City of Fairhope Planning Commission July 6, 2026

The City of Fairhope Planning Commission met on July 6, 2026, to discuss several zoning and land use matters, including approval of previous meeting minutes, amendments to small cell tower colocations, and site plan reviews for commercial and residential developments. Key procurement-related discussions involved the approval of a small cell tower installation by AT&T within the ALDOT right-of-way, with staff recommending approval subject to coordination with city officials. The commission also reviewed a site plan for a new convenience store with fuel islands, addressing landscaping and tree replacement requirements. A significant portion of the meeting focused on a conditional annexation and rezoning request for a 43-acre property to R1 low-density residential, with a voluntary density cap of 1.4 units per acre proposed by the developer, Tower Homes. Public concerns were raised about traffic, drainage, and school capacity impacts. The commission approved motions to remove city council approval requirements for certain utility-related items and tabled others for further study. Overall, the meeting included multiple motions and unanimous votes related to land use approvals and conditions that will influence future development and procurement activities in the city.