The Summerdale Planning Commission called a special meeting on Tuesday to hold a public hearing and discuss the possible annexation and pre-zoning of a 231-acre property near the Foley Beach Express into the Town of Summerdale.

The property in question is owned by Upper City Limits Farm, Inc. and is not contiguous to the current town limits. The property has boundaries along the Foley Beach Express and the Baldwin County Beach Express. According to Summerdale Mayor David Wilson, the owners are four local businessmen who want their property to become a part of Summerdale instead of leaving the property under the jurisdiction of the county.

Being annexed into the town of Summerdale is beneficial to the property owners because it will allow them more control over their property. The property owners were able to request a pre-zoning of the property, which will be beneficial if the owners ever decide to develop the property, or sell it to someone who wishes to develop it.

The property owners have requested an initial zoning of B-2 commercial district, which will allow the property to be used for commercial use, but not residential use in the future. The property is currently being used for farming.

Members of the planning commission, town employees and a couple who own property adjacent to the parcel to be annexed attended the public hearing. The couple, who do not reside in Summerdale, approached the commission with their concerns regarding the annexation.

The main concern of the couple was what the annexation would mean to them, and how their taxes would be impacted if the adjacent property were to be annexed.

Wilson ensured them their property would not see a major impact from the annexation, and since their property would remain in the county and not become part of the town; their taxes would not change at all. Wilson also told them because they are near the town limits anyway their property is already within the police jurisdiction so they already have police protection. According to Wilson, the only changes the couple could expect to see in the future would be potential development of the annexed property. When the parcel is annexed into the town, a fire hydrant may be installed, which may prove beneficial to adjacent properties as well. If a fire hydrant is placed within 10,000 feet of a property, insurance rates tend to drop because the property’s fire rating will improve.

Also, during the hearing, Wilson told the couple if they ever wanted to have their property annexed into Summerdale the town would be happy to have them become a part of the town.

The annexation and zoning of the property owned by Upper City Limits Farm will be discussed and voted on by the Summerdale Town Council at the work session and council meetings in February. The planning commission recommended to the council the property be annexed and pre-zoned as requested.