As a resident of Spanish Fort, I love the small-town ambiance our city offers. From our numerous parks to our picturesque shorelines, the notion of having nature's bounty at our doorstep is cherished by us all. Thanks to our city leaders who have tread a path that has largely shielded our communities from overdevelopment, most areas zoned for homes, remain untouched with business zoning confined to the edges or completely away from residential zones, as witnessed with Bass Pro and Kohls' locations.

However, we now face a threat that is antithetical to our city's values and essence. The proposed re-zoning of land from R-1 (single-family residential) to B-3 (broad range business) at the intersection of HWY 225 and HWY 31.

This re-zoning would strip away the calm and tranquility of our city and place intrusive and unnecessary burdens on its residents and visitors beginning with the issue of increased vehicle traffic in the area.

The last decade has seen our community grow significantly. New subdivisions on HWY 225 and HWY 31 have brought additional vehicular traffic to the area. This intersection has been a challenge for some time as folks navigate from the Causeway and 98 onto HWY 31 and HWY 225.

A large scale commercial development would only magnify this challenge by bringing more vehicular traffic into the area. Additional traffic leads to increased potential for accidents and injury and would pose a serious threat to our safety.

Additionally, re-zoning nearly 50 acres of land which has for years been mainly marshy wetlands will cause irreparable harm to both residents and local wildlife.  The remediation and drainage necessary to build a large commercial development on mainly wetlands would, without a doubt seriously, impact our local ecosystem. There are multiple streams that cross this land that drain into larger ones headed to the bay. These can easily be seen on Google Earths historical areal photos. Disruption of this natural water flow will expose our homes to potential flooding and negatively affect all wildlife living on the land.

Spanish Fort has a long and rich history which includes final battles of the Civil War, fought on the lands of our communities. Many residents still find historical relics in yards. The residents of Spanish Fort Estates, Spanish Village, Garrison Ridge and others are living on historically important land. Plowing it under for a Big Box store development is not who we are.

The serene charm and appeal of our city could be on the brink of a drastic transformation if we don't stand up now. This decision not only disrupts the peaceful environment but also represents a shift in zoning policy that may set a precedent for future residential areas, imperiling their safety and serenity.

We unequivocally care about Spanish Fort and all that it represents. It's time to tell our city leaders that we oppose any move that disrupts our modest town's fabric by permitting unchecked commercial development. We want our city to flourish, but not at the expense of our tranquil and safe residential environment. There are many other areas already zoned for commercial development that do not impact residential communities. Let's keep it that way, for all of us! We stand united in preserving the identity and charm of Spanish Fort.

Join us in pleading our city leaders to deny the requested  re-zoning of land from R-1 to B-3 in Spanish Fort. Your signature will help preserve the nature-blessed tranquility of our city. Let's ensure our homes remains safe havens, untouched by intrusive business developments. Please join us in signing this petition and please join us in person for a Public Discussion of this issue on December 2nd at 6 pm at the Spanish Fort City Hall. Whether you are a resident, a visitor or employed in the area, this affects us all. Please stand with us!