Fairhope council opens hearing on rezoning of 10-acre Highway 181 parcel; developer proposes 17 homes

The Fairhope City Council on Thursday opened a public hearing on an ordinance to rezone roughly 10 acres at 19763 State Highway 181 from RA (residential agricultural) to R1 (low-density single-family residential).

Planning staff displayed maps and said the applicant initially sought R2 but revised the request to R1 after staff feedback; the Planning Commission gave a unanimous recommendation for approval with no conditions. Planning staff noted R1 requires minimum lots of about 15,000 square feet and 100-foot lot widths, and that site constraints such as roads and drainage affect final lot counts.

Agent Larry Smith of S.E. Civil told the council the applicant is "looking at approximately 17 lots" on a single street with a cul-de-sac. Developer Will Hightower of Tower Homes said the company intends to build larger lots and homes "in the $500,000 to $1,000,000 price point," adding that lots "are over 100 feet wide" and the product is designed to fit what they called a gap between national builders and custom construction.

Several council members pushed back on rezoning inside city limits while infrastructure and a moratorium on certain development remain active. "You're going from 1 to 17," Councilman Gammon said, warning it would multiply traffic in the area and stressing ongoing utility improvements. Councilman Burrell and others said they prefer to limit density and noted the city is watching growth closely under its comprehensive plan.

Staff and the developer emphasized the RA zoning already allows development — including potential subdivisions under RA rules — but that R1 was chosen to align better with the comprehensive plan and neighborhood character. The ordinance was introduced and the public hearing opened; council closed the hearing for now and indicated the rezoning will return for further consideration at a future meeting in the next several weeks.

What happens next: the council will review the case again at a future meeting where a final vote would be scheduled. The Planning Commission record and the applicant’s revised materials will be part of that consideration.