NEW SWEEP The Ripp Report 2014

Since 2001, the city of Fairhope has been conducting “reviews” of the comprehensive plan, which is connected to the master plan. These meetings are usually advertised through the city and media, and attendance is good. Citizens are given the warm and fuzzy feeling about taking part in the city’s future and their quality of life. Currently a series of meetings is being held, public participation is encouraged, comments and written surveys are recorded. Sounds so Norman Rockwell, however did you know it’s costing us 80 thousand dollars for this update by an engineering firm. Remember this is just an update to an already published comprehensive plan. Since the first plan, there has been little change in the minds of Fairhope citizens as to where and what they expect.

Reality is that it is the city that strays from the plan and ordinances, time and time again. Usually this has involved the Mayor and some sweetheart deal for a developer that is also a contributor of the Mayor. The comprehensive plan talks about a village concept. Each village being approximately 10 minutes apart within city limits.

The Publix project is suppose to be a village? Fly creek is still full red clay and debris from the shop- ping center construction. The project is a strip center which has never come close to full occupancy. The original proposals painted an entirely different picture than the final project.

How about the 11.5 million dollar lawsuit we lost, resulting in the taxpayers footing the bill. The city is telling you this is a park, and it was only 8.75 million. What they are not telling you, is it cost US, 3.25 million in legal fees. The PUBLIC had no input in the decision; in fact the city went out of the way, to avoid public Participation.

The same land owner involved in the Publix project is giving the city a piece of land behind Publix for a fire station. This is a major improvement for HIS development plans but a very bad place to build a fire station. Parker Road is a dead end street, that includes the most dangerous intersection in Fairhope. This project failed in 09, due to safety concerns and the appearance of a good `ole boy deal. This is an insane location for the fire station. Remember we now own the (previously Dyas) triangle, a much better location for a fire station, providing safety and better access. Due to the loss of the Dyas lawsuit, we, the taxpayers, paid 11.5 million for this property. But Mayor Kant still plans to put the fire station at the dead end of Parker Road in a back door deal to avoid public participation or any input, just to satisfy his friend and contributor.

The comprehensive plan has one major obstacle: Mayor Tim Kant

Paul Ripp