ISSUES OF CONCERN:

We are an organization working to promote effective, efficient, and responsible government, focusing on the state and local level.  Current issues of concern include:

● Funding education in Fairhope and Baldwin County

● Reviewing the Strategic Plan for the City of Fairhope

● Encouraging passage of a new Constitution for the State of Alabama

● Working for state and local actions that will enhance our communities and reduce costs to taxpayers by reducing sprawl and promoting the principles of Complete Streets and Smart Growth.

The following issues were considered in detail in 2007:

Comments about the ambiance of Fairhope,

raised at the February 7, 2007 meeting of

Citizens for Responsible Government

Ambiance is defined as surrounding or pervading atmosphere or a particular mood or feeling about a person, place or thing. When applied to a specific geographical place, such as Fairhope Alabama, it refers to the qualities that make the place special and desirable. In order to take steps to preserve what we call the ambiance of Fairhope we need an operational definition of what creates this ambiance and specific concrete measurable factors that can be tested and evaluated. This definition can be used to guide future planning and development for Fairhope.

The first criterion that was raised was scale. There was consensus that we want to retain small scale for Fairhope. We do not want high rise buildings; the maximum should be three stories.

We also want small scale in our retail outlets – especially in downtown Fairhope. We want independent stores rather than chain stores. It was noted that Sanibel Island, Florida has an ordinance prohibiting chain stores. Perhaps there is a way to encourage reduced rents on retail space downtown. More retail space might come about if there were patio shops (such as the French Quarter) and through-block arcades with retail space available (e.g. on the way from Fairhope Avenue to Papa’s Pizza).

There should be an effort to discourage downtown sites from remaining vacant for a significant length of time. This might be done with zoning or tax policy disincentives.

It was also pointed out that we need a correct relationship in scale between buildings, street width, and trees. We no longer want wide streets with deep set backs; we want narrower streets with less set back to the housing. Having alleys for parking access and garbage pick up allows for narrower streets.

The second criterion raised was that of walkability. The design of the community should encourage people to walk rather than drive whenever possible. An important factor that would contribute to this would be having a store providing our daily needs, such as groceries, within walking distance of every home. Sidewalks and bicycle & walking trails would also contribute to this goal.

The third criterion discussed was connectivity. Streets and sidewalks should connect from one neighborhood or subdivision to the next one. A grid-iron street pattern gives greater connectivity, and provides alternate routes for walking, thus making walking more interesting and desirable.

An effort could be made to encourage green building construction and sustainable development.

Another element of the ambiance of Fairhope that people felt was important is the fact that Fairhope is an artistic community. This is demonstrated in the many art galleries, the annual arts and crafts festival, the Eastern Shore Art Center and other art museums, as well as the theaters such as Theater 98. The trees and flowers were also cited as contributing to the unique ambiance of Fairhope.

The compact traditional downtown of Fairhope is perhaps the most important factor contributing to the ambiance of the community. It was suggested that we stop expanding downtown by rezoning residential areas on the edge of downtown to business, as is apparently being done for example on South Section Street. We should avoid the mistake many cities have made: converting their main street to a pedestrian mall and encouraging store entrances to be in the rear, closer to the parking.

We want to allow a mixed use community. It exists in the downtown area, and can be encouraged in outlying areas by the use of planned unit developments. Parking is important, but we do not want excessively large parking lots that reduce the attractiveness or walkability of the community.

We need a mixture of housing types in Fairhope, especially housing for students, seniors, and lower income people. This could be done by permitting apartments on the second floor of downtown retail stores and by allowing granny flats (or accessory dwelling units) above garages or in the back yards of existing homes on large lots. It may be worth considering incentives, such as low interest loans, to encourage apartments on the second floor of downtown commercial buildings.

It was felt that there should be more lower cost housing and more families with children. Perhaps subdivisions should be required thru inclusionary zoning to provide a certain percentage of their housing units to serve the lower income market. It was pointed out that restaurants are in a crisis situation because prospective workers cannot afford to live in Fairhope. Allowing higher density would make lower cost housing more feasible. Perhaps local colleges could work with building owners to make student housing available in existing buildings, with the college taking responsibility for monitoring the rental to students.

It was suggested that there might be an advertising or marketing program to promote the “Fairhope Vision”. Green industrial development should be encouraged on the edge of town to encourage jobs and tax revenues. Although nobody opposed the one downtown hotel that is proposed, there was question as to whether any more will be beneficial.

A major lack in Fairhope and the entire Eastern Shore is regularly scheduled public transportation service. The number of streets with bicycle lanes should be expanded.

Statement of Citizens for Responsible Government

Presented to the Public Hearing on Transportation,

Sponsored by the Eastern Shore Chamber of Commerce,

December 4, 2007

Citizens for Responsible Government, a non-profit, non-partisan civic organization, strongly recommends that the emphasis on future transportation projects in the Eastern Shore be on public transportation.

We urge that there be regularly scheduled bus service throughout the day and into the evening, serving Point Clear, Fairhope, Daphne, Spanish Fort, and Mobile.  Such bus service should pass through the older, higher density portions of these communities.  There should be frequent stops, and shelters with benches at some of the stops.

The newly established bus service from the Eastern Shore to downtown Mobile is a start, but the schedule is such that it only serves commuters spending the entire day in Mobile.  There should be buses throughout the day so that those wishing to shop, dine, do business, or go to cultural or entertainment events during the day are able to use public transportation.

Within the Eastern Shore communities, the bus service should allow citizens to take a bus to shopping, medical offices, libraries, and various neighborhoods, with schedules such that the transit-rider would know with confidence that a bus will be coming to the bus stop at a time certain to return him or her home.   Buses should be relatively small energy-efficient vehicles.

There are many reasons why the future emphasis on transportation should be on public transportation rather than expressway and highway construction.  Having more people travel by bus and fewer by private automobile will reduce the consumption of gasoline and the generation of greenhouse gases adding to global climate change.

Promoting bus service will also reduce traffic congestion, perhaps reducing the need to spend scarce tax revenues on highway and bridge construction.   Bus service encourages people to walk a few blocks to the bus stop, thereby contributing to a more healthy life-style.

A growing number of residents in the Eastern Shore are elderly, and for some, driving is unsafe or stressful.  Having regularly scheduled bus service would improve the quality of their lives, and make the Eastern Shore an even more attractive place to retire.

The increasing cost of gasoline will encourage more people to travel by bus, if such service is available.   We urge the Eastern Shore Chamber of Commerce and their consulting team to emphasize the role of public transportation in transportation planning for the Eastern Shore.

Dr. Harvey Joanning, President

Edward Lawrence, Secretary

Citizens for Responsible Government

560 Morphy Avenue

Fairhope, AL 36532

251-928-4646
edfairhope@bellsouth.net

To contact us:

Citizens for Responsible
Government

300 Lincoln Street

Fairhope, Alabama 36532

251-990-8662

govers@bellsouth.net

Citizens for Responsible
Government was formed in Fairhope, AL in Dec. 2002.
We meet the first Wednesday
of each month (except July)
at the Fairhope Unitarian Fellowship, 1150 Fairhope Ave., Fairhope, AL, across from the Baldwin County Satellite Court House.

Gary Gover, President

Bill Brooke, Secretary