Planning commission approves Milton Jones warehouse complex; orders traffic study and sign violation remediation

The Baldwin County Planning and Zoning Commission on Aug. 7 approved a planned unit development (PUD), commercial site plan and a variance for the Milton Jones warehouse project in the Daphne area, but imposed conditions including a traffic study, resolution of an unpermitted illuminated sign and recording of deeds for parcel adjustments.

Staff told the commission the site is about 9 acres south of Milton Jones Road and west of State Highway 181 and is currently zoned B-4 and M-1. The applicant proposed one office building and three additional warehouse buildings totaling roughly 26 units, with individual building sizes described at about 11,200 square feet, 12,000 square feet and 20,000 square feet plus a roughly 1,800-square-foot office.

The commission’s conditions require that the applicant provide a traffic study to determine whether turn lanes or other roadway improvements are needed and to consider nearby projects in the study area. Staff also directed the applicant to resolve an open code-enforcement case for an unpermitted illuminated sign and to record deeds related to the relocation of property lines (exemption 25-1-43) before final platting or as otherwise required by staff.

Ricardo Johnson, a nearby resident who lives at 9821 Milton Jones Road, told the commission the new freestanding illuminated sign on the property “shines in my front yard at night” and said the lighting is intrusive to nearby homes. Johnson urged the commission to prevent that configuration from remaining in place. "The sign is so bright, it shines in my front yard at night," he said.

Applicant representative Larry Smith told the commission the property owner had been notified about the missing permit, that a notice of violation had been issued by county code enforcement, and that the owner had instructed the sign company to turn off power to the sign immediately while the permitting issue is resolved. "He’s willing to pull the power off of that sign immediately, and make sure that he gets right on the sign," Smith said.

Planning staff clarified that an illuminated sign could be permitted but not in the configuration that was installed. "We have illumination standards that do not allow the light to exceed 1 foot-candle onto the adjacent public right of way or any adjacent property," said planner George (Miss) Waters, adding the regulations prefer downward-directed lighting. Staff said the existing sign appears to be backlit and exceeded illumination standards and therefore would not have been approved in its current configuration had it been permitted.

Commissioners voted to approve PUD 25-03 and CSP 25-13 and to grant the variance request SD 25-17, subject to the conditions recommended by staff. The approvals were contingent on the variance being granted and on the applicant satisfying the traffic-study and sign-remediation conditions.

The approvals include standard requirements that future development comply with all applicable local, state and federal permits and utility will-serve letters for service providers identified for the site: Belle Forest Water System, Riviera Utilities and Baldwin County Sewer Services.

The commission’s action allows the applicant to proceed through the county’s permit and platting process once the stated conditions are met.

Notes: Site and building sizes were reported by county staff during the public hearing. The commission recorded no separate vote tally in the minutes other than voice votes in favor of approval.