(OBA®) – Orange Beach is not only getting a public beach it’s getting free parking passes to the four Gulf State Park accesses in the city.

It’s official. Orange Beach residents will be able to get two decals for free parking at Gulf State Park beach access points when the park is able to activate pay kiosks at four points in the city.

The city council OK’d the agreement with the state park at its joint work and regular session on April 20. Residents can also buy a third pass for $25 but each household will be limited to a total of three. Nonresidents can buy an annual pass for $100 through the state park.

During the meeting, the council approved the partnership between the city and the some of the owners of the Flora-Bama to develop a restaurant and public parking lot between The Bluffs and the Hampton Inn. Here’s our previous article on the details of the plan for the beachfront property. The council also set a public hearing date for Caribe Seaside, a condo complex planned directly east of the Cotton Bayou Beach access.

Part of the agreement between the city and state park includes maintenance at the access points by Orange Beach and the state will pay $25,000 a quarter to the city for the services. Gulf State Park will make the first payment on Aug. 1

“ADCNR will also pay the city of Orange Beach for actual costs incurred (including labor and materials) for providing routine maintenance services for beach and beach access locations at the Gulf State Park,” the agreement states.

Among the services the city will provide at the Alabama Point, Cotton Bayou, Romar and Shell Beach access points includes janitorial and housekeeping services as well as any needed maintenance of the facilities at each. The city will continue to groom and rake all state beaches in Orange Beach as well as continue to provide lifeguard services.

Gulf State Park will be responsible for providing electricity to the facilities.

CARIBE SEASIDE

Owners Larry Wireman and Forrest Daniell are wanting to construction a 30-story, 115-unit condominium next to the public beach access and west of the Tides Hotel. Royal Romar Dunes was on the now vacant lot before Hurricane Ivan hit on Sept. 16, 2004. May 18 was the suggested date for a public hearing on the complex. The Orange Beach Planning Commission gave a 7-0 favorable vote on the project.

Wireman already has approval to add two towers of 24 and 25 stories to the east and west of the current three 14-story buildings on the east side of Perdido Pass. The east tower plan called for 228 units and the west tower was planned for 252. With the 600 already there this would bring the total to 1,080 units on the Caribe property of those two towers are ever built.

During the regular session, the council:

• OK’d donating surplus extrication tools from the fire department to the Summerdale Volunteer Fire Department.

• OK’d a resolution approving the submission of the 2020 Municipal Water Pollution Prevention (MWPP) Annual Report.   

• OK’d a resolution appropriating $25,000 to the Coastal Alabama Business Chamber for the purpose of funding the Gateway Initiative.   

During the work session, the council discussed:

• A resolution authorizing execution of a Escambia and Baldwin Counties for the administration of Federal Transit Administration 5307 funds for the Pensacola, Florida - Alabama Urbanized Area. Baldwin County will submit projects for Baldwin County and Orange Beach and will invoice Escambia County for reimbursement from Baldwin County's portion of the funds, according to city documents.

• A resolution authorizing a franchise for Southern Container Company to remove and dispose of commercial solid waste and to remove and transport construction and demolition debris.

• Two resolutions authorizing a franchise renewals for Aaand...We Ride and Flora-Bama Old S.A.L.T.S., to operate a taxi service within the city limits and police jurisdiction of the City of Orange Beach.

• A resolution declaring certain personal property owned by the City of Orange Beach as surplus and unneeded and authorizing the Mayor and City Clerk to dispose of such property.

• A resolution authorizing execution of a software license agreement renewal with Bizodo for digital form processing.

• Setting public hearing dates for a planned unit development on the Caribe property for Hang Ten Helicopters and for Sunset Park PUD on Canal Road. The suggested date for both was May 18.