ORANGE BEACH, Ala. — It was a tale of two visions for the city of Orange Beach last week as opposing sides argued over the Zeke’s Landing Marina’s request for a new parking lot.

At the April 13 planning commission meeting, a public hearing was held to welcome comments about the possibility of adding 128 parking spaces to Zeke’s property, a five-acre business located on Cotton Bayou.

To make that possible, the city must change the current RS-3 zoning of the proposed 2.12 acres, that sits just west of Zeke’s, to a Planned Unit Development.

Zeke’s manager, Tom Steber, said while there is enough parking “legally”, feasibly it isn’t enough. He said the amount of parking meets the city’s requirements, but that’s not enough to properly park customers.

The previous modification submitted included 44 boat slips. That plan has since been dropped. Fighting the expansion are the neighboring residents who would be looking down at the gravel parking lot from their elevated homes. Those residents live in the first subdivision of the Chicago Gulf Beach Company and said they would like to keep it pristine.

“This is commercial infringement,” Bill Werdehoff said to the commission. “This community has been protected by your rules. You gave us protection of zoning.”

His wife, Stephanie Werdehoff, said the children in her family would not be able to play amidst the bayou because of the danger presented by a parking lot.

“It will totally destroy the value of my parent’s place,” she said of the home her parents built in 1987. “These are people’s lifesavings, and these places are absolutely irreplaceable.”

Many residents commented on the worry of opening the door to other businesses crossing the line to residential areas.

An array of business owners in the marina showed up to show their support for the rezoning. A list of charter boat captains, restaurant owners and other small business owners pleaded with the planning commission to vote in favor of the change.

With the introduction of the Shrimp Basket and Wolf Bay Lodge, the crowds have already started coming and business owners at Zeke’s said it will get worse this summer.

Shrimp Basket general manger Summer Sanders said the inadequate parking has become a hazard as customers park on Perdido Beach Boulevard.

Planning Commission Chairman Al Bradley explained the decision was not about parking, business or residential issues but land use.

“Land use is what you are charged with overseeing and the comprehensive plan is your reference,” Engineering and Environmental Services Director Kit Alexander said. “When you look at this land use … is it appropriate to expand a marina on that bayou looking comprehensively as that as a water body?”

The proposal received an 8-1 vote against it, and a negative recommendation will be presented to the Orange Beach City Council.