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 one open-space lot) after staff recommended conditions such as sidewalks on both sides of streets, underground utilities and a minimum of one tree per single-family lot. A commissioner asked whether the required tree must be a canopy species; staff said the rule specifies a minimum tree per yard but does not mandate species.

Staff recommended and the commission granted a conditional-use approval for Iglesia Ebenezer to occupy an existing ~3,500 sq. ft. commercial building at 1502 2nd Avenue with seating up to 75; conditions include striping parking and providing an accessible space. Engineering and utility reviewers reported no outstanding concerns.

The commission also approved a conditional-use conversion of the Pace Commons motel at 1105 Columbus Parkway to approximately 108 apartment units. Staff noted prior zoning-board actions, an updated parking and landscaping plan and recommended safety and security measures including lighting, cameras and access control; staff added a requirement that no unit be rented for terms shorter than 90 days. When a commissioner asked how the lease-term restriction would be enforced, staff said enforcement typically occurs through follow-up with the applicant and by responding to complaints from police or other entities.

On a larger rezoning matter for roughly 73 acres on Crawford Road, staff recommended and the commission voted to forward a positive rezoning recommendation to city council after public comment. Resident Ezekiel Rollins testified in opposition, citing safety concerns about adding turn lanes near his home. Developer David Green said the team reduced density from 223 units to 171, increased lot widths and enlarged buffers, and submitted a traffic study to ALDOT that recommends turn lanes. Engineering and water staff noted required connections and that ALDOT controls the state right-of-way work.

The commission also recommended that the city vacate an unbuilt section of 12th Street at an applicant’s request, with staff conditions to preserve necessary utility easements or relocate infrastructure. Items 7–9 and a recycling-center application were left on the table at applicants’ requests; an Arbor Valley application was withdrawn by the applicant and will not be acted on at this time.

Finally, the commission moved a significant PUD amendment back to the council with a positive recommendation after the applicant agreed to remove some intense uses from Pod 13, add screening and limits on packaged-liquor stores (size minimums and a project-wide cap), and restrict fueling-station placements. The commission set meeting dates for November 17 and December 15 and adjourned.

Next steps: items recommended to city council will be scheduled for council consideration; the commission’s approvals (plats, conditional uses) are effective as conditioned and subject to final permitting and compliance with the listed requirements.