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Commission hears heated public comment on new building-height measurement proposal; staff to revise and return
Summary
Staff proposed replacing the city’s current building-height measurement with a definition based on existing grade to roof peak; builders and architects warned the change could penalize sloped lots and make many existing designs noncompliant. The commission voted to send the package back to staff for more work.
Fairhope City staff presented proposed amendments to building-height definitions that would measure vertical building height from existing grade to the highest roof point rather than the current average-natural-elevation/mean-roof method. Staff said the change aims to clarify calculations, consolidate language and better align building scale with the comprehensive plan.
Several local builders and architects told the commission the proposed method would be punitive on sloping lots and could make many recent or planned designs noncompliant. Trey Courty told the commission, "You're not gonna be able to build 2 story homes anywhere in the city of Fairhope," warning that common roof pitches and lots with front-to-back slope would be severely constrained. Architect Lee Vernell and others urged a simpler, finished-grade-based measurement and recommended keeping a mean-roof approach to avoid punitive effects on sloped lots. After lengthy discussion, a commissioner moved to table the amendment package and send it back to staff for further work; the motion carried by voice vote.
