NORTHPORT — Beachfront property will soon be available for sale in Northport, and some local residents aren’t too happy about it.
Anwar Aiken, a Northport City Councilor representing District 5, hosted a public meeting at Northport Intermediate School on Wednesday night. Around 100 residents attended the meeting, and they unanimously opposed a resort-style, mixed-use development approved by the city council in February.
Aiken, who was appointed to the city council in April after the vote, said he opposed the project, but the developer was moving forward with it.
“Here’s the reality of the situation. Legally, I don’t know what else I can do to stop this. I honestly don’t,” Aiken said.
Residents' concerns at the meeting centered around how quickly the project was approved by the council in February, traffic and infrastructure capacity questions, and a lack of transparency. Aiken said he and another council member oppose the project, but a majority of the council still supports it.
“I think it is more prudent for us to maintain and build up our current infrastructure first, having a great foundation before we do a whole bunch of other things,” Aiken said.
A press release from the developer in February says the project will be “nestled around a centerpiece of 10 acres of pristine turquoise water and white sand beaches, the 77-acre University Beach development, features 20 acres of beach club and water attractions, a 130-room beachfront resort, 64 custom single-family residences, and a vibrant array of dining and entertainment options.”
"This project represents a $350 million dollar investment, one of the single largest mixed-use developments in our region, that will produce numerous jobs, new tourism, and be a positive economic engine in Northport for generations to come," Jeff Hogg, former Northport Council President, said in the press release.
Hogg resigned from the council in March shortly after the February 19 vote.
The University Beach development will be located on Highway 82 near Harper Road.
"We are thrilled about the University Beach project and have assembled a team that is ready to deliver everything that Northport has been promised and more — a unique, experiential, water-themed destination that will be a must-see in the State of Alabama," Kent Donahue, Managing Member of University Beach, LLC, said in February.
Gary Camp, a Northport resident, said on Wednesday he was “dead set against” the project.
“Is it not apparent to the people that are here that the city council does not give a flip about what we think? When they had the meeting and rammed this thing through, the council chambers were full, the lobby was full, the overflow room was full, and over 95% of the people that voiced an opinion was against this. Did the council listen to anything that we had to say? They didn’t listen to a thing,” Camp said.
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email caleb.taylor@1819News.com.
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