DAPHNE, Ala. — Plans for almost 50 acres on Alabama Highway 181 propose a self-sufficient cluster of retailers and office buildings that would locate near residents’ front yards.

The Daphne Planning Commission on Wednesday seeemed to favor the project but had many questions for the new direction of land use.

Developers proposed annexation into the city with the parcel split in four zones: 28 acres, B-1 local business zone; 12 acres, R-4 high-density multi-family; 9 acres, R-3 high-density single-family; and 9-acres, R-4 high-density single-family.

Paul Powers of Powers Real Estate said he’s studied the economy’s trends in demand and finds this combination of zones most feasible.

“Our economy won’t sustain more estate lots; I want a project that works,” he said of the purportedly increasingly popular smaller sizes of lot and home.

Joe Bullock, of Engineering Development Services, stressed that developers would compromise, but prefer the set plan.

“Our goal is to please the city; we want the annexation,” he said.

Developers plan to test buyers by building in phases if the plan is approved. First, the road way would be built. Builders would then construct stores and offices, saving the residential portion for last, according to Powers.

Commissioners raised questions about the finished product’s visual accord.

Commissioner Larry Chason asked for a plan to keep neighboring businesses matched.

Powers suggested that builders could use restrictive covenants or architectural committees for that purpose.

His vision includes retail stores in the front section, office buildings in the middle and residential units in the back.

Commissioner Cathy Barnette expressed general favor with the project.

“It is balancing the growth; the residents who live there will have a place to shop,” she said.

Her concerns, however, lied outside the mixed-use plan. Staying consistent with her recent outcries about public safety, Barnette cited additional growth as a heavier burden on already stretched resources — particularly, the fire department.

The question of fire safety began in February, when council members learned that Fire Station 1 in Olde Towne Daphne was unmanned. Barnette began her fight to fill the station; her research showed that all the fire stations were operating with too few firefighters. The direction then changed to hiring additional firefighters for all fire stations.

The council had adopted an ordinance to to hire six firefighters, but Mayor Fred Small vetoed the action. Council members upheld the veto and finally adopted an ordinance to hire three firefighters on May 5.

Commissioner Victoria Phelps also liked the project.

“This is one of the more creative plans we’ve seen with the land use in a long time,” she said.

Chason said developers could ease most commissioners’ concerns by giving a more detailed plan of which areas will hold certain businesses. He agreed that the development’s mixed use has its benefits.

Also Wednesday, after previously debating two plans for the Madison Place subdivision extension — 29 acres at the northeast intersection of Parker Lane and Avery Drive — developers said they selected the plan that appeased commissioners, the builder and Madison Place residents.

The chosen design would have a curving road to deter traffic cut-throughs to the city’s coming 122-acre sports complex — to locate a half-mile east of North Main Street and Park Drive. The plan would have 47 lots in Phase III and 13 lots in Phase IV to be completed in four phases if approved.

Developers have proposed a rezoning for a 10-acre portion from R-3 high-density single-family to R-4 high density single-family.