A bar with a history of being at odds with Gulf Shores city officials is going back before the city council asking permission to stay open until 3 a.m. After consulting with the police department, city staff is recommending the council deny the conditional use permit required by 'Hibas' in the Pelican Place shopping center. The matter will be one of the items on the Gulf Shores City Council work session agenda for June 16.

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On May 28, the Gulf Shores Planning Commission voted 6-0 to deny the permit.

“In both 2023 and 2024, the business license renewal was referred to the city council for review at the request of the police department due to safety issues stemming from late-night bar activities,” a memo on the planning commission agenda states. “Hibas’ late-night lounge/bar business plan is not compatible with the goals and stated plans of the city of being a family-friendly community. Late-night lounge/bar uses negatively impact communities in a variety of ways.”

Under current zoning at the shopping center, operating a bar/lounge use requires a conditional use permit.

“A conditional use permit is a special authorization allowing specific land uses that are not typically permitted under existing zoning regulations,” a memo from zoning administrator Andy Bauer states. “The city may approve, deny, or conditionally approve a CUP application by prescribing appropriate conditions and safeguards to mitigate potential impacts on surrounding properties and ensure compliance with local laws.”

This is a work session meeting and no vote is likely until the next regular session on June 23.

OTHER AGENDA ITEMS:

• Appointing City Clerk Tobi Waters as election manager for the upcoming Aug. 26 municipal elections. The council will also consider adding Jack and Jeni Cline as election officers at the Cultural Center polling site.
• Allowing for small cell wireless facilities to be placed in public rights-of-way in the city, including two sites on East Second Avenue, one on East 24th Avenue, two on West Beach Boulevard and one on Regency Road.
• Awarding the bid for various traffic signs to Vulcan Signs for $46,000.
• Paying Roadway Asset Service $318,714 to develop a replacement schedule for roadway assets.
• Awarding a bid to L&K Construction for $51,000 to repair sidewalks throughout the city, from minor cracks to full replacement.
• Awarding a bid to American Tennis Courts for resurfacing 12 hard courts at the Sims Park tennis center.
• Allowing golf cart use in the Gulf Pines neighborhood, where traffic was recently rerouted for construction of the pedestrian bridge over the Intracoastal Waterway at the intersection of East Second Street and East Canal Drive.
• Changing the speed limit on roads in the Gulf Pines neighborhood includes lowering the speed limit on East Canal Drive from East Third Street to East Fourth Street to 35 from 45 and East Canal Drive from East Third Street to the pedestrian bridge to 25 from 35.
• Accepting for maintenance streets in Osprey Landing, Craft Farms, Colonial Properties Commercial Park and Callaway North.