Fairhope, Alabama
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| Zoning Q and A in Barnwell. |
FEBRUARY 7TH VOTE SET
At the Oak Hollow Farm venue recently, Baldwin County Planning and Zoning Director Mathew Brown talked about the upcoming voter referendum that could adopt zoning in Barnwell/River Park area for the first time ... and determine how the area develops in coming years.
Brown answered questions from a standing-room-only crowd at the Oak Hollow Farm in Barnwell Thursday night ... in anticipation of the February 7th referendum in proposed new zoning district 39.
Proponent Frank Leatherbury who organized the event said "zoning is not going to stop growth ... but gives us a voice in the changes over time." Leatherbury is a resident of the River Park community on the eastern side of the proposed district.
Several new housing development proposals have already been approved or are on the drawing board for the area (Southbend, Sherwood, etc). Adoption of zoning could limit density, units per acre, he said.
District resident Boyd Little, whose family has lived in the area for over 100 years, said he opposed the last zoning referendum there (failed in 2012) but supports this one. He is actually president/owner of the 300 acre farm where this event was held.
Mike McKenzie, who actually lives just north of the proposed new district, told the crowd he was an opponent at one time too, but also supports zoning now. Mckenzie Farms is in new district eight formed early last year.
Property rights advocate Danny Bolton who lives in the district said he still opposes the measure.
The poll at Barnwell volunteer Fire Department will be open from 7AM to 7PM on February 7th.
Low turnout was the reason blamed for the failure of a similar referendum nearby, to the west across Hwy 98, last December. (Proposed District 38).
Three other nearby referendums held in the past two years were successful however, in the Pt. Clear, east-Fairhope neighborhoods.
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| Bolton seated at center. |
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| Little, McKenzie, Leatherbury, Brown |
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