Fairhope meeting summaries, agendas, and minutes

Fairhope City Council agenda includes $5M roundabout, $2M water main grant

The Fairhope City Council's Aug. 10 meeting agenda included a vote on a $5 million roundabout project and a $2 million water main grant application, though minutes have not yet been published and outcomes are not available.

City Council

The council was scheduled to hold public hearings and vote on final adoption of ordinances updating water and sewer connection fees. It also planned to consider a resolution to apply for $2.5 million in Baldwin County C3 funding for the Twin Beech Corridor Improvements Project, a roundabout at Founders Drive and Boothe Road with a total cost of $5 million. Another resolution would submit a $2 million CDBG-DR LGRIP grant application for a 12-inch water main loop east of Fish River; the total project cost is $2,903,499, with a city match of $903,499.

The agenda also included awarding a contract to Video Industrial Services for sewer manhole rehabilitation at a not-to-exceed amount of $463,140, and a resolution for emergency demolition of a dangerous building on Fairhope Church of God in Christ property, not-to-exceed $22,500.

A separate agenda item listed a presentation on the Fly Creek Canine Source Tracking Study by the Mobile Bay National Estuary Program, and discussion of the Baldwin County 3C Funding Program.

Airport Authority

The Airport Authority met on Aug. 11 and considered operational updates, quotes for a gate/fence project and a grant application, a hangar improvement request, and a lease transfer from Rickie Richey to Zac Bell. The board also approved minutes from its July 14 meeting.

On Aug. 18, the authority held a special meeting to consider a resolution approving a grant application for land reimbursement through the AIP program.

Board of Adjustment

The Board of Adjustment held a public hearing on Aug. 17 on a request by David Johnson MD for a Special Exception to operate a clinic on 0.45 acres at 880 Holcomb Boulevard, Suite 2B, zoned PUD. No old business was listed.

Coming Up

Two City Council meetings are scheduled for Aug. 24.

• A work session will receive updates from department heads and committees, hear a presentation on the Transportation Plan required by the Rebuild Alabama Act, and discuss a recommendation from the Evergreen Solutions Compensation & Classification Study. The council will also discuss the FY2027 budget with City Treasurer Kim Creech.
• A regular meeting will include a public hearing on the conditional annexation of 43.6 acres at County Road 13 and Mosley Road into the R-1 Low Density Single-Family Residential District. The council will also vote on a contract for demolition of a dangerous building at Fairhope Church of God in Christ (not-to-exceed $22,500), a $421,050 contract to relocate the Henry Stuart House to Flying Creek Nature Preserve (funded by donations), a $55,000 annual contract for fire extinguisher inspections with Larson Meridian Group, and a request to close downtown streets for the Fairhope Witches Ride on Oct. 29, 2026.

All meetings are open to the public. Agendas and minutes are available on the city's website.

Fairhope Boards Set Zoning, Budget, and Contract Items on Agendas; No Minutes Published Yet

Fairhope's recent government meetings remain in agenda-only status, with minutes not yet published for any of the four sessions held over the past two weeks. That means no recorded votes or final decisions are available to report. What follows is what each body placed on its public agenda.

City Council — July 27 (Work Session)

The Council scheduled a work session to review General Fund revenue for the FY2027 budget. Also on the agenda: discussion of the Walker Downtown Parking Strategy, review of the Front and Rear Courtyards at the K-1 Center/HATCH Project, and a presentation by 2026 Baldwin County Utility Interns. No votes were scheduled for this session.

City Council — July 27 (Regular Meeting)

A separate Council agenda listed several items for consideration, including two rezoning requests and three contracts or change orders with specific dollar caps:

• Rezoning of 8501 Morphy Avenue from R-4 to R-1.
• Rezoning of 751 and 757 Northrop Avenue from R-4 to B-2 for Thomas Hospital.
• Contract with Childress Siteworks, Inc. for property demolition, not to exceed $22,500.00.
• Procurement of playground equipment for River Mill Park, not to exceed $135,195.54.
• Change order for Morphy Avenue sidewalk and street modifications, not to exceed $123,470.13.

The agenda also referenced multiple final adoption ordinances to amend the zoning code, including updates to definitions, mixed-use buildings, and townhouses. Because minutes have not been published, it is not yet known which items passed, failed, or were tabled.

Board of Adjustment — July 20

The Board of Adjustment scheduled two public hearings:

• BOA 26.07: A 15-foot front yard setback variance on 0.14± acres zoned R-2, located south of Dogwood Avenue and west of Wisteria Street (PPIN# 364724).
• BOA 26.08: An administrative appeal to allow an accessory structure on 0.29± acres zoned R-3 at 13 Echo Lane (PPIN# 74444).

The agenda also included approval of minutes from May 18, 2026. No old business was listed.

Harbor Board — July 22

The Harbor Board agenda consisted of routine administrative items: a report by Harbor Manager Mark Redditt, a Clean Marina Status update, and approval of prior meeting minutes. No votes on new ordinances, contracts, or fee changes were scheduled.

What This Means for Residents

The Council's July 27 agendas touch on budget planning for the next fiscal year, downtown parking, two rezoning requests, and roughly $281,000 in combined contract and change-order caps for demolition, playground equipment, and sidewalk work. The Board of Adjustment hearings could affect what property owners can build at two specific sites. Until minutes are published, outcomes remain unconfirmed.

Coming Up

No meetings are listed on the provided schedule for the next 14 days. Residents should check the City of Fairhope's official calendar for any newly posted or rescheduled sessions.

Fairhope boards weigh zoning overhaul, Thomas Hospital rezoning, and utility contracts in busy two-week stretch

Fairhope's city boards and commissions tackled a packed agenda over the past two weeks, with the City Council scheduled to consider nine zoning ordinance amendments, a Thomas Hospital rezoning, and more than $125,000 in utility and equipment contracts. Because minutes have not yet been published for any of these meetings, the roundup below reflects what was on each agenda; final votes and outcomes are not yet part of the public record.

City Council: Zoning amendments and Thomas Hospital rezoning

The July 13 City Council agenda listed public hearings on nine amendments to Zoning Ordinance No. 1253 (ZC 25.07), covering definitions, mixed-use buildings, multi-family housing, planned unit developments, site plan review, tables, townhouses, and village districts. A separate public hearing was set on a rezoning request by Thompson Engineering for Gulf Health Hospitals to rezone 0.35 acres at 751 and 757 Northrop Avenue from R-4 to B-2 for Thomas Hospital (ZC 26.05).

The same agenda included votes on several contracts:

• A resolution authorizing a $75,000 contract with Krebs Engineering for supplemental air installation at the wastewater treatment plant (RFQ PS26-028).
• An award of $42,593.58 to Empire Pipe and Supply for materials for the Dairy Rd Water Main (Greeno to Section).
• Procurement of a Caterpillar SG36 stump grinder for $8,619, listed as net $4,619 after trade-in, from Thompson CAT via a Sourcewell contract.

A separate July 13 Council work session was set to discuss property dedication for the 181 Lift Station and Force Main Project, along with updates on the Purple Heart Salute and a presentation by 2026 Baldwin County Utility Interns. No votes were scheduled for the work session.

Planning Commission: Small cell towers and annexation hearing

The Planning Commission's July 6 agenda included multiple small cell tower requests: three from Verizon Wireless near 450 Fairhope Avenue (UR 26.06 correction), 108 North Section Street (UR 26.10 correction), and 5 North Church Street (UR 26.05), and one from AT&T near 18800 South Greeno Road (UR 26.13). The commission was also set to review a site plan for a Murphy Oil automobile service station at the corner of State Hwy 181 and State Highway 104, and to hold a public hearing on a conditional annexation for tower homes at the southeast corner of County Road 13 and Mosley Road (ZC 26.06).

Environmental Advisory Board: Greenspace and waste

The Environmental Advisory Board met July 10 to discuss 2026 priority issues, including greenspace, native habitat, and sustainable waste management practices. The agenda listed these items for discussion only.

Airport Authority: Land transfer and tenant reports

The Airport Authority's July 14 regular meeting included a land transfer update from Don Ward and a SASO application from Third Coast Aircraft. The agenda also called for reports from the airport manager, engineer, treasurer, legal counsel, and tenants Flightline First and Aspire Aviation. No final decisions were noted on the agenda.

Coming up

• **Board of Adjustment, July 20:** Public hearings on a 15-foot front yard setback variance on 0.14± acres zoned R-2 south of Dogwood Ave and west of Wisteria St (BOA 26.07, PPIN# 364724), and an administrative appeal to allow an accessory structure on 0.29± acres zoned R-3 at 13 Echo Lane (BOA 26.08, PPIN# 74444). The agenda also includes approval of minutes from May 18, 2026.

Readers seeking confirmed outcomes for the July 6–14 meetings should watch for published minutes, which had not been posted as of this roundup.