This week the Gulf Shores Planning Commission will consider giving permit waivers so that a new "Ale House" can be built on Hwy. 59, in the heart of Gulf Shores. A local development has requested the waivers and seeks approval for the building at he Build Commission Meeting at city hall in council chambers at 4 p.m. on April 23.

“The applicant requests site plan approval for a two-story, 100-seat restaurant,” a memo to the commission from City Planner Andy Bauer states. “The restaurant contains 3,687 square feet and is located at 645 Gulf Shores Parkway. The existing ReMax building at this location will be demolished and replaced with the new restaurant.”

Staff of the City of Gulf Shores Building Department recommends allowing a reduction in the landscape requirements from 10 feet to five feet along Gulf Shores Parkway and Windmill Ridge Drive and from five feet to two feet on interior lot lines.

To improve traffic congestion at the intersection, one of two driveways from Gulf Shores Parkway to the site will be closed and there will remain one from Gulf Shores Parkway and one from Windmill Ridge.

“The drive aisles are asphalt and the parking stalls are pervious pavers with the exception of five asphalt spaces south of the restaurant,” the memo states. “The vehicular circulation within the site is designed by the minimum dimensional standards of the zoning ordinance.”

Though plans call for two stories, zoning regulations would allow for six stories and developers could use as much as 65 percent of the lot for building coverage, but only 15 percent will be used. Zoning ordinances call for 37 parking off-street parking spaces and plans call for 37.

Before issuing a building permit, city staff recommendations include an Alabama Department of Transportation permit for the drive connection to Gulf Shores Parkway, all exterior mechanical equipment must be shown on plans and details of pervious paver surface shall be provided on the site plans.

The only other agenda item will be a request for a reauthorization of the site plan for Palmetto Ridge Townhomes at 320 Fort Morgan Road for a 17-unit development of attached single-family homes with each having three bedrooms and three baths.

This plan was first approved in March of 2022 and the application for reauthorizing the plan was submitted on March 4, 2024. Staff plans to recommend approval of the request and authorize the site plan for another two years.