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Fairhope BOA clears two Murphy Oil service‑station special exceptions; site‑plan review to follow
Summary
The Fairhope City Board of Adjustment unanimously approved special‑exception requests allowing Murphy Oil USA to locate automobile service stations at 18186 Wright Boulevard (Shops at Point Clear outparcel) and at Planters Point (lot 4 at Hwy 181/104). Both approvals are conditional on subsequent mandatory site‑plan review and engineering requirements.
The Fairhope City Board of Adjustment on April 21 approved two special exceptions that allow Murphy Oil USA to locate automobile fueling stations on outparcels that will move forward to mandatory site‑plan review and subsequent city approvals.
BOA 26.04 concerns a proposed Murphy Oil station at 18186 Wright Boulevard within the Shops at Point Clear. Staff summarized the site’s approval history (conditional annexation and project-development agreements accepted by the city council, including resolution 4614‑22 and ordinance 1765) and said the use will require a mandatory site‑plan review because of impervious-surface and stormwater considerations. Staff recommended approval of the special exception, noting two citizen comments: one questioning proximity to existing stations and another raising road‑safety concerns; staff measured the nearest Wawa at roughly one mile and a Sephco station at about five miles.
Wesley Miller of Ram Engineering, representing Murphy Oil, said the proposal is for a roughly 2,800‑square‑foot convenience store with eight fueling islands under canopy, with vehicular access through the shopping‑center internal road (no new curb cut to Greeno Road). Miller said stormwater would be handled by the master detention system and that the applicant would comply with tree, landscaping and site‑plan requirements.
BOA 26.05 covers a second Murphy Oil site at Planters Point (lot 4 at the Hwy 181/Hwy 104 intersection). Staff reviewed the property’s annexation history (ordinance 1737 and subsequent subdivision/MOP approvals) and provided conceptual comments — including concern about dumpster placement, screening of outdoor servicing (ice pads, ATMs, propane pads) and that building/canopy heights were not shown on the conceptual plan. Staff recommended approval of the special exception but emphasized that site‑plan review must resolve engineering, drainage, screening and canopy/building height details.
Board members pressed staff and the applicant on drainage and pedestrian connectivity; staff said the master development included detention ponds but outparcels may need on‑site detention and that stormwater, underground storage and other engineering controls would be required at the site‑plan stage. The city also noted possible coordination on pedestrian crossings as part of an anticipated ALDOT partnership grant.
Both special‑exception motions were moved, seconded and approved in unanimous roll‑call votes. The board’s approvals permit the uses at those locations to proceed to the mandatory site‑plan review and later reviews by the planning commission and city council; engineering, stormwater, tree and screening requirements still must be satisfied before construction.
