HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-08-2026 Fairhope Historic Preservation Commission Work Session MinutesSTATE OF ALABAMA )(
COUNTY OF BALDWIN )(
Fairhope Historic Preservation Commission
met in a Work Session at 3:35 p.m.,
Fairhope Museum of H istory, 24 North Section Street,
Fairhope, Alabama 36532, on Wednesday, April 8, 2026.
Present were Chair Mara H unter; Members: Skip Jones, Dannie M ixon, Alan Samry,
Susan Stein, Ginger Go lson, Staff Liaison Erik Cort inas, and City Clerk Lisa A.
Hanks. Amy Mo lyneux and Council L iaison Jay Robinson were absent.
There being a quorum present, Chair Hunter called the meeting to order at 3:35 p.m.
The first item on the agenda was Co nsultant Update by Staff Liaison Erik Cortinas.
Tour of Fairhope would be in the first week of May with a two day visit; training in
t he instrument, and City level incentives.
Sect ion 106 Q uestion was next on the agenda. Commiss ioner Mixon said property is
in the Downtown Historic District; and we need a response to the EBI letter. Planning
Director Hunter Simmons explained the request from EBI and said the Commission
should review. Chair Hunter and Commissioner Mixon will write a formal response
in opposition of the placement in our D owntown Historic District; and City Clerk
Lisa Hanks will send to EBI.
Mr. Simmons briefly discussed the Zoning Discussion. He said a moratorium was
placed on MOP Applications so they could work on Zoning and Regulations. He
handed out four H istoric District maps and explained each : Downtown, Montrose,
White Avenue, and Bayfront.
He said in residential areas, only maximum impervious surface was revised. B3a and
B3b is now being left in Zoning Ordinance . Mr. Simmons said our mission is keeping
the Central Business District , encouraging mixed use, and limiting dens ity on
townhomes. He said a parking study is to be done; and mentioned the April 20, 2026
special meeting of the City Council to discus s the Zoning Amendments.
Commissioners Jones and Samry left the meeting at 4:26 p.m.
Commissioner Mixon brought up design guidelines and mentioned an Architectural
Review Board. Mr. Cortinas rep lied no one is for an Architectural Review Board. Mr.
Simmons said the Board of Adjustments grants variances and requested a list of
historic b uildings. He said if there is a gray area, it would come to the Fairhope
Historic Preservation Commission.
FHPC Work Session
Wednesday, April 8, 2026
Page -2-
Chair Hunter mentioned the gullies being on the historic list. Mr. Cortinas said an
Environmental or Regulatory Ordinance would be better protection. Chair Hunter
said that the greenspace at Wilmer Hall was listed; and would protect it from the
Federal Government. She gave another example: Blakeley Park; and CLG grants
could protect or rebuild.
City Clerk Hanks gave an update on Certified Local Government status. She said the
proposed F HPC Ordinance would be on the April 13 , 2026 Work Session and will be
introduced at the City Council meeting. Then, it would be up for final adoption at the
April 23, 2026 C ity Council meeting.
Commissioner Golson moved to adjourn the meeting. Seconded by Commissioner
Stein, motion passed unanimously by voice vote.
There being no further b usiness to come before the Fairhope H istoric Preservation
Commission, the meeting was duly adjourned at 4:47 p.m.
~A~ isaA.H~MMC
City Clerk