DAPHNE, Ala.—The Planning Commission at its meeting Thursday sent a unanimous favorable recommendation to the City Council to annex a portion of U.S. Highway 90 and Alabama Highway 181.

“It’s on the west side of (U.S. Highway) 90,” director of community development Adrienne Jones said.

The extension would annex rights-of-way of U.S. Highway 90, from County Road 13 east of Daphne corporate limits and Alabama Highway 181, from the interchange of I-10 south to where the road becomes two lanes.

“Baldwin County Sheriff’s Department currently services the area,” Jones said. “However…it is in the interest of public safety to provide for police and fire protection in this area, thereby closing the gap of protection in this section of the city.”

Fire Chief Bo White expressed concern toward potential territorial ambiguities if the coverage area is expanded; he said he expects confusion to arise from the Spanish Fort Fire Department also responding to calls in the area.

“I think the way it’s presented, it warrants further discussion,” White said. “It’ll be a dispatch nightmare.”

Planning Chairman Ed Kirby suggested the police department would encounter similar problems if the area is annexed.

City attorney Jay Ross will discuss extending the project to Lawson Road with Mayor Fred Small. Extending the coverage area to Lawson Road could alleviate some of the dispatch crossover.

In other business the commission:

Gustafson wanted to have a .4-acre property southwest of the intersection of Main Street and Belrose Avenue rezoned from R-2, medium density single-family residential, to B-2, general business.

The initial motion, requesting B-2, failed 4-2, garnering an unfavorable recommendation.

Kirby was hesitant about changing the property from residential to business.

“I think we’re changing the makeup of Olde Towne,” he said, referring to past conversions of residential properties into businesses.

Commissioners then voted 4-2 against rezoning the property as B-1. They almost voted a third time until Gustafson rejected accepting a B-3 zoning, which would allow him to build a business office.

Gustafson wants to convert the house on Belrose into a restaurant with an attached bar. He also sought to annex the property into Olde Towne Daphne.

Kirby recommended the property should be rezoned before it is annexed.

“The B-2 zoning is already on three sides,” Gustafson said.

Commissioner Larry Chason listed three options: leave as is; grant B-2 zoning; or consider B-1.

Neighbor Rick Burmeister voiced his support for the project and for a growing Olde Towne.

“I think it would be beneficial to the city,” he said. “It would make that area a lot better.”

Resident Jim Oates asked about zoning the property B-3, anticipating a B-2 zoning that could allow any general business to move in, from an ice cream parlor to an automotive repair shop.

“It presents a quandary,” Kirby said.

More competition between restaurants in the area could lead to better service and food, according to Gustafson.

“In culinary school, we were taught that if an area has more restaurants, they feed off each other,” he said.

Kirby was concerned about increased traffic flow in the area if another restaurant was to open.

“A lot of kids come through there during school hours,” he said. “It’s the only one over there with a street light.”

The property has access to a lake that is frequently used by the public for fishing, according to the association’s representative Sharon Jones.

“The county has already made us exempt,” she said.