SPANISH FORT, Ala.—Function and not aesthetics will dictate the Planning Commission’s consideration of a Foley couple’s proposed family entertainment center at the Eastern Shore Centre.

Frank and Sonya Cole, the owners and operators of Gulf Bowl in Foley, are seeking an Eastern Shore location for a proposed 35,000-square-foot mixed-use facility that would include a 24-lane bowling alley, arcade, sports bar and grill, billiards, a mezzanine area and laser tag.

The site in question sits on roughly four acres just south of Arlington Apartments and immediately north of the shopping center’s large detention pond.

Several commissioners during Tuesday’s informal work session expressed displeasure  with the project’s proposed façade, questioning whether metal buildings “fit” with the Eastern Shore Centre motif.

Dane Haygood, with H Properties LLC in Spanish Fort, representing the Coles, said the Coles have cleared the aesthetics with the shopping center’s owner and that the less costly design was adopted to defray costs associated with the couple’s failed attempt to locate the project in Daphne.

“The Eastern Shore Centre folks are OK with it, and they’re the ones who have to sell the adjoining lots. If we can satisfy them, I hope we can satisfy you guys,” said Haygood.

“Use-wise, I think everybody’s excited” with the proposal, said city attorney David Conner, and Mayor Joe Bonner said the caution stems from the commission’s responsibilities “down the road” as the city continues to grow.

“I think Dane wants to leave here tonight with a feeling that (the collective opinion) isn’t ‘Oh. Hell no,’” said Building Official Bruce Renkert.

Indeed, Haygood said time is a critical factor for the Coles, whose financing package for the project expires at the end of April.

The Daphne City Council in a 4-3 vote at its Dec. 20 meeting nixed plans for development at the southwest corner of the Lawson Road and County Road 13 intersection.

Spanish Fort’s commission Chairman Carl Nelson did tell Haygood his displeasure with the design would not affect his consideration of the project. If approved, Haygood said the Coles could have the facility operational within nine months.

“(The Coles) want to move forward, but they want to have a good feeling about it. They don’t want to spend more money on architecture and engineering if it’s not going to go anywhere,” he said.

Commissioner Tom Sawyer, who also represents District 4 on the City Council, said the use falls squarely into the parcel’s B-3 zoning, and he considers it “far-reaching” to tell developers who have already signed off on the plan that “we just don’t like the look of it.”

“I’m all for the concept. I’m just a little disappointed with the building,” Nelson said.

The item will most likely be considered in some form during the commission’s regularly scheduled Jan. 10 meeting.

Meanwhile, Spanish Fort resident Nancy Milford took exception to the city’s drafting of a long-awaited Comprehensive Plan with what she considers limited public input.

Milford, who participated in the community charrette held more than two years ago, said she feels the commission has not given residents enough of a voice in the drafting of the “living” document intended to set the tone, design and regulations for the city’s short- and long-term growth.

“You’ve got a lot of issues (in Spanish Fort) with urban sprawl …. This is a document that citizens should be involved in, and this community has changed a lot since you held the last charrette,” she said.

Bonner said the commission did halt the plan’s creation in 2009, following the influx of several large developments into the city limits including The Highlands, the Eastern Shore Centre and businesses along the Causeway that had not been part of the process at the time of the charrette.

“We stopped the process, went back and revised the document to incorporate the changes you’re talking about,” Bonner said.

A public hearing to voice support or concerns about the plan has been scheduled for the Jan. 10 meeting, the next regularly scheduled commission meeting at The Gathering Place. Milford said she worries that the final product is more reflective of what city leaders want than what the community has requested; and questioned why repeated drafts were not made more accessible to the public throughout the process.

Commissioners and Conner countered that in addition to the public charrette and pending public hearing, any member of the community was welcome to attend any work sessions at which the document was discussed.

“I just feel like this document is supposed to reflect the vision and the wants of the residents and not (that of) the city’s leaders,” Milford said.

In other business the commission:

• Discussed Michael L. Lapeyrouse’s revised site plan for the former Exxon gas station property near the Interstate-10 overpass. If approved, the site plan would allow for the creation of a bait and tackle shop; restaurant and bar; and convenience store with no fuel sales. Retail seafood sales have been discussed as a long-term possibility.
• Discussed a final subdivision plat approval request for Phase II of the Stone Brook subdivision on the west side of Jimmy Faulkner drive at Paisley Avenue.
• Announced City Hall will be closed Dec. 31 in observance of the New Year’s holiday with offices re-opening at 8 a.m. Jan. 3.
• The next regular meeting of the Planning Commission will be held at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 10, following a 6 p.m. work session at the Gathering Place in the Prodisee Center. An informal work session is slated for 6 p.m. in the conference room of City Hall on Dec. 28.

Coming in the Jan. 7 edition of The Bulletin: A more detailed look at the city’s proposed Comprehensive Plan.