Orange Beach is considering ordinances extending two moratoriums on certain developments within the city for almost another year through June 30, 2027.

Currently, moratoriums are in place restricting certain types of residential complexes with a second halting developments within 15 feet of any wetlands. Orange Beach City Council will discuss the bans during its committee of the whole meeting on Aug. 18, which follows a regular session at 5 p.m. Council will also discuss these items in a special-called work session at 11 a.m. in the south conference room at city hall. All council meetings are open to the public.

Councilors won’t vote on the extension in the Aug. 18 meetings, and the earliest it could come up for a vote in a regular session is Sept. 1.

The residential moratorium affects projects with three or more housing units and subdivisions that have three or more residential lots under 9,000 square feet. This restriction was first put in place on March 18, 2025, and was extended in a November vote to Sept. 30, 2026.

Wetlands restrictions followed a similar pattern, first being enacted in May 2025 and extended in May of that year to Sept. 30, and now the current proposal extends the ban to June 30, 2027.

The continued implementation of the bans is based on the city adopting a new Comprehensive Plan, which is also a discussion item for the committee of the whole meeting. The plan was passed by the planning commission in its Aug. 10 meeting.

“The city’s governing body 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 meeting agenda states.

On the wetlands, the city seeks to include wetlands in proposed developments when calculating density or how many units can be built on the property.

If passed, the ordinance says either of the bans or both can be rescinded before the deadline by a vote of city council.

During the regular session, council will also discuss:

Paying vendors $633,078 for goods and services through Aug. 19;

An ordinance to regulate “bicycles, micromobility devices and electric motorcycles on city streets and pathways”;

A special events liquor license application for The Wharf Restaurant Group for the Gulf State Collectors meeting on Sept. 15 at the Orange Beach Event Center;

Amending the play plan/job listings to “simplify job titles”;

Donating the use of two ATVs to the Coastal Alabama Business Chamber for use at the 53^rd Annual National Shrimp Festival;

Adopting a 2027 transportation plan to be eligible for Rebuild Alabama gas tax funds. According to the agenda, the city is estimated to receive $50,687 annually to help with city road projects; and

Amending the Margaritaville planned unit development to rezone 7.8 acres from general business to PUD in the amenity district of the resort. Council will have first reading and public hearing on the change, which received an 8-0 favorable recommendation from the planning commission on July 13.

During the work session, council will also discuss:

Contracts with Station Automation and PS Trax for the fire department for narcotics and supplies tracking software and inventory supply module;

Appointing architect Sted McCollough to the Fire Code Board of Appeals;

Authorizing contracts with CourtReserve for tennis center event management software;

Buying a video surveillance system for the Fire Training Center with Vision Security Technologies for $47,409;

An agreement with the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources for the Sea Turtle Stranding Network and Enhanced Rehabilitation Restoration Project for two years for $500,000. The money will help with operations and maintenance of the facility, turtle transport and professional development. The turtle triage center near the Cotton Bayou Trailhead on the Backcountry Trail was paid for with RESTORE Act money, and the $500,000 will also be paid for with funding from the act;

Awarding the bid for the renovation of the old finance building into Orange Beach Medical Center South. Bids will be opened on Aug. 27;

Awarding the bid for a permanent traffic signal at the intersection of Canal Road and Wharf Parkway East on the north and Money Bayou Drive on the south. There is a signal operating at the site now. Bids will be opened on Aug. 27;

Awarding the bid for a drone system for the Community Development Department with a bid opening set for Aug. 27;

Adopting a comprehensive plan for Orange Beach. The “long-term vision for the city's future and is (a) guide to decisions on land use, transportation, housing, environmental protection and community design” was adopted by the planning commission at its Aug. 10 meeting;

A contract with Desiree Hodge for professional services for the 2027 Orange Beach Festival of Art. Hodge will retire as the director of the Coastal Arts Center of Orange Beach on Oct. 30 and will be an independent contractor running the popular and long-time festival. She’ll be paid at $60 an hour with the maximum pay for one year set at $38,000;

Accepting a donation of emergency lights for a golf cart for the police department from Haynes Emergency Lighting from Montgomery with a location in Robertsdale. The lights for the cart are valued at $6,852, according to the meeting agenda. It will be used at the middle/high school campus and the sportsplex; and

A contract with GeoCon Engineering and Materials Testing for geotechnical testing for tennis courts, multi-use field and parking improvements for $6,860.