Foley moves ahead with recycling plans
FOLEY – Foley will continue its program to take recyclable materials to Florida for one more year until a Baldwin County processing center is operational in 2024. The Foley City Council voted Monday, Aug. 21 to continue its contract with Emerald Coast Utility Authority to process recyclable materials collected in the city until September 2024. The ECUA is now the closest facility that takes recyclable materials such as aluminum, cardboard and plastic. Under the contract, Foley will pay ECUA $60 a ton to take the material. Baldwin County is working on plans to [...]
Mills voters approve annexation
FOLEY – The Mills Community will become part of Foley after residents voted Tuesday to be annexed into the city. By a vote of 43 to 17, voters in the community in west Foley approved the annexation referendum, according to complete, but unofficial returns. About 170 people live in the area in west Foley and north of U.S. 98. All registered voters in the area proposed for annexation were eligible to cast ballots in the referendum. The community will become part of the city of Foley once the vote is certified by Baldwin [...]
Downtown Foley Main Street District Walks Away With Multiple State Awards
HUNTSVILLE – Foley’s downtown revitalization efforts received three state awards recognizing the significant contributions to the community. Main Street Alabama presented the awards at the group’s 10th-annual Awards of Excellence Banquet held Aug. 17 in Huntsville to celebrate the success of local programs. The Awards of Excellence recognized winners in 17 categories. Foley Main Street district was recognized with three Awards of Excellence. Foley was recognized for promotion, for planning and public space and for historic preservation. The Foley Main Street District joined Heflin, Montevallo and Oxford for reaching a major milestone of [...]
Mills annexation vote set Tuesday
FOLEY – Mills Community will decide Tuesday, Aug. 22, whether they want to become part of the city of Foley. The annexation vote will be at New Fellowship Church at 17535 Little Rock Road. .Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. About 170 people live in the area proposed for annexation in west Foley and north of U.S. 98. All registered voters in the area proposed for annexation are eligible to cast ballots in the referendum. Part of the Mills Community is already in the Foley corporate limits. The Alabama [...]
Street lighting projects on Foley agenda for Monday, Aug. 21
FOLEY – Projects to light several Foley streets where improvements are taking place are on the City Council agenda for Monday, Aug. 21. The council work session and meeting will begin at 4 p.m. at Foley City Hall. The lighting projects are expected to cost about $495,500. The work includes $231,900 for 68 lights along Kenny Stabler Boulevard and Koniar Way where the city is also building new sidewalks. The city is also scheduled to add 60 lights on East Pride Drive between Miflin Road and South Juniper Street at a cost of [...]
Foley approves medical overlay district
FOLEY – The new Medical Overlay District will encourage the development of medical services in north Foley to meet growing needs as the area’s population increases. The Foley City Council voted to amend the municipal zoning ordinance to establish the district, which is centered around the South Baldwin Regional Medical Center. The hospital is undergoing a $200-million expansion, which will increase its capacity to 142 beds. Wayne Dyess, Foley executive director of planning and infrastructure, said the new district will help guide the growth of the area as a center for diversified medical [...]
Foley building wider sidewalk on Pride Boulevard
FOLEY – Pride Boulevard will get all-new wider sidewalks to improve access in the area near Tanger Outlet Mall, OWA and other attractions. The Foley City Council voted to approve new 8-foot-wide sidewalks along the route. The new walkways will replace 4-foot sidewalks now at the site. The council approved the bid of James Brothers Construction to build the sidewalks at a cost of $147,200. One original proposal had been to add a second section to the existing sidewalk to widen the walkway to 6 feet. Public Works Director Darrell Russell said that [...]
More hotels planned as Foley lodging numbers grow
FOLEY – The number of hotels in Foley continues to increase as the city draws more visitors. On Wednesday, Aug. 16, developers broke ground on the newest hotel planned for Foley, the 107-room Fairfield Inns and Suites by Marriott being developed by A&R Group of Gulf Shores. The hotel on Alabama 59 south of Miflin Road will join other facilities being built in Foley, such as the 73-room Cobblestone Hotel being constructed near the Foley Farmers and Fishermen’s Market. Foley Mayor Ralph Hellmich said the growing number of hotels and restaurants not only [...]
Work begins on seasonal worker housing
FOLEY – An $18-million residence facility to house more than 600 seasonal workers needed by the South Baldwin hospitality industry is scheduled to open in Foley by the start of the 2024 tourist season. Work is underway on the International Resident Hall on Koniar Way. When completed the first phase will include two 37,500-square foot buildings to house temporary international workers in the United States under the J-1 visa program. The facility is a joint project by the city of Foley, Poarch Band of Creek Indians and Holtz Companies. Foley Mayor Ralph Hellmich [...]
Foley updating guidelines for mixed commercial, residential development
FOLEY – An update to the Foley zoning ordinance will allow more mixed commercial and residential development in some areas of the city. The Foley Planning Commission voted in May to recommend that the city approve a zoning ordinance to modify regulations for planned development districts in the municipality. The Foley City Council voted Aug. 7 to approve a first reading on the ordinance. The council is scheduled to vote on final approval at the next meeting Aug. 21. Wayne Dyess, executive director of infrastructure and development, said the changes will allow more [...]