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Developers present Longleaf planned unit development; public hearing recessed to Dec. 15
Summary
Developers outlined a 1,600-acre Longleaf planned unit development that includes a golf course, mixed housing and a 400-acre animal sanctuary; the council recessed the public hearing to Dec. 15 to allow posting of project exhibits and further review.
Kathy Barnett, the registered agent for the project on behalf of the Oni family, told the Spanish Fort City Council the Longleaf planned unit development proposes a 1,600-acre community north of County Road 40 and east of Highway 225 that centers on a western golf course and an eastern 400-acre animal sanctuary and wellness center.
Barnett described site elements already in place and planned: approximately 246 single-family lots and 125 townhome units on the western side, 79 platted lots already recorded, and additional residential types and amenities including a clubhouse, restaurant and retail associated with the golf course. She said roughly 30 rescue animals are already at the sanctuary and that the master plan includes design guidelines and more restrictive development standards than base zoning.
City staff (Mister Connor) said the submission is a pre-zoning application that would become effective only upon formal annexation, and that the planning commission held a public hearing and forwarded a unanimous, positive recommendation. Connor also said staff would post a narrative and exhibits on the city website and recommended reopening the public hearing at the councils next regular meeting for further public input and review.
Council members asked questions about services and housing types. Council member Mary (name given in the meeting) expressed concern about whether Spanish Fort could adequately support the development with fire and police services and asked whether townhomes would be sold to individual owners or operated as apartments; Barnett said apartments are prohibited by the PUD narrative and the intention is for townhomes to be sold, not operated as a mass rental complex. Barnett also said the projected build-out horizon is 10 to 15 years and that the developers plan to move deliberately in phases.
The council recessed the public hearing on Ordinance 7-28-2025 and set it to reconvene at the next regular meeting on Dec. 15, 2025. Staff committed to posting the full narrative, master plan exhibits and related documents on the city's website ahead of that meeting.
