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Commission declines rezoning request for 44‑acre Kenner Road area after divided staff/planning recommendations
Summary
A rezoning request to change about 44.25 acres from Rural Agricultural (RA) to RSF‑2 (single‑family residential) in Planning District 202 failed after the commission voted against approval; staff had recommended approval after the applicant reduced the request to avoid wetlands, while the county planning commission had recommended denial.
The Baldwin County Commission voted against approving a rezoning request for roughly 44.25 acres north of County Road 20 and west of Stuckey Road, rejecting a staff recommendation to change the property from Rural Agricultural (RA) to RSF‑2 (single‑family residential).
Planning staff told commissioners the applicant had originally pursued a larger rezoning that included wetlands and floodway areas; after staff raised concerns the applicant reduced the area in the rezoning request to exclude wetlands and the floodway. Staff recommended approval on the smaller footprint on the basis that the property—s future land use designation shows moderate development potential and surrounding lot sizes conform to RSF‑2 dimensions.
The planning commission, however, voted 5‑3 to recommend denial. The applicant, John Farley, told the commission he planned homes on lots of about 20,000 square feet (roughly half‑acre) rather than garden‑home density, and said preliminary traffic and infrastructure work had been done. Farley said the reduction of the request was a response to staff concerns and that he would address infrastructure at the subdivision stage.
During discussion, one commissioner said the rezoning represented a turning point for the area and cited concerns about septic systems near water and compatibility with adjacent RSFE zoning and nonconforming subdivisions. After debate, a motion to approve the rezoning failed when the commission recorded votes in opposition; the motion did not carry.
Key facts recorded at the hearing: the subject parcel totals about 44.25 acres; staff recommended approval after the applicant narrowed the request to exclude wetlands; the planning commission recommended denial (5‑3); the applicant indicated proposed residential lots would be about 20,000 square feet and the project would not use sewer infrastructure.
No formal vote tally by commissioner name was recorded in the public transcript excerpt.
