Spanish Fort Planning Commission Recommends Approval for Large-Scale Longleaf Development
The Spanish Fort Planning Commission voted today to recommend approval of a large residential and golf development, potentially paving the way for significant growth in the Baldwin County area.
The proposed Longleaf development, planned for a 1,650-acre parcel, includes 702 lots in its first phase and is centered around an existing 18-hole championship golf course. The project has been in development for over a decade, with the annexation of adjacent property last year being a key step toward its current consideration. The influx of residents could significantly impact local infrastructure and services.
Some residents expressed concerns about the development’s impact on traffic, schools, and emergency services, noting they received limited notice of yesterday’s public hearing. “We’re not part of Spanish Fort so we did not know that this was on the radar for the Spanish Fort City Council, nor for the planning board,” said Bill Jackson, a Captain with the White House Fork Volunteer Fire Department. City Councilman Carl Gustafsen explained that the landowner has been working with the city to facilitate the annexation, stating, “This is a landowner who has had that land for quite some time who has approached the city and said I want to become part of the city.” For more information on city planning and zoning, visit the American Planning Association.
City leaders indicated that the project’s approval hinges on securing commitments from utility companies and the Alabama Department of Transportation regarding infrastructure capacity, as well as assurances from police and fire departments. With industrial growth along the Highway 59 corridor, including the upcoming Novelis aluminum plant, officials believe developments like Longleaf are increasingly necessary to meet the area’s growing housing needs. You can find more information about Baldwin County’s economic development here.
The City Council will now vote on whether to approve the annexation, following the Planning Commission’s positive recommendation.
