Growth and Sustainability Group Meets(Feb. 27th)

The following items were discussed: 1) Council Representative Debbie Quinn reported she and the Mayor had recently discussed large-scale annexation issues with Mobile Mayor Sam Jones (and others); and decided to seek advice from an "annexation attorney" before proceeding further (due to the legal/ financial complexities of the issue, ie. impact upon property tax revenue, etc.). 2) Quinn then asked the rhetorical question: "What elements make Fairhope, Fairhope." One group member cited four: the old downtown business district, general water/watershed access, parks and "artsiness." Others there generally mentioned water quality, energy conservation, "connectivity", downtown tourism, and protecting older neighborhoods from damage by encroaching commercialism-- as factors in the equation as well. Another member surmised-- "aesthetics" as the core theme of all the previous comments. 3) Quinn then noted "sustainability" was a broad issue--not easily defined--and the Committee ought to whittle it down to just 3 or 4 . She also cited the need for more public participation/exposure: but noted the difficulties in bringing that about. 4) Lastly, a member volunteered to be the "facilitator" at a future meeting to try and sharpen the group's focus. legitimate corrections appreciated

Comments

Anonymous said…
all you hear about is saving businesses. never a peep about saving our neighborhoods too.
Anonymous said…
Sidewalk vendors are my big idea to save downtown since store rents are too high. there already is one in Summer the incredible Tomato Lady.
Anonymous said…
That's right the neighborhoods need some of that sustainability too. After all we foot most of the bills in this town!
Anonymous said…
rent control can be brought back by the Single Tax Corp. and solve that problem
Anonymous said…
The downtown may be the face of Fairhope, but the heart is its neighborhoods. You can't sacrifice one to save the other.