[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6397845,"mediaKeyId","2091197-4e71accc03be66a8556d7be8993c946c","parentId",2091197,"title","Baldwin County adopts updated subdivision regulations after public hearing; planners say changes clarify standards","audioSeconds",2774,"startMs",3502000,"endMs",6276000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2091197-4e71accc03be66a8556d7be8993c946c&start=3502&end=6276","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2091197-4e71accc03be66a8556d7be8993c946c/thumbnail_3502000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6397845/Baldwin-County/Alabama/Baldwin-County-adopts-updated-subdivision-regulations-after-public-hearing-planners-say-changes-clarify-standards","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6397845-8305d2d147414eca92524c1bbe83e7d0/orig.mp4?Expires=1771171850&Signature=i1Tz8hgIryxmt4vjNWiszHWNmkM1AA46KB8kFppXwWCl1Z-9Shu6YCwyEoPlt44HNXdK5s9RPBaeP03E24vXFaQGAmuKM9eBkLTtN5pcc-6zjwAoognnU4XV~r9y1t8MVX7SwX5PjEb1M3JQuezFCKliT51pbmpQx0zMsWQWnGU0SxUCSOSsKi6j3h5wUQSRTvx2kj7tbBOiCXgyahl8dQbwPBF4FVEOQlk6ViaBcq5XT1feHVzTqovA9Mb0S6heLtWM6vAaIblbw6UPubOEchdEwCVeyjDcmb32B8ycTM9aE1hZ9RP6AMFKpylyAT4DUIKPkEl7i5EmWIjhJ9BxBg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Baldwin County Alabama","date","2025-01-07T00:00:00Z","article","The Baldwin County Commission voted unanimously Jan. 7 to adopt a comprehensive set of amendments to the Baldwin County Subdivision Regulations, after a public hearing and staff presentations that planners said clarify requirements for utility coordination, stormwater, open space and review time frames.

The vote and scope: At the Jan. 7 meeting, a commissioner moved \"I make a motion we adopt the amendments to the Baldwin County subdivision regulations as presented today.\" A second was recorded and the commission answered \"Aye\"; the clerk and staff confirmed the adoption was unanimous. Planning staff told the commission that, if the board adopted the changes at the meeting, the amendments would become effective immediately.

Why it matters: Planning staff said the rewrite brings county technical standards closer to municipal practice and aims to reduce inconsistent interpretation of the rules. The changes include clarified review time frames for staff, a revised method for calculating required open space (tied to lot size and density), removal of a new street-tree mandate, clarified wetland and Corps-of-Engineers coordination language, and updated low-impact development (LID) stormwater standards.

Public comment and major themes: Dozens of residents, industry representatives and advocates spoke during the hearing. Luke Kisla, government affairs director for Mobile Baykeeper, urged adoption, saying the revisions \"will help protect wetlands from destruction, address storm water runoff to natural water bodies and neighboring properties, and help prevent the many complications that can arise from inadequate utility service.\" Several developers and contractors urged clearer wording and requested economic-impact analysis for some provisions; one speaker asked the county to consult local university experts on costs before final implementation. Planning staff told the meeting they had prepared a checklist and were available to clarify submission requirements such as preliminary utility plans at the preliminary-plat stage.

How the regulations change practice: Among the detailed edits planners highlighted:
- Review time frames: Established processing windows and a checklist to improve consistency across reviewers.
- Family-exemption clarification: Grandparents and grandchildren are explicitly included as \"immediate family\" eligible for an exemption.
- Open space: Calculation method tied to lot size and density instead of a fixed formula.
- Utilities and sewer extensions: Preliminary plats must include an engineered utility plan that shows how a development will be served; staff said the intent is a utility-engineer-level plan and utility-provider agreement to enable conditioning approvals, not full construction drawings.
- LID/stormwater: Developers can qualify for smaller lot-size options if they demonstrate specified runoff, suspended solids and nutrient reductions.

Adoption and next steps: A commissioner moved for adoption at 1:53 p.m. (during the meeting); staff confirmed the motion and second and recorded unanimous approval. Planning staff said they would circulate the updated checklist and begin implementing the clarified review steps; they also told applicants and the public that state law governs notification and some procedural requirements.

Ending: Commissioners and staff said they will monitor implementation and continue outreach to municipalities and applicants as the rules take effect.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Baldwin County Commission Regular Meeting, January 7, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Baldwin County Commission voted unanimously Jan. 7 to adopt amendments to the county's subdivision regulations after a public hearing and staff briefings, officials said the changes clarify review time frames, stormwater and utility requirements.","taxTitle","Baldwin County, Alabama","taxId",12621,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6397850,"Baldwin County coroner urges forensic-capacity upgrades, highlights fentanyl as leading cause of unnatural death",1147,596000,1743000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2091197-4e71accc03be66a8556d7be8993c946c&start=596&end=1743","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2091197-4e71accc03be66a8556d7be8993c946c/thumbnail_596000.jpg","/articles/6397850/Baldwin-County/Alabama/Baldwin-County-coroner-urges-forensic-capacity-upgrades-highlights-fentanyl-as-leading-cause-of-unnatural-death","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6397850-accbccc6a2dffabb61c88b125a3de137/orig.mp4?Expires=1771171850&Signature=gGA-gTh29yY713vkN09lhyRj8Zs7chwd4I7UGTabRYR0cgq04XzbMd~E0uaCzDmAO0THAjyfNza2LyZAdVvEzJmSuKYCp8F2ETmwkQkjghvI0dAtHexUraskJQmQa5JtFXN81wmjCk9l1cHfThsOmA7fqH3NntiGpyVL-slOh7LAvLJj1lhJ994~YT-Dlhz6w2Yks1xXbW-gjtXRxbNj0Aphr6Ya9i4b7r5Z3u5k~lqa4uNwrcdeMGI7bUd9s9DAqQqZyt1ayg2a0upBg57kNB3S94VHMU4uL~Vf06GYbdHtZq6iikCT-x2MIL6j656~gzQMFy~Krbcv~S~XmolZpQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Baldwin County Coroner delivered the office's 2024 annual report to the Baldwin County Commission on Jan. 7, saying the office's caseload and the region's population growth have stretched existing facilities and prompted plans to expand local forensic capacity.

The coroner told commissioners that 2,374 deaths occurred in the county last fiscal year and that 1,005 of those were reported to the coroner's office; of those reports, 641 met criteria for further investigation. He said overdose deaths overtook other unnatural causes beginning in 2020 when fentanyl arrived locally and that fentanyl remained a major factor in overdose fatalities in the most recent fiscal year.

Why it matters: The coroner said the office needs more workspace, refrigeration and injury-imaging capacity to process a growing number of cases and to respond to potential mass-fatality incidents. He said local forensic capability also helps prosecutors by keeping evidence and expert witnesses in-state, which can facilitate case work.

Key details and steps under way: The coroner described three specific steps taken or planned to improve operations: acquiring a Randox Multistat drug analyzer, integrating into the state SMORT (mass-fatality) response region, and continued work with state partners on planning a Baldwin County forensics building. On the Randox device, he said, \"Once they come in our office, we can get them in 1 hour. The machine takes 33 minutes. It takes about 30 minutes to prep the blood sample. Once we receive it, we bring them back to the office, take the blood sample. We prep the blood sample.\" He said the machine tests for 29 drugs of abuse and has reduced per-test outsourcing costs from about $400 to about $40.

The coroner said the office has used the new analyzer since June and that it has helped investigations: \"Since June of us acquiring this, we have made 6 arrests on drug dealers for manslaughter cases in in the county.\" He also said faster local testing reduces out-of-county transports and saves taxpayers money.

Operational context: The coroner described the current office as roughly 1,500 square feet with added modular and conex space and showed a proposed regional Baldwin County Forensics concept that would co-locate half of the sheriff's crime-scene unit, coroner operations and a morgue. He said the commission had previously asked staff to revisit a budget for a joint facility and that the cost estimate had increased about $1 million since earlier planning.

Training and partnerships: The coroner said he was appointed by Governor Ivey to the Alabama Coroners Training Commission and that the office hosted training events, an internship program with the University of South Alabama and a citizen coroner academy to educate the public and partners. He said the office also assisted Legacy of Hope with tissue donations and cited partnerships with local law enforcement, hospitals and prosecutors.

Commissioner questions and remarks: Commissioners praised the office's work and asked practical questions about test speed and costs; one commissioner asked how quickly Randox results are available, and the coroner responded as above. Several commissioners thanked the coroner and staff for training and outreach efforts and for preparing for future needs.

Ending note: The coroner asked the commission to continue support for facility planning so the county is prepared before a catastrophic event forces change; commissioners signaled support and appreciation but did not take a formal funding vote during the meeting.","At the Jan. 7 Baldwin County Commission meeting, the county coroner delivered the office's annual report, outlined rising caseloads tied to population growth and fentanyl, described a new on-site drug analyzer that speeds results and lowers costs, and renewed calls for a forensics facility and mass-fatality capacity.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Baldwin County adopts updated subdivision regulations after public hearing; planners say changes clarify standards

Baldwin County coroner urges forensic-capacity upgrades, highlights fentanyl as leading cause of unnatural death