Gulf Shores approves music fest, rezoning request

By: Crystal Cole/ Islander Editor
Posted 3/22/18

At its most recent regular city council meeting, the City of Gulf Shores approved the public assembly permit application for the 2018 Hangout Music Festival.

Going into its ninth year, the …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Subscribe to continue reading. Already a subscriber? Sign in

Get the gift of local news. All subscriptions 50% off for a limited time!

You can cancel anytime.
 

Please log in to continue

Log in

Gulf Shores approves music fest, rezoning request

Posted

At its most recent regular city council meeting, the City of Gulf Shores approved the public assembly permit application for the 2018 Hangout Music Festival.

Going into its ninth year, the Hangout Music Festival will look to incorporate changes made to the Gulf Place area into its concert experience this year. The dates this year will be May 17-25 with a maximum asking capacity of 40,000 people.

The organizers will be able to use the site for a couple of weeks prior to the festival for prepping and taking delivery of equipment, but they insist the beach will be usable for most of the build and that the setup will not interfere with the much anticipated NCAA volleyball championship.

Recreation and Cultural Affairs Director Grant Brown said the city was excited for the festival.

“It gets better every single year,” Brown said. “We get more efficient as well, so it’s better each time.”

Mayor Robert Craft said he know there are segments of the community who worry about this event.

“People come down here and they’re in costume and you look at them and they’re having fun,” Craft said. “You don’t realize they’re young professionals. These are not 15 or 18-year-olds. They’re college graduates; they’re high-level degree folks, and they’re having a good time. These are good quality people.”

Also approved at the meeting were:

-Rezoning 38 acres of land off Fort Morgan Road from R-1-4 to R-1-5 zoning. The new zoning allows for higher density, something residents around the site were strongly against. Many spoke before the council with concerns of drainage issues they expected to get worse. The ordinance was approved with the condition that everyone notified of the rezoning also receive notices when site plans come up for review late in the process.

-Accepting a proposal from Volkert, Inc. to perform habitat mapping and functional assessments in an amount not to exceed $72,000.00 on 836 acres of property acquired as part of the NFWF-funded Bon Secour/Oyster Bay Wetland Acquisition Project. The City has been awarded a grant through The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s (NFWF) for the acquisition and conservation of 836 acres of natural wetlands around the confluence of the Bon Secour River and Oyster Bay. Protection and preservation of this property will have significant impacts on water quality and habitat for local wildlife. The City will manage the property for passive recreational opportunities for the public, and will support environmental education programs in the area. This proposal will conduct baseline surveys and functional assessments to map the various habitat types on the property as part of the development of a comprehensive habitat management plan.

-Annexation of a lot owned by Amy Faulkenberry and Kerry & Beverly Hicks in Martyn Woods Phase II. Upon annexation of lot 92 all properties within Martyn Woods Phase 2 will be annexed and the home owners association will have the ability to petition the City to accept the streets for maintenance.