley said.
On the fire-protection question staff said 20-acre lots do not trigger a requirement for public water or hydrants under county rules because the lot sizes permit sufficient spacing between structures; building-separation and fire-safety matters are addressed at the building-permit stage. County staff said they would send a staff team to evaluate the Gabriela-Lane / County Road 49 curve for any existing safety problems raised by residents.
The subdivision was described as four large residential lots (each slightly over 20 acres) with access via a private shared drive and required construction and inspection of a major-residential driveway before final plat approval. The commission voted to approve SPP25-24 subject to staff conditions, including permit and inspection requirements for the shared drive.
Notes: The approval is conditioned on installing the major residential shared drive per county standards and having the drive inspected prior to final plat approval. Residents requested a tabling of the item; the commission did not table the request but agreed staff would examine the safety concerns raised.
