AUBURN — The Auburn City Council postponed a vote on a temporary moratorium on new lounges in downtown Auburn until Oct. 6, citing the need for additional input from business owners and other stakeholders.
The vote originally was scheduled for the council’s Sept. 15 meeting. If approved, the ordinance would prohibit the approval of new lounges in three downtown zoning districts: Urban Core, Urban Neighborhood-East and Urban Neighborhood-West.
Under Auburn’s zoning ordinance, a lounge is defined as a business that sells alcoholic beverages but does not qualify as a restaurant or private club.
City staff members said a significant number of lounges are clustered in or near downtown. The proposed moratorium was introduced after the Auburn Public Safety Department reported a disproportionately high number of calls for service associated with downtown lounges compared with lounges elsewhere in the city.
City officials said the concentration of lounges is affecting the health, safety and welfare of residents. The moratorium would give city staff time to study the issue and develop potential solutions before additional lounges are considered.
According to documents included in the council’s meeting materials, the moratorium would take effect immediately and remain in place through March 3, 2027, unless the council rescinds or extends it.
The moratorium would not affect existing businesses. Lounges already operating in the affected districts could continue to operate because the ordinance would apply only to the consideration and approval of new lounges.
The council’s decision to delay the vote came as members approved a $349,154 professional services agreement with South Carolina-based law firm White Smith Cousino, or WSC, to draft a comprehensive update to Auburn’s zoning ordinance.
The rewrite is expected to take more than two years to complete.
In a memo, Planning Director Justice Wahid Cotton said the zoning ordinance is overdue for a major update to better reflect current growth trends, desired development patterns and modern zoning practices. The rewrite also is intended to align the ordinance more closely with the city’s future land-use plan.
Auburn began working with WSC in late 2025 and signed a preliminary agreement with the firm in February. During that period, WSC representatives held virtual workshops and on-site meetings with city staff to learn about Auburn’s development standards and concerns.
City staff recommended WSC for the full project, citing the firm’s experience rewriting zoning codes across the Southeast and working with college towns and Alabama communities.
The firm’s work will include:
Preparing a code assessment for city staff.
Working with internal and external stakeholders.
Facilitating public engagement meetings.
Reviewing the ordinance for internal conflicts.
Preparing a final draft.
WSC’s initial priorities will focus on the Urban Core and Urban Neighborhood-West districts. The work will address an existing moratorium adopted by the council in November 2025 that affects the construction of multiunit developments and private dormitories in those areas.
The firm also will assist city staff with the lounge moratorium and recommend zoning updates for other districts after the moratoriums are lifted.
While the rewrite is underway, planning staff will continue handling regular work, including Planning Commission and zoning board cases, subdivision plats and sign permits.
University updates
The council also heard from Tempie Stokes, Auburn University Student Government Association director of city relations.
Stokes highlighted several university and community events, including the Argentina-Ice soccer match at Jordan-Hare Stadium on June 9. She said the event generated approximately $27.3 million for Auburn and Lee County, had an estimated economic and media impact of $79.7 million and drew more than 100,000 visitors.
Stokes also discussed an event hosted by Auburn President Christopher Roberts for first-year students at his home on Bell Street. The event allowed students to meet university and academic leaders while becoming familiar with the community early in the school year.
On Sept. 11, Auburn ROTC hosted its seventh annual memorial stair climb. Stokes said the event drew more than 600 participants, including cadets from all ROTC branches, local first responders, student-athletes and university representatives. The event honored the 343 first responders who died in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
She also noted the university’s groundbreaking for a 300,000-square-foot stadium addition, which is scheduled for completion in spring 2029. The project is intended to provide space not only for athletics but also for student activities, events and community and school programs.
Auburn Greek Life will participate in National Hazing Prevention Week from Sept. 21-25, with a focus on safety, inclusion and respect within student and Greek organizations.
Stokes also mentioned Auburn’s 43-8 football victory over Southern Miss and upcoming games against Florida and Vanderbilt. The Vanderbilt game will coincide with homecoming activities, including a parade and a 6 p.m. pep rally.
She said Pi Kappa Phi had begun its annual weeklong War of Roses philanthropy event. The event raises money for Ability Experience, an organization that promotes awareness of people with physical and mental disabilities. Stokes said the event historically has raised more than $100,000.
Citizens’ communications
During citizens’ communications at Tuesday’s Auburn Council meeting, resident Robert Wilkins criticized the council and city administration in a heated exchange. Wilkins accused the council of operating through what he called a “good old boy system” and alleged that city officials were making decisions based on favoritism.
Other Buisness
The council also:
Approved a special-events retail alcoholic beverage license for Aramark Educational Services, which operates Plainsman Park at 351 S. Donahue Drive.
Renewed a five-year public safety contract with Auburn University at a fiscal 2027 annual rate of nearly $6.7 million.
Awarded a $75,600 contract to Floyd Service Co. to install lighting at the Yarbrough Tennis Center’s outdoor courts.
Approved the purchase of 1,401 stream and wetland mitigation credits from Westervelt Ecological Services LLC for $222,795 as part of the Yarbrough Farms Boulevard Extension project.
Accepted public right-of-way easements from Clayton Group Properties at the southern extension of Mimms Trail.
Accepted right-of-way easements from Wire and Cox Development at the northeast corner of Black Swan Road and Cox Road.
Accepted public utility, lighting and sidewalk easements from Lovely Investments and Trident Properties at 144 and 150 S. Ross St.
Accepted a temporary construction easement from Owens Family Partnership and authorized $87,500 in compensation for the North Donahue Drive Widening project.
Appointed two members to the Greenspace Advisory Board. Their terms will expire Aug. 7, 2030.
Reappointed Dave DeBaets and Matthew Clegg to the Industrial Development Board. Their terms run from Oct. 10 through Oct. 9, 2032.
Reappointed Cynthia Boyd to the Lee County Youth Development Center Board of Directors. Her term runs from Oct. 1 through Sept. 30, 2030.
Gave second reading and final approval to amendments to the fiscal 2026 and fiscal 2027 biennial budget.
Annexed 3.39 acres at 744 Lee Road 008, also known as Cotton Valley Lane, as part of the Gaither annexation.
Annexed 0.17 acres at 1400 N. College St. as part of the Youth for Christ annexation.
Rezoned 1.35 acres at 1400 N. College St. from rural and development district housing to a comprehensive development district at the request of Youth for Christ.
Denied a conditional-use request for Charred Oak Hemp to operate as a consumable hemp-products retailer at 2900 E. University Drive, Suites 120 and 125.
Approved a conditional-use request for Dixie Electric Cooperative to operate offices, a warehouse and maintenance shop, a contractor storage yard and a fuel center at 2901 Beehive Road.
Approved a conditional-use request for the 24-unit Old Stage Road mixed-use development at 621 Old Stage Road.
Denied a conditional-use request for Tiger Spirits Hemp-South College to operate as a consumable hemp-products retailer at 2328 S. College St.
Vacated the Prosper at Plainsman Lake sewer easement at 1803 Kenai Pass at the request of Bison Trust.
Accepted a statutory warranty deed from Owens Family Partnership and approved $980,000 in compensation for Phase I of the North Donahue Drive Widening project.
Awarded a $344,656 contract to Foresite Group for the Yarbrough Farms Boulevard Extension project.
