FAIRHOPE, Alabama—The city’s Planning Commission on Sept. 6 approved the creation of a new zoning district to promote the development of medical services adjacent to Thomas Hospital.

The vote was unanimous, but the commission’s action is advisory only, and the final decision will be made by the City Council at an upcoming meeting..

Nearly 50 people turned out for last Tuesday’s meeting, many of them residents of neighborhoods that would be located within the new district.

The commission delayed action on the issue earlier this year, following criticism that not all adjacent property owners had been contacted about the proposed action.

“The public should understand by now that this is not eminent domain,” said commission member Dick Charles, who has been active in a committee that has worked almost two years in developing the ordinance that would create the proposed district. The committee held another meeting in July, to allow additional input to the process.

Several residents expressed concern at last week’s meeting that they might have to sell their homes, or that their property values would be reduced by the creation of the new district, but others said the proposed changed might increase values.

“Nobody is forced to sell,” said Mayor Tim Kant, a commission member, adding that the “overlay district” would create additional uses that could be permitted in addition to the current uses allowed in the existing zoning districts in that area.