FAIRHOPE — As Baldwin County continues to experience one of the fastest population booms in the country, local officials, residents and environmental advocates gathered on Thursday, July 16, to discuss how future growth can better protect the county's waterways, infrastructure and quality of life.

The town hall, hosted by environmental advocacy nonprofit Mobile Baykeeper at Fairhope United Methodist Church, centered on a series of policy recommendations aimed at addressing problems many residents say have accompanied the county's rapid expansion, including increased flooding, sewage spills, stormwater runoff and the loss of wetlands.

The discussion came as Baldwin County updates its comprehensive plan, a long-range planning document that will help guide future development decisions. Baykeeper leaders said they hope the recommendations presented during the meeting can help shape that process.

THE DATA

Baldwin County has grown by roughly 200% since 1980 and now ranks as the sixth-fastest-growing county in the nation, said William Strickland, Baykeeper executive director.

With that growth has come environmental and infrastructure challenges. Baykeeper presented data showing that nearly 2,000 acres of wetlands have disappeared since 1985 while paved surfaces have roughly doubled, reducing the amount of land that can naturally absorb rainfall.

The organization also said more than 10 million gallons of sewage spills have been reported since 2021 and that seagrass habitat throughout Mobile Bay has experienced a long-term decline.

"When the way of life that people come to Baldwin County to expect changes, it results in worse economic outcomes as well," Strickland said. "This is an economic issue."

Much of the presentation focused on concerns Baykeeper members have heard repeatedly during community listening sessions held across Baldwin County over the past year. Residents saw construction runoff entering waterways, wastewater systems struggling to keep pace with development, worsening flooding and a desire for greater public input before large projects are approved.

Rather than calling for development to stop, Strickland said the organization is focused on identifying policies that would better manage future growth.

"It's unrealistic to expect that there's going to be a lack of growth," Strickland said. "Most people don't want growth to stop, but they want it to make sense. They want it to be done the right way."

THE IDEAS

Among the recommendations presented were stronger stormwater management requirements, better erosion and sediment controls on construction sites, improved planning for wastewater infrastructure before approving new developments, increased protection of wetlands and flood-prone areas, expanded use of permeable surfaces and greater public participation in the development review process.

Strickland said the recommendations were developed after consulting not only with residents but also with developers and planning experts from other fast-growing communities.

"The developers really do want to do the right thing," he said. "They're asking for better clarity on what the rules are. They want them to be applied evenly across all companies."

Spanish Fort Mayor Brad Bass, who attended the meeting, said balancing continued growth with environmental protection will be one of the county's biggest challenges moving forward.

"People are moving here regardless if we want them to or not," said Bass, who was elected to his first term as mayor in August 2025. "We've just got to be responsible with how we're doing it and how those folks are coming in and how development's continuing to move on."

Bass said the timing of the discussion is important as several municipalities are updating their comprehensive plans in addition to the county commission, which policies land use in areas outside of city limits.

"I think right now with the county commission looking at a new draft for their comprehensive plan, it's an ideal time to try to incorporate some of the things that Baykeeper has brought up," he said.

While he said local governments are unlikely to adopt every recommendation, Bass believes the discussion provides an opportunity to find common ground.

"I think it'll be a good thing for all of us," Bass said.

Bass said Spanish Fort is already evaluating similar ideas through its own comprehensive planning process, including preserving commercial zoning where appropriate, encouraging more permeable surfaces in new developments and improving stormwater management.

Strickland encouraged residents to remain engaged with local elected officials as Baldwin County considers future development policies, saying public participation will be key to shaping how the county grows in the coming decades. 

Gabriella Chavez is a Report for America corps member who writes about growth and development in Baldwin County and our natural spaces for Gulf Coast Media. Your donation to match our RFA grant helps keep her writing stories like this one; please consider making a tax-deductible gift of any amount today.