FAIRHOPE, Ala. — The City Council voted unanimously Monday to temporarily stop construction on one segment of the Greeno Road median construction project that a local company has complained will block access and possibly put them out of business.

“We’ll set a meeting on this as soon as possible,” City Council President Bob Gentle said. “We’ll get a compromise solution.”

The owners of Green Nurseries and Landscape Design Inc. have been vocal critics of the project along Greeno Road from County Road 104 to south of Gayfer Avenue, since learning in May there would be no cut-through in the new median in front of their business.

The project involves building a raised median planted with crepe myrtle trees along that stretch of road as part of a “pedestrian improvement” project funded primarily by the federal government.

“Though we’re maybe the oldest business in the city, we don’t want to be laid to rest,” said Bobby Green, during a presentation that he and his wife, Debra, made to the council Monday, referring to their wholesale nursery business that was founded in 1932. “We have large vehicles who travel from the south and, until last week, had access to our business (on the west side of Greeno Road north of Gayfer Avenue). It’s really making it impossible for us to do business, especially in the winter when we have a lot of trucks dumping off and picking up plants.”

Green said the vehicles have to continue north to find a place to turnaround, which is difficult for the large trucks that frequent his business.

“This is wrong,” said Debra Green, who presented a chronology of events and large packet of public documents to the council Monday in support of their request to return the median access point in front of their business. “You are in essence putting us out of business that we’ve had 76 years.”

The Greens have waged an e-mail and media campaign in the past few weeks, seeking public information from the city and the Alabama Department of Transportation about the project and support for their position.

They said their written comments objecting to parts of the project following an April 2007 public involvement meeting were not included in the public record that went to ALDOT and upon which that agency made its decision in favor of the project.

“ALDOT and Volkert said that the city assured them that no one had any objections,” Debra Green told the council.

She pointed out in the packet a letter dated May 3 to the city planning director noting their objections. The city’s planning director said that was the first time he had ever seen that letter.

Their remarks and those of representatives from the planning department and Volkert Engineering to the council Monday lasted more than an hour.

“I agree with (the Greens) that there ought to be a cut there,” Councilman Mike Ford said. “I think we ought to try and help these people. There ought to be some way. Mr. Green has contributed many many hours to this city.”

The Volkert Engineering representative said any modification of the project would not be approved by ALDOT, and that any change could result in eliminating a large part of the project.

However, Assistant Public Works Director Ken Eslava said he thought ALDOT would be “receptive” to a modification.

Mayor Tim Kant encouraged the council to complete the project without any changes.

Councilwoman Debbie Quinn made a motion to stop temporarily that part of the median project, pending a meeting between the Greens, ALDOT and city officials to find a resolution to the issue.

Ford seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.

City Attorney Marion “Tut” Wynne said the meeting needs to occur as quickly as possible because of possible financial liability issues caused by stopping the project suddenly.

After the vote, one Fairhope resident praised the council for its decision, but also requested that the upcoming meeting be during the evening when the general public could attend.

“We weren’t happy with this plan from the get-go,” Larry Stejskal said. “I commend you for listening to their concerns. Please schedule their meetings when the public can attend.”

Gentle indicated the meeting would occur as early as Tuesday but that it would involve scheduling a time with ALDOT representatives.

“I’m very pleased at the unanimous support the council showed us,” Bobby Green said after the meeting. “It was very gratifying to see so many people (in the audience) in support of our position. The majority of them were unknown to us but we sincerely appreciate their encouragement.”