SPANISH FORT, Ala. — Progress on plans for the proposed city complex hinges on the City Council’s consideration of the pending rezoning request for the 18-acre parcel.

The Planning Commission has postponed consideration of both the land-use and site plans for the property at the intersection of Spanish Fort Boulevard and Blakeley Way until the council makes its determination about whether the B-2 zoning needed will be granted. The commission has already forwarded a favorable recommendation for the request.

In light of the action, a public hearing originally slated for July 11 was taken off the agenda, and commission chairman Carl Nelson apologized to any members of the community inconvenienced by the decision. He assured those present that a public hearing will still take place should the council grant the rezoning request.

Meanwhile, Forrest Daniell, with Daphne-based Forrest Daniell and Associates, briefed commissioners during Monday’s informal work session about the most recent design tweaks made to both the site plan and land-use plans.

Most notably, Daniell said advisory committee and public input led to the widening of the main drive from 24 to 28 feet, which will provide enough space to add a requested bike lane to the walking path slated to encircle the development.

In addition, Daniell said entrances have been widened to a standard size, and a third entrance from Blakeley Way has been nixed to increase available parking needed to ensure future development can be accommodated.

Daniell then shifted to discussion of the project’s proposed floor plan and explained why plans for building the first-phase senior center to serve a dual purpose as a first-responders shelter for emergencies has been scrapped due to financial constraints and will, instead, be incorporated into a second-phase public works building,

“The grants just aren’t there anymore — at least not in a timely fashion,” he told the commission.

In addition to shaving about $2 million off the original estimated $8 million cost, Daniell said shelving the first-responders shelter until the second phase will also increase the senior center’s available square footage.

Walls will no longer need to be as thick as those required for a shelter, and storage that will no longer be needed for the shelter can be used for the library’s future expansion.