Gulf Shores, Ala. – (OBA) – Plans have changed for a mixed-use development at 2301 E. Second Street in Gulf Shores’ Waterway Village district from Waterway Wines to an Irish-themed Galway Public House.

“Applicant seeks a conditional use permit/site plan for a development consisting of a lounge/bar use located on the ground floor, four multi-family dwelling units on the upper floor and 15 remote parking spaces,” an item on the June 27 planning commission meeting states. “Site plan/CUP approval is required for the proposed lounge/bar use, deviations from the strict compliance with underlying zoning and overlay district standards to adaptively reuse the existing building and for the 15 remote parking spaces.”

Renovations are currently underway on the building which formerly housed a mattress shop and was built in 1955. Initial plans called for Waterway Wines on the bottom floor and four one-bedroom vacation rental units on the top floor. It’s part of the city’s plans to develop the Waterway Village District as a second tourist destination in addition to the beach.

Several new developments are being built or planned in the immediate area including the completed Island Villa apartments on East 22nd Avenue and East Third Street. The units were recently renovated and a pool and parking added to cater to vacation rentals.

Angie and David Swiger recently announced their plans to renovate the old Frith’s Bait Shop location at the corner of East Second Street and Canal Road into a mobile vendor court, retail space in the bottom floor of the main building and a five-bedroom vacation rental on the upper floors. There is also a cottage on the property that will be used as a one-bedroom vacation rental.

Recently, the council also approved a conditional use permit for Waterway Villas to allow vacation rentals at the fourplex at 210 E. 22^nd Ave. There are two one-bedroom units and two two-bedroom units in the complex built in 1985.

Big Beach Brewing, Tacky Jacks, Acme Oyster House, The Sloop, the Gulf Coast Arts Alliance’s art studio and Steven Dark’s Pottery Central studio are already in place in the Waterway Village District. LuLu’s at Homeport Marina anchors the northern part of the district. All lay within the special Waterway Village Overlay District.

“The purpose of this sub-district is to preserve and enhance the existing character of locally serving retail and commercial uses along East Second Street,” the agenda states. “The land use plan indicates Waterway Village is envisioned to become a dense, compact, walkable mixed-use neighborhood downtown district That encourages an active working waterfront with a network of waterfront and neighborhood greenways and open spaces. Waterway Village is envisioned to become a secondary tourist destination to the beachfront which will geographically diversify the economy of Gulf Shores.”

On the north side of the Intracoastal Waterway in the district, Gulf Shores has a project underway that will extend East Waterway Village Boulevard east then north to connect to Cotton Creek Drive via a road the state is building it hopes to connect to a new bridge over the waterway.

The Baldwin County Bridge Company recently got a judge to order the work to stop because Alabama Department of Transportation Director John Cooper acted in “bad faith” in negotiations with the bridge company to expand service at its toll bridge west of The Wharf.

Also, in the works is a new Legendary Marine complex on the waterway west of the State Route 59 bridge. Currently, the developers are dredging a boat basin for a 45-slip marina. Proposed plans also call for areas for boat sales and services, boat storage, a restaurant, a clubhouse, and an area for future mixed-use development.

During the meeting, the commission will also discuss:

 A conditional use permit for the private Baldwin County Sewer System to finish an unpermitted sludge pond to convert a 650,000 tank now used for sludge to water treatment to increase the capacity. There is a second 1.2 million tank on site being used for water treatment. Staff will recommend disapproval of the permit or approval with strict conditions including filling in the uncompleted and unpermitted sludge pond.

Confirming a chairman for the commission and also determining a vice chair as well. Bob Steiskal is the current chairman and Pete Vakates is the current vice chairman.