Gulf Shores, Ala. – (OBA) – An ambitious plan for yet another improvement in Gulf Shores Waterway Village District called 24 Canal Place was introduced at a recent planning commission meeting.

The latest plan will be for two parcels on the Intracoastal Waterway split by the State Route 59 bridge including the former White Knight Seafood property east of the bridge at 4.17 acres and one on the west at 3.06 acres.

Applicant Mack McKinney wants to use the properties for “a mixed-use development consisting of shopping, living, dining, entertainment and marina uses.” This includes 28 transient slips on the east side of the bridge for boaters to park and access the area.

Since it is a proposed rezoning, the commission can only give a recommendation to the city council, which is the only body that can formally approve rezonings. The commission voted unanimously for a favorable recommendation for the rezoning into a planned unit development. For ordinance changes, there must be two readings and public hearings before council before a vote unless the council suspends the rules to consider the change immediately. It will come up on a future council agenda.

Considered for the site are hotels, restaurants and waterfront improvements on the White Knight property to the east of the bridge and condominiums on the west parcel. The condominiums would have a marina dedicated to that part of the development and the marina on the east portion would have the 28 transient slips.

Part of the zoning plan the city has for the area includes “commercial structures and activities in close proximity to the Intracoastal Waterway that will provide a focus toward the waterway as an amenity of patrons to use and enjoy.”

McKinney spoke at the meeting and explained some of the plans and details he as the architect wants to design into the project.

“We’re planning on two major restaurants,” McKinney said. “One underneath the boutique hotel which would probably be in the 7,000-square-foot range. So, a major restaurant and then another major restaurant. Then we have an entertainment area down on the water. It’s not actually an amphitheater, it’s not like it’s going to be a big event place. But there’s a building south of that lawn area that would house eateries and bar functions and public restrooms.”

McKinney said there would also be some “live-work” structures with businesses on the first floor and living areas above those. Condos planned would be “loft-type” units of one- and two-bedrooms.

“Throughout the retail sector and over the restaurants and that kind of thing would be a number of other like apartment type rental opportunities which we have not yet designed but a different type of living provision,” McKinney said.

Commissioners seemed happy with his proposal and said it fits in with the city envisioned when the district and special overlay zoning were first conceived.

“I’m really impressed with what we’ve seen so far and it’s exciting to see something happening in that area specifically for the Waterway District to finally see something actually come to life with what the original intent was for that waterway district was,” Commissioner Billy Eubank said.

It will take time, McKinney said, but he said he would like to have it underway “as quickly as possible.”

“Obviously, we’re still in the schematic stage but we feel like we’ve got a real energetic move going forward,” McKinney said. “That area could explode in terms of popularity. These things take time and we’re just scratching the surface. We’ve got to get to that next step. We’ve got a long way to go.”