We, the undersigned residents, community members, and supporters of environmental conservation, respectfully petition our local officials to deny any rezoning request that would allow the development of a residential subdivision adjacent to Oak Mountain State Park.

Oak Mountain State Park is Alabama’s largest state park and one of the region’s most valuable natural, recreational, and environmental resources. The park provides vital wildlife habitat, protects local ecosystems, and serves as a treasured destination for families, hikers, cyclists, anglers, and outdoor enthusiasts across the state.

Approving rezoning for a subdivision in close proximity to the park raises serious concerns for our community:

1. Environmental Impact
Development near the park threatens wildlife habitats, natural waterways, and forest ecosystems. Increased construction, traffic, and runoff could negatively affect the park’s biodiversity and environmental health.

2. Increased Traffic and Infrastructure Strain
A new subdivision would increase traffic on nearby roads, creating safety concerns for residents, park visitors, cyclists, and pedestrians. Local infrastructure may not be equipped to handle the additional congestion.

3. Preservation of Natural Character
The area surrounding the park is valued for its natural beauty and rural character. Rezoning for high-density housing could permanently alter the landscape and diminish the experience of visiting and living near the park.

4. Protecting a Statewide Asset
Oak Mountain State Park belongs to all Alabamians. Decisions affecting land adjacent to the park should prioritize long-term conservation and responsible land stewardship over short-term development interests.

For these reasons, we respectfully urge local officials to:

Deny the proposed rezoning request
Preserve the land surrounding Oak Mountain State Park
Prioritize environmental protection, responsible planning, and the wishes of the community
We ask our leaders to protect this irreplaceable natural resource for current residents and for future generations.

Traffic and Safety Concerns

Traffic along Hwy. 11, Hwy. 52 , and surrounding local roads are already heavily congested, particularly during morning and afternoon school hours.

Adding another large residential development would significantly increase:

 • Daily commuter traffic

 • School drop-off and pick-up congestion

 • Emergency response delays

 • Safety risks for local residents, pedestrians, and students

Many of the roads serving this area were not designed to accommodate the traffic volume that additional subdivisions would bring. Without substantial roadway improvements, further development will only worsen an already problematic traffic situation. Our concerns are based on the significant strain that additional development would place on our already limited public resources—particularly our local school system.

When a similar development, the proposed Oakmont subdivision, was previously discussed, community members, city counsel members, and local residents reviewed projections estimating the number of school-aged children generated per new housing unit. Those estimates were compared with the capacity of our current school buildings and the projected capacity following the proposed construction of a future high school.

It was concluded that without adding the Oakmont subdivision, the already approved subdivisions would exceed our current max capacity within our schools. Adding any type of additional housing, especially on such a large tract of land, would not only far exceed our current maximum, it would push the limits of the proposed max capacity of the future schools.

Based on these discussions and projections, it was concluded that adding the Oakmont subdivision—along with the subdivisions that have already been approved along Highway 11—would bring our schools to their maximum capacity. In fact, our current schools are already within approximately 100 students of reaching full capacity.

Additionally, the land for the proposed new high school is not expected to be ready or available for construction until at least 2030. Approving further residential developments before additional school infrastructure is available would almost certainly lead to overcrowded classrooms, strained educational resources, and diminished educational quality for our children.

We are also concerned about the loss of natural land and the increased concrete development near Oak Mountain State Park, which is one of our region’s most valuable environmental and recreational resources.

For these reasons, we respectfully urge local officials and planning authorities to:

 • Deny approval of any new subdivisions in this area until adequate school capacity exists.

 • Ensure that infrastructure, including schools and roads, can support additional population growth before approving new developments.

 • Preserve the natural character and environmental integrity of the land surrounding Oak Mountain State Park.

Our community values responsible, thoughtful growth that protects our schools, environment, and quality of life.