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Residents raise alarm as council considers removing single‑family use from some business zones
Summary
A proposed zoning change that would remove single‑family as an allowed use in several business zoning categories prompted public comment and council debate; staff said existing homeowners would not lose current rights until Jan. 2027 and pledged to refine lodging and lodging‑use rules.
Fairhope — Public comment at the Feb. 9 city council meeting focused on proposed zoning ordinance changes to business districts in and near downtown, where staff recommends removing single‑family residential as an allowed use in several B‑zone categories and creating defined lodging/tourism uses.
"Why are we here tonight? Our house is impacted by the proposed zoning changes," said Jimmy Prestwood, who identified himself and said he and his wife own a 1927 historic home in the affected area. Prestwood told the council he visited roughly 50 neighbors and many were unaware of the proposed changes. "This proposal takes that right away from us," he said, arguing that deleting single‑family uses would make long‑standing homes nonconforming and could impede routine renovations or reduce property values.
City staffer Hunter said the draft ordinance was intended to protect the city's commercial and tourism character by allowing lodging‑type uses in some business districts while preventing wholesale replacement of commercial land with residential development. Hunter said the ordinance as published would not affect current owners' rights until January 2027 and that the zoning office intends to follow with a "part 2" ordinance to refine lodging uses and carve out protections for existing single‑family homeowners.
"If we can't get to that solution by January 27, we probably need to just take this and put the single family back in," Hunter said, acknowledging residents' concerns and promising staff will work on language to preserve existing residential rights while achieving the city's planning goals.
Council members urged staff to ensure clearer protections and to include affected homeowners in follow‑up hearings. The council also noted the public hearing and ordinance introduction schedule: introductory language was presented and the matter will be revisited at the next meeting, allowing additional public notice and comment.
Next steps: staff said it will reach out to affected residents, refine proposed lodging categories, and return revised ordinance language to the council for additional hearings and vote.
