Spanish Fort planning panel allows golf-cart sales in shopping center, will draft display and fuel rules

The Spanish Fort Planning Commission voted unanimously to allow land use for golf-cart sales at 30500 State Highway 181 (Suite 228) in the Eastern Shore Center, finding the use fits the city—3 zoning classification and could also be accommodated in B4.

That finding matters because the zoning ordinance does not explicitly list "golf cart sales." Staff told the commission the ordinance requires the planning commission to determine the most closely analogous permitted use; staff recommended allowing the use in B3 and B4 and said an amendment was needed to set conditions for displays and hazardous-material storage.

Logan Dunn, an engineer with Dub Engineering and the applicant pplicant representative, told the commission most carts sold would be electric and that gasoline-powered carts would be rare and not warehoused on-site. A fire-department representative cautioned that fuel in tenant spaces raises code issues and recommended standard hazardous-material controls such as a two-hour-rated locker and limits on on-site liquid storage.

Staff proposed a narrowly tailored amendment allowing one cart to be displayed out front under conditions that it not block pedestrian or ADA access and that signage on the product not be used to create off-premise advertising. Commissioners said they would accept the land-use finding tonight and have staff draft the display and fuel-storage language for a future meeting.

A motion to permit the use in B3 and B4 carried on a roll-call vote: Gant, Vaughn, Smith, Nelson, Lassenby and Mayor Bass all voted yes. The commission recorded that the amendment would later specify whether on-site fuel storage is permitted and, if so, what code controls must apply.

The commission closed the public hearing on the item and directed staff to prepare ordinance language clarifying display limits, signage restrictions and hazardous-material storage requirements before the applicant proceeds.