FAIRHOPE, Ala. — A crowd of more than 50 people turned out for this week’s Planning and Zoning Commission meeting to oppose a new street connecting the Idlewild subdivision to State Highway 181 across from an access drive to Walmart.

Several residents from the neighborhood spoke against the proposal, claiming it would make the neighborhood a shortcut for traffic from the large store.

The issue came up in a request by George Klumpp of the Klumpp Family Limited Partnership to rezone 10.24 acres on the west side of State Highway 181, south of the Fairhope Avenue intersection, from residential agriculture to a planned unit development (PUD). The proposal was for a commercial development of offices, shops and other businesses to including a restaurant.

“The residents of the subdivision are adamantly opposed to a street connection to Orleans Drive,” a staff report from the planning department stated, noting that a petition with 121 names of neighborhood residents opposing the connection had been attached to the report. “Although staff accepts the comments and concerns of Idlewild residents, we feel it is our obligation to recommend that Orleans Drive be connected to the proposed development, due to encouraging language for connectivity in the city’s Comprehensive Plan, connectivity requirements in the city’s subdivision regulations,” and other reasons.

After a lengthy discussion, the commission voted 6-1 to approve the PUD proposal but without the street connection.

In other business, the commission:

• Rejected a new ordinance for accessory dwelling units. A committee that proposed the new law will redraft the ordinance based on comments received during the meeting, said Commissioner Gary Moore, committee chairman.

• Approved a proposed fire station to be located on the south side of the intersection of Parker and Highbridge roads.

• Approved a final plat for some property connected with the Fly Creek PUD where the new Publix Super Market and shopping center is located.

• Denied a request to rezone residential R-2 property to a PUD known as Dogwood subdivision at the northeast corner of Valley and Middle streets.