DAPHNE, Ala. — The Daphne Planning Commission approved the Lake Forest Plaza subdivision proposal at the southwest corner of Lawson Road and County Road 13. Planners gave a 4-1 unfavorable recommendation for the proposal—which includes bowling alleys as permitted under a B-1 zone—that it sent to City Council.

Joel Coleman, of Rester & Coleman Engineers, presented to the commission a proposal for an amendment to the Daphne Land Use and Development Ordinance, under the Table of Permitted Uses section, to allow a bowling alley as a use in a B-1, Local Business, zoning district, as long as planners approved the use on a case-by-case basis.

Commissioners Cathy Barnette, Joe Lemoine, Victoria Phelps and Bo White voted in favor of the proposal. Ed Kirby voted against it, and Dan Gibson abstained.

“We’re still learning how to use the B-1 zone well,” Barnette said. “We haven’t utilized it that much, so it needs continuous refinement.”

When asked why she voted in favor of the proposal, Barnette said there were other similar uses already under the B-1 zone.

“It already has compatible uses by Planning Commission approval, like skating rinks,” Barnette said. “Also … having it by Planning Commission approval, it allows the community to determine whether or not it is a suitable use or not, but it still opens up the opportunity for that type of development.”

Before the vote, the commission voted unanimously to re-divide the Lake Forest Plaza as a subdivision with three separate lots.

“(Rester & Coleman Engineers) have a buyer interested in building a bowling alley on the property,” Daphne’s Development Director Adrienne Jones said.

If the council approves the proposal, the bowling alley proposed under a B-1 zone must be advertised and a public hearing must be held, Jones said.

No one talked during the meeting’s public participation portion.

In other news, the Planning Commission:

*Approved the re-subdivision of 30 acres on Alabama Highway 181 around one mile south of Austin Road into three separate lots.

*Approved Urgent Care by the Bay to build on the southeast intersection of U.S. Highway 98 and Stanton Road as a B-2, General Business zoning.