Baldwin County commission approves multiple rezoning requests; Coburn case tabled
May 22, 2026 | Baldwin County, Alabama
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The Baldwin County Commission on May 5 approved several land-use map amendments and routine financial items, and tabled one rezoning so municipal officials could confer.
Commissioners approved motions to pay bills and to ratify interim payments before turning to planning cases. Commissioner Gruber moved to pay 799 invoices totaling $3,485,400.23; the motion passed by voice vote. The commission also ratified interim payments under policy 8.1 totaling $3,643,966.91 by voice vote.
The commission then considered a succession of rezoning requests. Staff presented each case and applicants or their representatives spoke when present. The board approved the following rezoning requests by voice vote: Z26-09 (Hildebrandt), Z26-10 (Shoneman), Z26-11 (Freylich), Z26-12 (Gillis), Z26-13613 (BOE Road Property LLC) and Z26-14 (Robinson/Crandon). Staff and applicants provided site maps, acreage and consistency findings during each presentation.
John Hildebrandt, the applicant in Z26-09, told the commission he sought the RSF-2 designation to divide a 1.27-acre parcel so family members could live close to one another: "I just want to help my family and be good to them like a good brother should," he said.
The commission accepted one procedural request: the Coburn property rezoning (case Z26-08) was tabled at the applicant’s request to allow conversations with the nearby town of Silver Hill about density and lot-size concerns.
Votes at a glance: approved rezonings included Z26-09 (Hildebrandt; 1.27 acres, RSF-1 to RSF-2), Z26-10 (Shoneman; ~6.7 acres, BCZ to RSF-1), Z26-11 (Freylich; ~10+ acres, RSF-2 to RA), Z26-12 (Gillis; ~1 acre, BCZ to RR), Z26-13613 (BOE Road Property LLC; ~2.75 acres, BCZ to B-1) and Z26-14 (Robinson/Crandon; ~2.5 acres to RTF-4). The Coburn request (Z26-08) was tabled. Most approvals were taken by voice vote with commissioners saying "aye." The transcript records motions, seconders and voice approvals but does not include a roll-call vote for each case.
Why it matters: The approvals and discussions reflect continuing development pressure in Baldwin County and recurring concerns about how rezoning near municipal boundaries and major highways will intersect with municipal plans and state permitting requirements. Several staff reports referenced the county’s future land use map and a smart-growth scorecard used in staff analysis.
The commission concluded the public-hearing portion of the agenda after recognizing a retiring county employee, Susan Hill, and hearing commissioner remarks. The meeting adjourned without further action on these items.
Commissioners approved motions to pay bills and to ratify interim payments before turning to planning cases. Commissioner Gruber moved to pay 799 invoices totaling $3,485,400.23; the motion passed by voice vote. The commission also ratified interim payments under policy 8.1 totaling $3,643,966.91 by voice vote.
The commission then considered a succession of rezoning requests. Staff presented each case and applicants or their representatives spoke when present. The board approved the following rezoning requests by voice vote: Z26-09 (Hildebrandt), Z26-10 (Shoneman), Z26-11 (Freylich), Z26-12 (Gillis), Z26-13613 (BOE Road Property LLC) and Z26-14 (Robinson/Crandon). Staff and applicants provided site maps, acreage and consistency findings during each presentation.
John Hildebrandt, the applicant in Z26-09, told the commission he sought the RSF-2 designation to divide a 1.27-acre parcel so family members could live close to one another: "I just want to help my family and be good to them like a good brother should," he said.
The commission accepted one procedural request: the Coburn property rezoning (case Z26-08) was tabled at the applicant’s request to allow conversations with the nearby town of Silver Hill about density and lot-size concerns.
Votes at a glance: approved rezonings included Z26-09 (Hildebrandt; 1.27 acres, RSF-1 to RSF-2), Z26-10 (Shoneman; ~6.7 acres, BCZ to RSF-1), Z26-11 (Freylich; ~10+ acres, RSF-2 to RA), Z26-12 (Gillis; ~1 acre, BCZ to RR), Z26-13613 (BOE Road Property LLC; ~2.75 acres, BCZ to B-1) and Z26-14 (Robinson/Crandon; ~2.5 acres to RTF-4). The Coburn request (Z26-08) was tabled. Most approvals were taken by voice vote with commissioners saying "aye." The transcript records motions, seconders and voice approvals but does not include a roll-call vote for each case.
Why it matters: The approvals and discussions reflect continuing development pressure in Baldwin County and recurring concerns about how rezoning near municipal boundaries and major highways will intersect with municipal plans and state permitting requirements. Several staff reports referenced the county’s future land use map and a smart-growth scorecard used in staff analysis.
The commission concluded the public-hearing portion of the agenda after recognizing a retiring county employee, Susan Hill, and hearing commissioner remarks. The meeting adjourned without further action on these items.
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