Spanish Fort planning commission approves First Baptist site plan with landscaping waiver

The Spanish Fort Planning Commission approved a site plan for First Baptist Spanish Fort Phase 1 and granted a limited waiver to delay installing some landscaping in the project’s first phase.

Casey, a city staff member, told the commission that Phase 1 of the master plan ‘‘does comply with the most recent version of the overall master plan with the exception of the demolition slash grading of the center playground’’ and that staff had ‘‘found all required documentation to be accounted for and in compliance with the applicable ordinance and regulations.’’ He recommended approval of agenda item 251101 assuming no reservations about the requested landscape waiver.

Commissioners and staff clarified that the waiver covers installation timing only. David said the applicant is ‘‘asking basically to have the minimum requirements waived for phase 1, with the expectation that the overall master plan will meet the minimum requirements.’’ He emphasized that any landscaping required for Phase 1 must be met as part of the overall site completion in subsequent phases.

Commissioner Kirk moved to approve the site plan ‘‘with a waiver for landscape requirements on phase 1 only.’’ The motion passed on a roll-call vote with Lemoine, Diamond, Lindsey, Smith, Nelson and Lazenby recorded in favor.

The staff presentation noted technical and permitting requirements that remain part of future construction: an ADEM permit and an NOI or notice of intent, a post-construction operations and maintenance plan meeting the city Clean Water Ordinance standards, and a submitted landscape and tree protection plan. The waiver was framed as a temporary installation delay to avoid replanting areas that would be disturbed by later construction; the commission required that the overall landscaping plan be met when subsequent phases are completed.

The commission’s approval allows the applicant to proceed to permitting and construction planning, subject to the remaining permits and the condition that the full master plan ultimately satisfies the city’s landscaping standards.