Fairhope Council Approves Green Nursery Rezoning, Rejects Downtown Entertainment District on 2-2 Vote

FAIRHOPE, Ala. — The Fairhope City Council, at its first meeting of the new year, approved the Green Nursery rezoning on Greeno Road and rejected a proposed downtown entertainment district on a split vote.

Green Nursery

Green Nursery is described as Fairhope’s oldest established business and operated commercially on the site before Greeno Road was widened to four lanes. The council approved the zoning change after about a year of meetings on the matter.

Mayor Karin Wilson was absent for family reasons. Councilman Robert Brown, who had been outspoken on the rezoning, was also absent; no reason was given. The council members present voted in favor of the change.

Entertainment District Fails

The council then considered a downtown entertainment district that would allow people to carry alcoholic drinks in the downtown area, as has long happened during First Fridays and other special events. The practice is currently illegal, and businesses have been targeted by the Alabama Alcoholic Beverage Control Board.

The vote was 2-2, with Councilmen Jimmy Conyers and Jack Burrell in favor and Councilmen Kevin Boone and Jay Robinson opposed, so the measure failed. Under a rule the council recently adopted, a failed item cannot return to the council for 60 days.

The council has publicly acknowledged that it and the police are aware the current practice is illegal.

Pending Lawsuit

The meeting came as Council President Burrell faces a federal lawsuit filed by resident Paul Ripp alleging Burrell prevented him from speaking at a council meeting. The allegations have not been proven in court.