DAPHNE, Ala. — The Daphne Planning Commission had a full agenda on Thursday that included approval of site plans, re-subdivisions, returning bond funds and a discussion regarding a sign for a potential sporting goods store that exceeds limits in the city’s sign ordinance.

Academy Sports and Outdoors has made preliminary plans to locate a store in Daphne, but the chain is requesting signs not allowed under the city’s sign ordinance.

The retailer had previously approached the planning commission to come into Daphne and Councilwoman Cathy Barnette said the commission made speedy concessions to accommodate the retailer’s needs. Academy did not locate where it originally planned and now intends to locate east of Mobile Infirmary along U.S. Highway 90 near Jubilee Square.

“We are presenting this to the planning commission with the hopes that you will support a couple of things that are a little bit out of the ordinary for your existing ordinances. We understand that this is somewhat of a sensitive situation,” Academy representative Thomas Hickman said.

The retailer has asked for an exception to allow for up to a 90-foot pylon sign to place along the interstate so the retailer can compete with other sports goods retailers in the area. The high sign is necessary, Hickman said, because the store will be located behind a 500-foot right of way along the interstate, which is densely populated with high trees.

“We need to have competitive capability against some of the other sporting goods retailers that are in the marketplace,” Hickman said.

Hickman also said the plan for the property includes storm water retention, which will aid the city in its efforts to protect the watersheds further south in the city.

The commission did not vote on the matter and instead deemed any exception made to the sign ordinance would have to be decided on by the city council.

Many agreed Academy would be an asset to the city, but commissioners were unsure if the city could allow what the retailer was asking for.

“We would love for Academy to come to Daphne,” Commissioner Victoria Phelps said. “We appreciate that Academy sees something in Daphne and wants to locate here.”

“I am not a proponent of signage,” Barnette said. She said she would like to see Academy locate here, but she does not want the city make hasty decisions that residents will have to live with.

Daphne business owner Kevin Spriggs said he also had a problem with the proposed sign.

“It isn’t big enough,” he said.

The Daphne Planning Commission also approved a site plan for a new retail center located along Alabama Highway 181. The new retail venture, Malbis Ventures Retail Shops, is owned by Spriggs.

The property is northeast of the intersection of Highway 90 and Alabama State Highway 181. The property is currently zoned B-2, which will allow for a retail shopping center to be placed there.

In the proposed site plan, 35 parking spaces were included and 34 would be required. However, a proposed property of that size will require an off-street loading dock of at least 420 feet. The proposed site plan only has a 199.5-square-foot loading area.

Barnette questioned the applicant regarding parking and access to a parcel, which will be behind the retail structures. The site plan includes enough parking spaces, but the parking spaces are not evenly spaced between the two structures planned for the property.

“You own a portion of that street; the other issue I guess we will see as this moves forward is access to the back parcel because there isn’t currently access to that parcel. That can be addressed at another point,” Barnette said.

“We would submit a complete site plan if we decide to go through with this plan,” Spriggs said. “Right now, that is open property. We want that to be in line with Zaxby’s cut-in so everything will flow and we won’t have to stagger traffic.”

The Daphne Planning Commission also questioned Spriggs regarding his landscaping plan, which calls for the removal of one heritage tree and the relocation of two tulip poplar trees.

The Daphne Planning Commission voted 6-1 to approve the initial site plan for the property, but the approval of the conceptual future office retail space must have a separate site plan review before final approval will allow construction to commence.

Councilwoman Cathy Barnette abstained from the vote and said final approval would be stipulated on the proper obtainment of easements.

“That can be addressed at another point, but there are outstanding issues with the site plan as it is at this point,” Barnette said.

In other news, Thursday, the commission:

• Voted to approve a site plan review for a new location of Advance Auto Parts. The proposed facility will be located in TimberCreek Village. The property is currently zoned B-2, general business, which allows a retail automobile parts store to be on the property.
• The parcel is a 1.01-acre parcel and the site plan called for 24.7 percent of the property to house the building. The size of the building calls for at least 20 parking spaces, and the plan included 26. The plan also calls for the removal of two heritage trees, but four replacements will be planted on the property.
• Voted 6-1 to approve the resubdivision of Lot 27 in the Caroline Woods Subdivision Phase 2A. The preliminary plat to resubdivide Lot 27 was approved by the Daphne Planning Commission in February. The property will be zoned R-4, high-density single family residential.
• Voted 6-1 to release a performance guarantee worth $36,150 to the Caroline Woods Subdivision Phase 2A.