FAIRHOPE — Mobile Baykeeper is working to coordinate planning throughout Baldwin County to ensure the preservation of the quality of life for residents and visitors.
The non-profit hosted a public meeting Thursday in Fairhope to go over smart growth recommendations to address rapid growth and serious challenges facing leaders. The group presented a list of policies that could be implemented regarding infrastructure, stormwater control, wetland protections, smarter land use, efficient permitting and protection from solar projects.
The topic of protecting the environment from data centers and energy projects has been hot among groups statewide. Mobile Baykeeper has tracked actions taken on a solar farm proposal in Stockton. The group suggests building solar farms only on disturbed land, not on wetlands, forests, or farms; capping water use and proving the impact; providing cleanup money upfront; imposing noise limits on projects; and avoiding speculative grid capacity.
The Mobile Baykeeper asked participants to reach out to the Baldwin County Commission to make improvements. A letter outlining ideal priorities for the Commission was shared.
"Adopting these measures would demonstrate a commitment to responsible growth – growth that protects property, supports long-term economic stability and safeguards Mobile Bay and its surrounding ecosystems," the letter states.
Baykeeper Cade Kistler encouraged residents to spread the word.
"It's going to take more than just the people in this room," Kistler said. "As you guys know, Baldwin County has now grown over 230,000 people, I think is the statistic, and so, we'll need you to talk to your neighbors and your friends and family, ask them to do the same. Then we're going to track it and we're not going to stop working on it, whether it takes some short period of time or whether it takes much longer."
Mobile Baykeeper executive director William Strickland told 1819 News the organization has laid the groundwork by speaking with developers and elected officials. He said the next step is establishing a unified voice in the community between developers and elected officials. He said that while many developers want to go beyond sound regulations, they also want the playing field to be fair.
"Developers don't necessarily want less regulations," Strickland said. "Some of them want more but they have to be applied evenly."
Strickland said the people of Baldwin County want smarter growth and protected waterways. The group has engaged with municipal leaders as well as utility company leadership to make improvements and implement proactive regulations.
"If we can have stronger regulations and penalties from the regulators that change behavior, then we'll start to see our waters being safer to swim in," Strickland said.
Mobile Baykeeper has provided a copy of the letter online.
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