Orange Beach, Ala. – (OBA) – Orange Beach will consider extending a moratorium on “certain multi-family residential projects” by one month at an upcoming council meeting. The council enacted the moratorium on March 18 to study how new developments would strain city services. The moratorium covers any project with three or more units and subdivision applications with three of more units on lots smaller than 9,000 sq ft.

The council will meet in a joint regular/work session on Nov. 18 at 5 p.m. in council chambers at city hall.

In March, the city hired the Walker Collaborative to help develop at strategic plan, comprehensive plan, zoning ordinance updates and infrastructure evaluation for future growth.

“The city council needs additional time to allow for completion of the study and to review and consider city code amendments to address concerns relating to density and impacts of development in city services and infrastructure,” the proposed ordinance states.

The extension would be for nine months through Sept. 30, 2026.

During the meeting, there will also be a public hearing and first reading of an ordinance to extend a temporary moratorium on development within 15 feet of a wetland. This moratorium was enacted in May and the ordinance seeks to extend it through Sept. 30.

During the regular session, the council will also discuss:

• Paying $1 million for goods and services for the city from Nov. 6 to Nov. 19.
• Approving a special events liquor license for the Baldwin EMC Christmas Party on Dec. 6 at the Orange Beach Event Center.
• Changing the Expect Excellence spring theater production from “Guys and Dolls” to “Disney’s Frozen: The Broadway Musical.”
• Adding a new storage building to the police campus for $120,000. The city is also considering paying GeoCon $3,000 for geotechnical exploration and engineering services for the new building. See related story: Orange Beach Police plan new storage facility
• Appointing Jamie Logan as city attorney, Renee Eberly as city clerk, Ford Handley as city treasurer/finance director, Jeff Smith as fire chief and Trent Johnson as interim police chief.
• Authorizing signatures on bank depositories.
• Amending the fee schedule for the Orange Beach Shooting Complex so a resident’s single membership would be $125 and family members can be added for $25 apiece. Non-resident single memberships are available for $200 with $25 for each additional family member.
• Consider a contract with GeoCon to provide construction materials testing for the new fire training facility for $20,000.
• Acquiring an updated appraisal for the Event Center from the Appraisal and Consultant Group for $10,000.
• Consider a contract with Gerald Mills for direction in the city’s production of “Disney's Frozen: The Broadway Musical.”
• Awarding a bid for audiovisual equipment for $67,691 for the Performing Arts Center.
• A public hearing and first reading for an ordinance change to the Turquoise Village planned unit development to build Jones Duplexes on 7.9 acres east of the
• Turquoise Place parking garage. Plans call for 10 duplexes and 18 single-family homes for a total of 38 units.

During the work session, the council will also discuss:

• The stop-loss insurance policy for the city.
• Changing the time of the Dec. 2 meeting to 4 p.m. to allow the council and citizens to attend the city’s Christmas tree lighting at 5:30 p.m.
• Authorizing a contract with Computer Backup to “provide technology support and managed services.” The contract will be for two years starting Jan. 1 and ending Dec. 31, 2027.
• An agreement with Baldwin County Emergency Communication District to provide E-911 addressing services in the city for $10,213 from the Community Development budget.
• Award the bid for the construction of the Contorno Park Trails Project, phase one. Bids will be opened on Nov. 25. Contorno is directly east of Sam’s Stop N Shop on Canal Road and was the former residence of former Sam’s owner Mike Contorno. It was recently purchased by the city and plans call for the home to become offices for the Parks and Recreation.
• Tossing some Christmas pole decorations – about 356 that are unusable – and placing about 100 poles that are still working on govdeals.com for sale at auction.
• Authorizing a design contract with Seay, Seay & Litchfield for professional design services for a new civic center for $692,725.
• Appointing Ryan Long as a regular member and Paul McGhee as supernumerary to the Board of Adjustment. Long will finish Greg Kennedy’s term who was appointed to the planning commission. McGhee will take over Long’s former position as supernumerary on the board.
• Authorizing a contract with Baldwin Health Medical Group and Primary and Urgent Care to “provide healthcare plan services established by the city for its employees, covered spouses and dependents enrolled in the city’s health plan.”
• Authorizing a medical services agreement with Southern Rapid Healthcare.
• Approving the fiscal year 2026 budget including transferring special revenue funds totaling $403,000 to the general fund for special projects.
• Setting a public hearing date for an ordinance to amend a planned unit development to allow for a hotel to be built onto the former Romar Baptist Church building.
• A first reading of an ordinance amendment regarding recreational vehicle rentals regarding home businesses in Orange Beach.