Amendment to Griffin Park at Eagle Point special district approved

The use of all three buildings at the front of the new Griffin Park at Eagle Point development is now known. The future of two of the buildings came before the Shelby County Planning Commission at its Aug. 21 meeting.

All three buildings — which include the former clubhouse and pro shop — were formerly used as part of the Eagle Point Golf Club. The course clubhouse was identified to serve as a clubhouse and community center for Griffin Park at Eagle Point, but the use of the two other buildings was not identified. As part at Griffin Park at Eagle Point’s Special District plan — which was approved on June 6, 2016 — all uses for those properties must be identified, said senior planner Sharman Brooks.

While the two buildings were always labeled for reuse, Brooks said the formal use for them had not previously come before the planning commission. The amendment to the special district would officially identify the use as office space.

During town hall meetings with residents and the homeowners association, Brooks said the idea to use these buildings as office space had been discussed. An HOA representative also said they had discussed using the buildings for office space.

While presenting the case, Brooks said the planning commission could choose to exclude certain high-traffic usages, such as medical or dental offices, places of worship, daycare facilities or other uses that would technically fall under the “commercial office” umbrella.

Planning Commissioner Bob Land did not specifically speak in favor of excluding certain uses, but he said he was in favor of the planning commission approving any future use.

Property owner and Highpointe Properties representative Connor Farmer told the planning commission they already know the potential uses for the buildings — one would be offices for a mortgage broker with about 10 employees, and the other would be an administrative office for a subcontractor.

“I’m fine eliminating all of those uses that Sharman mentioned,” Farmer said, referring back to the high-traffic uses.

Upon hearing about the mortgage broker and subcontractor, Land said he was fine with straight approval of the special district amendment.

Planning Commission Chairman Michael O’Kelley asked if they wanted to restrict the special district to only allow the uses Farmer mentioned, which would mean any other uses — other than administrative offices for a mortgage broker or subcontractor — would have to come before the commission as an additional amendment. The planning commission chose to make this distinction.

The planning commission approved the amendment, on the condition that the administrative offices are the only uses allowed. All present commissioners voted in favor, with Bill Kinnebrew and Amy Smith absent.

• Other planning commission business included:
• Approving a final plat for lots in Stone Bridge 2^nd sector. The plat added 30 feet to the rear portion of nine lots.
• Approving a resubdivision for a property off of County Road 17 in Alabaster.
• Approving an amended master plan for The Village at Highland Lakes. The amendment reconfigured the roads in Phase 3 of the phase, reducing the number of 63-foot lots to 26, and the number of 90-foot lots to 74. This reduced the overall number of lots by 29.
• Brooks told the planning commission that a decision regarding a cell tower, made during the Aug. 7 meeting, has been appealed from neighbors to the property. This appeal will go before the planning review board, which can choose to uphold the planning commission’s decision or send the case back to the planning commission.

The next planning commission meeting will be Sept. 18 at 6 p.m.