Road and Breed Bridge Meeting – July 19, 2024

The Baldwin County Road and Breed Bridge meeting was called to order at 2:30 PM on July 19, 2024. Commissioners Underwood and Gruber led the invocation and pledge. The meeting included a discussion item from the City of Spanish Fort, a presentation on proposed amendments to subdivision regulations, an access management plan overview, and a comprehensive project update from the county engineer. No public comments were made.

Consent Calendar

• The minutes from the October 27, 2023 meeting were adopted by a motion from Commissioner Gruber, seconded by Commissioner Underwood, with all in favor.

Discussion Items

• City of Spanish Fort Connector Project: Mayor McMullen presented a request to partner with the county on a road connecting O31 to Eastern Shore Boulevard to alleviate traffic congestion for county subdivisions and the Eastern Shore Center. The county engineer noted that the department is heavily burdened with ARPA projects and other obligations, making it difficult to allocate in-house design resources immediately. Commissioners expressed support for the project in principle but stated they could not commit funding or staff at this time. They agreed to have staff assist with determining the best alignment and cost estimates once their schedule permits, likely in six to nine months. Mayor McMullen indicated that a preliminary road profile would enable conversations with property owners about potential right-of-way donations or acquisitions.
• Subdivision Regulations Amendments (Preliminary Discussion): Jay Dixon presented five proposed goals for updating subdivision regulations: streamline application/review processes, add open space and landscape requirements (e.g., 10% minimum open space, half usable; 10-foot landscape buffer along county roads; street trees every 100 feet), modernize stormwater management using low-impact development (LID) techniques, improve traffic management and access circulation (e.g., requiring more than one access for subdivisions over 50 lots), and general text cleanup. The presentation noted that current stormwater regulations concentrate runoff, and proposed bioretention ponds and swales to mimic natural hydrology. Utility capacity verification would be strengthened by requiring written reports documenting both willingness and ability to serve. Commissioners asked about enforcement of open space maintenance, utility capacity tracking, and the potential use of AI for permitting. No action was taken; the discussion was for feedback purposes.
• Access Management Plan (Preliminary Discussion): Mark presented a proposed access management plan focusing on driveway spacing, shared driveways, and right-of-way management on county roads. Key proposals include establishing minimum driveway spacing of 240 feet on arterial/collector roads and 120 feet on local roads, creating a multi-lot driveway permit requiring paved driveway connections, and implementing spacing requirements for corner lots (150 feet residential, 250 feet commercial). Existing subdivided lots would be grandfathered in, but new subdivisions would need to meet the standards. Commissioners raised questions about shared driveways (safety, emergency access, and potential conflicts) and noted that the plan would not supersede existing lot size regulations. The goal is to improve safety and reduce maintenance costs. No action was taken.
• Department Update: Mark provided an update on ongoing projects: 11 ARPA projects (2 completed, 5 under construction, 4 going out for bid within 60 days); three capacity projects (County Road 64 widening – 25 of 36 tracts acquired, plans 85% complete; County Road 65 corridor – 25 of 29 tracts acquired; County Road 20 extension – 10 of 15 tracts acquired); Lilian Boat Launch (design complete, final reviews); pedestrian bridge connecting Bicentennial Park and Live Oak Park (final review before bid); County Road 6 boat launch under construction; Lillian Park amenities under design; Kenny Drive Park shoreline protection assistance; two regional stormwater projects (Magnolia River – 5 of 9 parcels acquired or under contract; Fish River watershed – Thompson Engineering selected for design). Additionally, 17 drainage projects ongoing, 19.5 miles of resurfacing out for bid, safety projects completed, Novellas roadway and rail spur contracts underway with a shortfall request to ALDOT. The meeting also mentioned progress on a Cardwell Lane drainage project (down to two property acquisitions, one in condemnation). Commissioners requested a year-end presentation to the public highlighting these accomplishments.

Key Outcomes

• Spanish Fort Connector: No formal vote; county will revisit design assistance in six to nine months after current workload eases.
• Subdivision Regulations & Access Management: No action taken; presentations were for discussion and public feedback. Staff will continue drafting proposed texts based on commissioner input.
• Project Updates: Noted for information; Commissioner requested a formal presentation at a future regular commission meeting with visuals.
• Meeting Adjourned: Motion by Commissioner Underwood, seconded by Commissioner Gruber.