DAPHNE, Ala. — Engineer David Diehl shared with the Daphne Planning Commission at its site review Wednesday plans to alter the previously accepted plan to develop the Caroline Woods subdivision.

The plan was most recently approved in November 2008 as part of the Madison Place subdivision concept. Developers presented a plan this past spring to change the concept to include a separate Caroline Woods subdivision.

“We had 86 lots approved in this area,” Diehl said. “With this plan, we’ll only have 79 lots. We just want to do something we feel is smart growth. We feel like it’s a better design than what we already have the right to do today.”

Alterations call for increasing a proposed greenspace by five times its originally proposed size — totaling six acres.

Diehl said the modifications will decrease density, impervious surface area and street length; greenspace will serve as a buffer between the Caroline Woods and Madison Place subdivisions.

The 25.7-acre property is northeast of the intersection of Parker Lane and Whispering Pines Road, north of the Madison Place subdivision and west of Daphne Commercial Park.

The property also borders a site in which the city of Daphne has planned to construct a sports complex.

Planning Commissioner Larry Chason suggested developers build proposed detention ponds during phase two construction; the plan originally called for detention pond construction during phase five.

“You’ve got enough area to clear it so kids in the neighborhood can play baseball or whatever,” Chason said, regarding a planned common area currently filled with trees.

“We probably want a cleared area,” Diehl said, adding that one or two acres of the six-acre area would be cleared.

Director of community development Adrienne Jones recommended a privacy fence be built along the northern edge of the development.

Diehl noted that Caroline Woods will be governed by its own property owners’ association.

Sherman Kirby, representing the adjacent landowner, took issue with the development.

“This is not a homestead development,” he said. “There’s too many questions here. We think that this isn’t ready yet to be considered.”

Kirby said he feels it necessary to get input from surrounding neighbors; he’d also like a traffic study to be executed to analyze how the development could impact traffic flow in the area.

In other business, commissioners reviewed:

Developer Karl Gustafson requested the site be zoned B-1, local business; the property’s present zoning is R-2, medium-density single-family residential.

Gustafson said his intention is to construct an office; he also plans to add on a wine bar and grill.

Chason suggested adding more parking spaces to the area. Planning Commissioner Cathy Barnette agreed.

“I do not want to see any more parking on Belrose,” she said.

Mayor Fred Small recommended constructing a thoroughfare behind the building that may ease traffic flow.

The property is zoned R-4, high-density single-family residential.

The 2.7-acre site, northwest of the intersection of Alabama Highway 181 and Bellaton Avenue, is zoned B-1, local business.