Baldwin County · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Baldwin County public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Highway 98 RV Park code violation and PRD denial
The Patel Boat and RV Storage project adds six storage buildings on 45 acres near a neighborhood center node, with wetlands preserved behind a 30-foot buffer.
Coopers Lake rezoning in Rosington
Over 1,200 residents signed a petition against rezoning 111 acres of rural agricultural land for estate homes, citing rural character, flooding and consistency concerns. The commission approved it anyway.
ARC of Baldwin County Decertification
The state Department of Mental Health decertified ARC of Baldwin County, cutting off Medicaid waiver funding for services to residents with intellectual disabilities. The commission sent a resolution of support ahead of a January appeal hearing.
180-Day Development Moratorium
Commissioner Underwood asked for a five-to-six-month pause on new zoning cases while the county finishes its new master plan and future land use map. Commissioner McKenzie opposed it, and no vote was taken — but expect this fight to return as the plan nears adoption this fall.
Summerdale Building Inspection Termination
The county is ending the 2023 agreements letting Silverhill and Summerdale handle building permits in their extraterritorial jurisdictions. Silverhill's mayor warned a 38-day cutoff would gut the town's budget mid-year and disrupt permitting; both towns got extensions to December 31, 2026, with 30-day termination clauses.
Hurricane Preparedness
EMA Director Tom Tyler warned of 8-11 foot waves and a tropical storm warning for Baldwin and Mobile counties, advising beachgoers to stay out of the water with red flags flying.
County Road 73 safety and drainage near Greenwood Subdivision
A cattle farmer described three crashes where cars without shoulders went into his property, and warned that 400 more vehicles on narrow CR 73 will multiply the danger. Speakers also recalled Hurricane Sally flooding over the CR 73 bridge.
C3 Program Twin Beach Road Improvements
The county's new C3 transportation program launched its first project: $5 million in safety upgrades on Twin Beach Road near Fairhope, including a roundabout and school-zone pedestrian improvements, split evenly with the city.
FY 2026-27 budget nearing balance
County revenues are still growing but at a moderating pace, while population growth is driving service and infrastructure costs up faster than income. Staff are telling departments to find efficiencies as budget season kicks off, and shifting short-term project funding to the 30Q debt program.
Goodrich Property Rezoning Near Spanish Fort
417 acres were rezoned for single-family development next to Spanish Fort, despite the city warning about traffic on Jimmy Faulkner Drive, school crowding, drainage, and unresolved access through a neighboring subdivision. The city hopes to annex the land next year.
Growth and infrastructure strain in Stapleton
A volunteer fire deputy chief warned that rapid growth around Stapleton is outpacing roads, businesses, and a small volunteer fire department, asking for fire prevention features like pre-connects on new construction.
McCarty Springs duplex subdivision in Stapleton
Neighbors in Stapleton packed the hearing to oppose three duplex lots on about 1.2 acres, citing traffic, drainage, fire response, and uncertainty about who would move in. Commissioners explained that in an unzoned area, state law forces approval once subdivision rules are met.
CDBG-DR Homeownership Assistance Program launch
Baldwin County is launching a $19 million program on September 21 to help low-to-moderate income households buy homes, covering down payments, closing costs, and rate buy-downs. Public meetings are set for September 15 in Foley and September 16 in Fairhope.
Stockton zoning election (Planning District 3)
The county accepted a notice of intent to request a referendum on bringing planning and zoning to Planning District 18 — a first step toward residents voting on whether they want zoning there.
Correction to solid waste garbage rates
County residential garbage fees jump from $17 to $19 a month starting November 1, driven by a 30% ADEM permit-fee and tipping-fee increase. McKenzie pushed for the county to lobby legislators and for more durable garbage carts.
Master plan update and new zoning standards for data centers and solar farms
The finished master plan update goes to the commission next month for a recommendation to county commissioners, followed immediately by zoning ordinance revisions — including new design standards for solar farms and data centers.
Growth Management and Public Input Process
Nearly every speaker said they learned of the plan only days before the hearing. Commissioners and citizens alike called for a formal engagement platform — town halls, written comment periods, and seats at the table for farmers, realtors, banks, and municipalities.
Summerdale zoning push and building regulation agreements
Summerdale leaders warned the town is exposed to unregulated development — data centers, solar farms, pig farms — because surrounding District 18 is unzoned. The commission extended the building-permit agreement to December 31 (planning side not extended) while the town organizes a citizen petition to zone the district.
Baldwin Beach Express 2 extension
The planned 25-mile, four-lane, toll-free extension from I-10 to I-65 is the marquee project of the connectivity plan. Commissioner Ball called it the most exciting item for his end of the county, opening a major north-south corridor.
Weight-restricted bridge replacements
Five of the county's 159 bridges are weight-restricted, including the aging County Road 32 bridge over Fish River. The county is seeking federal grants, with the Scenic 98 bridge at the Grand Hotel slated for replacement starting 2027.
Baldwin County Master Plan update
The county's updated blueprint for growth guides where development and preservation should happen over the next 20 years. It's a policy guide, not zoning — but it will shape how rezoning and development decisions get made and where infrastructure dollars go.
Lanterna development traffic and Pleasant Road access
Residents along Pleasant Road pleaded with the commission to eliminate the subdivision's connection to their road, citing brutal traffic near three schools and plummeting property values. The county's PRD approval already locked in the layout, and commissioners approved both phases anyway.
Benjamin Run high-density townhome subdivision
A 91-lot townhome and commercial project off Highway 98 sparked debate about what counts as usable open space, parking, trash pickup, and school capacity at Elberta Elementary. Commissioners tabled it, frustrated that it meets the letter of the rules but not the spirit.
Flooding and stormwater around Saoyah/Sahoy wetlands
Saoyah property owners documented water flowing from wetlands across their lots and warned that raising the new retention pond's elevation could flood their homes. The county says regional stormwater ponds and Pleasant Road drainage projects are in the works.
Silverhill and Summerdale building-inspection agreements
The county is ending the 2023 agreements letting Silverhill and Summerdale handle building permits in their extraterritorial jurisdictions. Silverhill's mayor warned a 38-day cutoff would gut the town's budget mid-year and disrupt permitting; both towns got extensions to December 31, 2026, with 30-day termination clauses.
Rural growth pressure in central Baldwin County
Residents around the Peturis property flooded the hearing with concerns about dense subdivisions on farmland — traffic, drainage, school capacity, and private roads. The 4-0 denial signals commissioners are willing to hold the line against high-density development in rural areas, at least while the new plan is pending.
Drainage concerns around Silver Hill storage facility
A commissioner who lives nearby pressed the engineer on whether the Cooper Boat and RV Storage will worsen flooding along West Boulevard, where water already backs up to houses. The engineer committed to drainage maintenance before construction and said the design will retain more water than the site currently sheds.
Mental health crisis services and Stepping Up Initiative
AltaPointe Health briefed commissioners on crisis response teams, iPad-based clinician access for officers and EMS, jail-based stabilization, and its Mobile-area crisis center. Baldwin County now uses about 37% of the region's psychiatric beds, and all 67 Alabama counties have committed to the Stepping Up program.
Orchard at Horseneck subdivision dispute
Three families want to split a lot in Horseneck Creek Plantation into three home sites; neighbors fear a subdivision floodgate. The commission approved it because it meets county rules, but told neighbors their real remedy is civil enforcement of restrictive covenants.
Proposed large-scale solar development in Stockton and moratorium request
A resident asked planning officials to push for a 180-day countywide pause on solar farms and data centers to protect both zoned and unzoned areas. The chairman said such a moratorium is a county commission decision with legal implications, and no vote was taken.
Traffic signal at Highway 104 and Saint Michael Way
Verandas residents say the two-way-stop intersection near the new Fairhope Reserve subdivision is already congested and unsafe, especially with teen drivers from St. Michael's High School. The county highway department is working with ALDOT to signalize the intersection.
Golf Cart Ordinance Amendment
A Baldwin County city has amended its golf cart ordinance, so the rules for where and how you can legally drive one around town may have changed. If you use a golf cart locally, it’s worth checking the new rules before your next ride.
Magnolia Acres Phase 2 site violations and cleanup
A stalled subdivision off County Road 28 has sat like a 'war zone' with a dug-too-deep detention pond and a stop-work order. The commission gambled that approving a variance and extension lets a new financial partner clean it up in about 90 days instead of a multi-year court fight.
Sea Glade at St. Andrews Bay drainage and road elevation concerns
Gulf Shores residents near Highway 180 pressed the developer about road grade, where stormwater will go, parking if bedroom counts change, and a requested privacy fence. The developer said drainage stays inside the private right-of-way and a federal Fish and Wildlife permit limits changes like fencing.
Red Hill Landfill Permanently Closed
The commission adopted a resolution putting its stance on record: the old Red Hill landfill site stays closed, with no reopening for construction and demolition waste. The county instead invested $6.5 million in renovating the Bay Minette transfer station.
Lillian Boat Storage traffic circulation
A 100-unit boat and RV storage facility is proposed directly across from the Lillian boat launch, with one entrance lined up with the ramp exit. Commissioners worry about summer weekend congestion and want a second entrance; the developer agreed to redraw and return in March.
Family subdivision exemption loophole
Developers can buy land, deed it to a relative, and immediately sell lots without going through the normal subdivision process — roughly 500 lots a year use exemptions. The county is backing state legislation to add a 24-month deed restriction to close the loophole.
School Funding Dispute
Baldwin County and its beach cities are in a bitter fight over how school money is divided, and it’s straining the whole county. If you pay local taxes or have kids in public school, the outcome could change how much money your schools get—and how much uncertainty they face.
School District Split Agreement
Gulf Shores and Baldwin County have finally agreed on how to split their school system, which matters if you have kids in school or pay school taxes. The deal decides how assets and students get divided, and those choices could shape local schools for years.