Orange Beach, AL. — (GSN) — A residential expansion near The Wharf is nearing completion as city planners prepare to review final subdivision plans for 142 new lots in the Margaritaville development. The multi-phase project marks a significant step in the ongoing revitalization of the resort-adjacent land along Brown Lane and Margaritaville Way.

The Orange Beach Planning Commission will hold its regular meeting on Nov. 09, 2026, at 4 PM in the City Council Chamber at City Hall, 4099 Orange Beach Boulevard.

The commission will review two subdivision requests from Sawgrass Consulting, acting on behalf of The Wharf Landing. The Wharf Landing Residential District Planned Unit Development seeks final plat approval for Phase 1, with 116 residential lots, and for Phase 2, with 26 residential lots.

If approved, the development will optimize resort housing capacity and connect neighborhood streetscapes directly to surrounding commercial hubs.

Lawsuit By Another Adjacent Owner:

The Margaritaville resort development in Orange Beach has been the subject of ongoing legal disputes and opposition, primarily involving Safe Harbor Holdings, Inc. and project developers from The Wharf Landing.

Core Legal and Property Disputes

• Landlocked Parcel & Easements: Safe Harbor Holdings owns a small parcel (just under 12,000 square feet) situated within the Margaritaville property footprint. The dispute centers around historical access rights, parking, and easements originally established under the previous, failed Bama Bayou project.
• Court Rulings: Safe Harbor holds both deeded access easements and rights under a Real Estate Easement (REA) agreement. A court ruling affirmed that these deeded access easements and the REA terms are valid and enforceable.
• Zoning and PUD Objections: Safe Harbor has formally objected to various planning commission reviews and Planned Unit Development (PUD) approvals for Margaritaville (such as approvals for the resort's Amenity District and associated sign ordinance deviations). Objectors argue that current development plans fail to properly display or account for these legally recognized easements and that the city has not strictly adhered to required notice and zoning procedures.

Developer and City Response

• Separate Parcels & Compliance: Representatives for Wharf Landing (including Sawgrass Consulting) have acknowledged the ongoing litigation with Safe Harbor but maintain that the disputed matters are being addressed. Developers assert that required access, utilities, and site grading outlined in the REA have been provided, and that specific PUD requests (such as Lot 1 for the Amenity District) concern separate parcels from the primary access points in dispute.
• Procedural Standing: City officials and planners have maintained that proper public notices were issued according to municipal standards and that the PUD process is appropriate for reviewing specific resort branding and signage requirements that deviate from standard general business district rules.