In August the Baldwin County Commission approved a rezoning request from Malbis Plantation Inc. on four acres just south of Champions Way from residential to commercial business. The developer has stated plans to build a real estate office on the site, but residents have shown concern about the rezoning.
The new classification allows for any type of small retail business such as fast food restaurants and convenience stores, which has some residents concerned about the impact on their property values.
The demand for commercial sites along this part of AL 181 will only continue to grow. Near the I-10 interchange on 181 traffic counts are as high as 36k cars per day, while Highway 98 only sees 31k cars per day at the intersection with CR 64 by Target. The growth in traffic on the 181 corridor will continue and the large tracts of undeveloped farmland on either side of 181 will continue to draw attention from commercial developers.