SPANISH FORT, Ala. — If local developers succeed, the Causeway could once again house a hotel, but initial discussion of the proposed project indicates Bay Point LLC has myriad details to address.

At issue is a rezoning request for the site of the former Las Brisas Hotel at 1525 Battleship Parkway from R-1, the residential designation it was given when the property was annexed into the city, to B-5, designating a hotel district.

Planning commissioners focused primarily on the anticipated traffic congestion such a project would create for the heavily traveled Causeway and discussed during Monday’s informal work session the possibility of pursuing traffic studies to address those concerns.

Building Official Bruce Renkert said commissioners’ concerns that granting the rezoning request would allow the existing structure to remain as a conforming use should not be a problem.

“It’s just a shell of a building,” Renkert said, noting no actual current “use” could be claimed and that the property would revert back to R-1 if Bay Point fails to either move the project forward or obtain an extension within 12 months of approval.

The proposal will require David Diehl with engineering firm Preble-Rish Inc. to revise its initial proposal because it currently exceeds the allowable 55-feet above base-floor elevation allowed.

Permit clerk and building inspector Donna Dunning said commissioners also aired concerns about the project ballooning into a “monstrosity” should the B-5 zoning request be approved, but Renkert explained that the height and parking restrictions that allow only 1.2 parking spaces per room would keep it contained.

It was not immediately clear how many stories Bay Point is requesting, the number of rooms the hotel could accommodate or how quickly such a structure could be operational.

“Most of that would be addressed during site plan consideration, if it moves that far,” Dunning said.

Meanwhile, Michael Lapeyrouse discussed with the commission the possibility of erecting a temporary structure on his Causeway property but ultimately withdrew the request.

Lapeyrouse, who plans to construct a combination restaurant/convenience store/bait-and-tackle shop on the site of the former Exxon gas station, told commissioners during the work session he wanted to use a temporary structure while construction was being undertaken to help gauge future volume and determine design needs before it was too late.

Some items, such as walk-in freezers and storage tanks simply cannot be added without considerable trouble and expense once walls are constructed.

Commission members adamantly adhered to their policy against temporary structures and cited countless instances in the past where similar requests had been denied.

Lapeyrouse said he respected the commission’s commitment to protecting the area’s integrity and withdrew his informal request on the condition future requests also be denied on the same grounds.

In other business the commission:

• Discussed at length the city’s proposed Comprehensive Plan. See the complete story at www.baldwincountynow.com.
• Announced City Hall will be closed March 8 in observance of Fat Tuesday.

The next regular meeting of the Planning Commission will begin at 6:30 p.m. March 14 at the Gathering Place following a 6 p.m. informal work session. An informal work session is also slated for 6 p.m. March 28 in the conference room at City Hall.