Gulf Shores City Council unanimously approves Laguna Cove contract, zoning changes, taxi franchises and expanded golf-cart streets

Mayor Robert Craft presided over the Gulf Shores City Council meeting on Jan. 12, 2026, where the council unanimously approved a package of land-use, transportation and contract actions, including a Laguna Cove restoration contract and a comprehensive golf-cart ordinance.

The council adopted Resolution No. 7069-26 to authorize a wetland-waiver for the Edwin Oaks subdivision after Zoning Administrator Andy Bauer summarized the request on behalf of the applicant. The waiver allows platting of 679 square feet of wetlands on new single-family lots provided the wetlands are placed in a recorded conservation easement, signage is installed at the 30-foot wetland buffer, deed references to the easement are recorded for each lot, and the subdivision plat references the Wetland Protection Regulation monitoring and enforcement requirements (Section 7-581). The resolution passed on a unanimous vote by the mayor and five council members.

In zoning actions, Planning & Zoning Director Scott Stephens presented two text amendments affecting Article 8 of the zoning ordinance. The council suspended rules for immediate consideration and adopted Ordinance No. 2190 (ZTA25-08) and Ordinance No. 2191 (ZTA25-07), which revise permitted uses in the BN and BG business district tables. Both ordinances were adopted unanimously…