Opelika planning commission approves plats and conditional uses, forwards rezonings to council

The Opelika Planning Commission met and took action on several land-use items affecting new subdivisions, a church use, and a motel conversion to apartments. The commission approved multiple staff-recommended actions and forwarded two rezoning requests and a right-of-way vacation to city council for final consideration.

Planner Matt Mosley presented the first new-business item, a preliminary plat for Laurel Lakes Phase 2 (applicant Blake Rice of PSI Incorporated, representing Flatiron Farms LLC). The proposal covers roughly 160 acres and would add 158 lots as the final phase of a larger 338-lot subdivision; staff recommended preliminary-plat approval subject to conditions including a Ridge Road connection, revised lot-width notes, underground utilities and sidewalks. There were no public speakers for the item; the commission voted to approve with staff recommendations.

The commission then approved the final plat for Hidden Lake (27 single-family lots and…