Fairhope’s Triangle, is Fairhope’s most valuable land asset. This vacant piece of land has been the focus of litigation, on and off for over 25 years. Ultimately, Fairhope purchased the land as part of the legal settlement, for 11.25 Million which included the legal fees of approximately 3 million. Estimated land value today would be between 18 and 20 million.
The Restore Act Money, from BP, started a stampede of political entities, State, County and Municipal, to go for all the money they could grab.
Fairhope’s Mayor Kant and Council shot for the moon with a 49 million dollar request. Their plan included private property and the Fly Creek area. Kant’s pie in the sky was frowned on by other municipalities as too expensive, excessive and not complying with the intent of the funds, it was never seriously considered.
COVER STORY: Funding race is on for competing RESTORE Act projects – Lagniappe Mobile
COVER STORY: Funding race is on for competing RESTORE Act projects – Lagniappe Mobile
City of Fairhope – Fairhope’s Coastal Environmental Education Network ($49,000,000) An integrated ecological system linking the 108-acre Fly Creek Nature Preserve to the 800-acre Auburn University Gulf Coast Research and Extension Center using natural drainage systems as well as walking, hiking, and biking trails. Infrastructure improvements include highway improvements and a 84,000-square foot educational facility with a 400-seat auditorium.
Source: lagniappemobile.com/cover-story-funding-race-competing-restore-act-projects/
This is what the end result was for Fairhope.
$315 million worth of projects greenlighted by RESTORE Act Council – Lagniappe Mobile
$315 million worth of projects greenlighted by RESTORE Act Council – Lagniappe Mobile
Fairhope
• Fairhope Area Community-Based Comprehensive Land Use Plan, $650,000
• Working Waterfront and Greenspace Restoration Project, $6,200,000
• Fairhope Sewer Upgrade Phase I, $10,000,000
Source: lagniappemobile.com/315-million-worth-of-projects-greenlighted-by-restore-act-council/
From the desk of Mayor Karin Wilson, she explains how a comprehensive Land use Plan has been approved and funded. The key words are “Public-Driven vision.”
Vision & Planning: $650,000 Fairhope Area Community-based Comprehensive Land Use Plan
Vision & Planning: $650,000 Fairhope Area Community-based Comprehensive Land Use Plan
Vision & Planning: $650,000 Fairhope Area Community-based Comprehensive Land Use Plan
The City of Fairhope will begin the Fairhope Area Community-based Comprehensive Land Use Plan, a 2-year project, with $650,000 RESTORE Act funding by the end of this year. It will serve as a guide for all future planning, ensure responsible growth and protect our environment into the future.
We will forecast population growth, project demand on utilities and transportation coupled with urban design that includes form-based codes in key areas to fulfill the development vision of Fairhope for the next 20 years.
Watershed modelling and analysis of environmentally sensitive areas will be factored in to ensure that areas targeted for growth are suitable. Land use development will coordinate with infrastructure demands to ensure that utilities and transportation are carefully planned so the City’s investment in these assets are prudent and wise. The outcome will provide the City of Fairhope a full and comprehensive blue print for growth and our future.
That sounds like a lot – it is. And it is important.
The current comprehensive plan lacks such vision, clear goals and objectives. There was no guidance for where we should be in 20 years and how we should get there. Now we will have a guide to the overall character, physical form, growth and development of our community.
Population projections will provide us the ability to coordinate land use and growth. Our village concept is good, but it is undefined with no consideration for utilities, transportation needs, physical constraints, etc. Areas outside of the village centers get little to no attention or land-use guidance. The land use plan will first analyze the physical constraints of properties (flood zones, environmental sensitivity, utility availability, transportation constraints and compatibility with existing neighborhoods) along with the community’s vision for growth. Then this will be coordinated with a long-range utility and public services plan. The goal is to ensure that as growth occurs the appropriate level of infrastructure will be available.
To avoid confusion and misunderstanding or misinterpretations, it is critical that the public and elected officials understand and know how the plan will be implemented. There is no such direction with our current comprehensive plan. Plan monitoring and updating is critical to keeping a 20-year plan up-to-date and relevant, and that will be achieved by producing a report every two years on how well we are following the plan. This is a strategic step in ensuring that the plan is constantly being updated. An amendment process to the plan will be put in place so that formal amendments can be discussed to address changing conditions.
In a nutshell, this plan will be comprehensive in nature, public-vision driven, integrated with public utilities and services, will consider environmental sensitivities, will be data driven, and kept up to date to provide a blueprint for the future.
Fairhope was founded on a utopian vision in 1894. A vision of a society that simultaneously encourages individual initiative and promotes cooperative ventures and attitudes.
Fairhope was founded on a vision.
We are on target for reclaiming it.
Mayor Karin Wilson
Fairhope Council President Jack Burrell and Mr Kevin Boone want to have the Triangle property put into a conservation easement or “park” asap. The City Council should not have that authority. It should be the decision of the citizens, Public-Driven Vision, and the end result of the Comprehensive Plan should play a part in that decision.
Mr. Burrell and Mr Boone are advocating the policy of the past and that is to not develop the Triangle. The owners were denied the right to develop it for over 25 years, and we, the taxpayers, paid millions in attorney fees only to wind up having to buy the property. WHY now? after funding for a $650,000 Comprehensive Plan has been approved, are Mr Burrell and Boone pushing to eliminate Fairhope’s most valuable land asset from the Comprehensive Plan? They are supporting the policies of the past administrations, which resulted in millions lost in legal fees, The Mayor’s position is clear, she feels it is a decision of the people which can be achieved through the Comprehensive plan and moving forward not backwards.
IT AIN’T THE MAYOR
Sell the triangle. Fix the turds in the bay thing.
Why is it taking so long? Every big rain is like a big flush.
If the land were to be developed, how should it be developed? Park? Recreational facility? I see where it is a very valuable piece of land and that some thought really needs to go into how it should be developed.
If millions have been paid to acquire the land then yes – the City of Fairhope would do well to get “buy in” from as many of its residence.
To say the land will not be developed is a fantasy. Eventually it WILL get developed down the road. Decide and commit now so everyone knows.
I would like to see it remain woods forever but I know this is not going to happen. But I also do not want to see it sold off and have another subdivision plopped down on it. Put the land in the Comprehensive Plan so that it will not be carved back out to appease a special interest in the future.
The reality is that appraisal number or no, no one would pay a big figure to buy the triangle for any business purpose. Imagine the uproar if someone developed the property after all the past fighting. Imagine the zoning and development hassles. At the end of the day the only question
is do the people want au naturel or walking paths. Eventually both “sides” will solicit the people as to which way to go. Both sides are going to have to end up doing this and there is no good reason not to go ahead and set up a way to determine the way the folks want it. No one is stupid enough to try to sell the property for development and no developer is stupid enough to pay much for it. No matter which “side” you are on (everyone seems to think the other “side” is horrible) at least give the other side credit to do the obvious.
If you want to make wisecracks about my comment I’ll remind everyone when things happen exactly how I am saying. It will be THIS year.
Wait until Scott Boone reads this. He will be coming after you.
Ripp is likely scared.
I am easy to find
If Ripp were scared he wouldn’t be as vocal as he has been. He is one of the few left that isn’t owned or scared by the Good Ole Boys
No one said sell it. The people should decide using the comprehensive plan as a guide.
Where does sewer money come from?
10.8 million will come from the BP money, Thank you Mayor Wilson the balance will probably be a bond.
Bad decisions = value of the triangle
We need cash to fix the crap.
Here is what will happen: As the sewer plant gets overtaxed, the schools get overcrowded, and the roads get over crowded, you will hear the city and county officials say we need more taxes to fund “more infrastructure.”
The reason that we have the overburdened infrastructure is because the people who are currently running the county are the developers who are ruining the county. They don’t care about stressing the county – they are just making money off the developments and leaving us the ones to pay for the mess they are making. They should have had to pay impact fees but they, being on the County Commission and City Councils of Daphne, Spanish Fort, and Fairhope, blocked the fees. They are the reason for the out of control growth that we all will have to pay for.
How do we pay for new sewage plant?
The council will raise taxes. Don’t ask them and their developer buddies to pay for anything after they drop a few hundred more cookie cutter houses in a subdivision and move on to the next targeted area.
Things are not that bad, at least in Fairhope. They do have impact fees and they have recently raised them. I wish they would raise them more. I think they explained the State has limitations with respect to impact fees. Generally I want to see the highest permissible impact fees, tighter zoning, and zealous enforcement. They should not allow any more grinders. Fairhope reminds me of the US government. For years they have lived off utility money that should have been plowed back. Just like US government uses Social Security money which should have been set aside to cover benefits. Well come to think of it I guess things are pretty bad. I think the new Mayor gets it. She just needs to realize that everyone in the city doesn’t need to be a city employee. Employees cost money too.
Our new planning director, from Walton County, wants to expand building by permitting two residences on each lot. This is going to be very stressful with traffic, parking and, most important, sewer system capacity. He was Mayor Wilson’s choice, but he does love the Council and Developers!
More people and cars. Stop the madness.
It is getting too late – unless we citizens STOP these people from stealing our county from us.
Hey Joe Davis Your Catalyst flunkies are stealing John Lake signs. Since you are so good at quitting then quit stealing John Lake signs.
How much will it cost to kill the poo problem?
How much we talking? Will the $20 million sale of the Triangle cover the cost
of saving us from the turds? When will we be able to have a jubilee again?
Stuck in NOHOPE.
Then vote out the Good Ole Boys!
The Fairhope Courier should have covered this topic but failed to cover the Triangle. Mr Ripp you covered this thouroughly in one post that the Courier should have been covering all this time. The lack of journalistic integrity of the Courier makes me sad when I can remember when it was a REAL newspaper.
I guess Chuckie was too busy having his nose up Boone’s butt.
The Courier is the Burrell Blog…….I figured this out and cancelled my subscription about a year ago. The FCC should jail that moron!
Is the council ready to work? How long are they going to ring their hands? Jack, adjust tour specs. Take a vote bro.
Jack has to wait to get orders from his Catalyst crew
Lets build another two thousand homes and bring in five thousand cars and people.
Real estate agents must eat!
So do criminals but we do not let them do criminal acts – unless they are part of CATALYST
Look you Ripp fans need to get over yourselves. We have plenty of room to grow in Fairhope and we need more people to get to where we need to be to compete for new business. We need high paying jobs in fairhope and the only way we get airport jobs and big companies to locate here is to have plenty of cheap labor. For that we need more than retirees. Wake up and realize that Fairhope is the fastest growing city in AL for a good reason. We rock! We are a great community! We were great before Mayor Wilson and we will be great after!!
Fairhope was great until the Good Ole Boys linked up with those that moved in from Georgia (Tucker Dorsey and Haygood), linked up with Lynn Stacey, and formed Elliott, Haygood, and Stacey and collected money from the mega home builders to put them in office. After this tumor metasticized into Catalyst it then corrupted politicians to work for developers and approve any project that would make them money.
The Catalyst cancer has now spread to the Courier and is soreading to the library. Ripp fans know this. So no, we will NOT chill until the Catalyst cancer is out in remission.
Overcrowded schools, backed-up roads, overflowing sewers, and you say we have plenty of room to grow? Where? In apartments? You know that this type of unsustainable growth becomes slums in ten years.
We will not “chill” because we know what happens. Go back to your bosses at D R Horton , Belaton, Truland Cox, and the other megabuilders that would crowd us out and tell them we are on to you all. We are going to fight you guys. No more corruption as you steal our county. GO BACk TO ATLANTA TUCKER!
Fairhope will be fine as a bigger city. Kant slowed down the traffic with the beautiful flowers and trees. We can easily be eighty thousand. We can build new high schools! Hello! You people are so short minded. Think big.
Why don’t you think big and go back to Mississippi,Jack? Or better yet take Tucker, Elliott,Haygood, and Cox with you?
If we wanted 80k we would be in Marietta with the crime, traffic, and the disease you and they bring
The growth problem is overblown.
If you aren’t growing you are dying.
Responsible growth yes. But the irresponsible growth is not good. When you drop 900 houses you add 2,000 kids in a school, at least 1,500 cars on a road, and crowd hospitals.
Cancer is a form of growth. Is that what you wNt?
“We have plenty of room to grow.” Can I get whatever you’re smoking because that is the most idiotic false statement I’ve heard. I cant hardly make it from one side of town to the other without hitting a traffic jam. And don’t even get me started on 98. I mean i get it JackFan, you’ve drunk the Kool-Aid and believe ole Dorsey, Boone and many like them and believe we should totally exhaust our resources and turn Fairhope and Daphne into Theodore 2.0 .I mean the facts speak for themselves when they legislate laws that keep developers from paying impact fees after dropping a few hundred homes out in the county and then allow them to use Fairhope schools. If that’s the case why don’t you move out to Montana where they have plenty of lush green land untouched by the filthy hands of developers and go ruin that state. As for us locals who actually care about our town, lets not. I mean hell, I say a prayer whenever I flush hoping i don’t end up having to walk through it when it overflows.
Please, look at how fast Foley is growing! They are killing it!
Everybody is doing well there. Great jobs. Great recreational fields.
Great prospects for success.
Crime, snarled traffic, no amenities. YeH, they are killing it. Why don’t you move down there since you like growth so much?
Fairhope will be fifty thousand in five years. We are forty now.
In addition the out of control growth has stressed the hospitals and medical care facilities. So you predator real estate developers have also put peoples’ lives at risk. So don’t tell us to chill, bro
We are working at getting Tucker out of office and replacing him with a true Baldwin County lover who will be for the people rather than for his cronies
There are some ignorant folk in fairhope. 70 percent (seven in ten) voted for roy moore.
Think about that.
Hopefully they will redeem themselves by not voting for Catalyst
Development in daphne hurts Fairhope. They needcto stop. Haygood is catalyst too.
Haygood is one of the kingpins of Cataktst. Catalyst was once called “Elliott, Haygood and Stacey.”
Haygood is a real estate developer on the commercial side so he works hand in glove with the subdivision builders like D R Horton, Truland, and Belaton. Haygood will tell you he came from the Gulf Cosdt yet went to Georgia for college, learned computers and how to work them forcelections and real estate, hooked up with Tucker, and moved here to exploit our Baldwin County.
Coleman who Haygood put on the council works for D R Horton. Cox (Belaton) and Truland are big contributors to Haygood. Look at Secretary of State reports and see. It is a FILTHY situation this is. Yet these guys call themselves Christians.
Old Field is part of Daphne but is in Fairhope territory because Haygood wanted the houses yet the kids there go to Fairhope schools.
Also Truland wants to put in 4,000 houses in the Golden Triangle which is the area between Loxley and Stapleton.
Cox also funds Catalyst candidates