SPANISH FORT, Ala. - The Spanish Fort City Council took one step closer to breaking ground on a new municipal complex Monday when it unanimously approved the rezoning of the property where a proposed multi-function facility will eventually be located. With council members Tom Sawyer and Dennis Dismuke in absentia, the Council agreed with the June recommendation of the Planning Commission to rezone the 18-acre property from R-1 Single Family Residential District to B-2 Local Business District.

Although there has not been a date set for the start of the project, upon completion, the 29,000-square-foot complex is expected to include an administrative building, a public works building, a senior center, library, post office, two additional buildings to accommodate future growth, and a recreational area. Preliminary drawings indicate the recreational area could accommodate a water feature as well as an outdoor amphitheater.

Some residents are concerned about the facility’s impact on the neighborhood and traffic, as well as the expanding role it may assume in the future.

“I understand the speculation about a jail or an animal shelter, but I don’t anticipate either being at that location,” Mayor Jo Bonner said.

The mayor also suggested that the city’s design would “set examples” for storm water runoff remediation and buffer zone allowance. The property is located on the northeast corner of U.S. Hwy. 31 and Blakeley Way.

In other council business:

• The mayor granted a one-year extension to Advanced Disposal Services of Birmingham for the collection of and disposal of residential refuse and recycling material.

• The Council awarded a bid to Unified Recovery Group, LLC, of Foley, for disaster debris removal and recovery services.