The Citizens for Responsible Government (CFRG) organization, a non-profit non-partisan group based in Fairhope, announced its opposition to the proposed suspension of subdivision & construction fees in Baldwin County to be voted on by the Baldwin County Commission at their December 7 meeting.  The CFRG organization also announced its opposition to the construction of the proposed I-10 service road that would link the Bass Pro Shops and the Eastern Shore Centre. 

CFRG Vice President Phillip A. Brady Jr. said that it was inappropriate for the County to be reducing taxes and fees on developers and home builders at a time when the County is firing employees and cutting services in order to save money. 

The fees proposed to be suspended for three months include service fees for subdivisions; planning, zoning and mapping; building inspection permit fees; and Planning, Zoning and Highway Department fees.   These are fees that would be paid by real estate developers and contractors.  County income lost from just building inspection fees alone would amount to $87,000, if the three month suspension is approved by the County Commission.  Brady pointed out that the lost revenue would have to be made up by the taxpayers, or by a cut in county services.

The announced justification for the cut in subdivision and construction fees to promote "local economic stimulation".  However, CFRG believes there is no evidence that suspending these fees would lead to local economic stimulation.  Even if a new subdivision were started or a new house built, there is no assurance that adding to the over-supply of subdivision lots or newly-built houses in Baldwin County would add to the economic well-being of the county, said Brady. 

Brady went on to say that the suspension of fees would benefit the real estate developers and contractors, but would not benefit the taxpayers of the county, and that the fees should not be suspended.

Gary Gover, President of the Citizens for Responsible Government organization, indicated that the organization would also ask the County Commission at the December 7 meeting to vote not to proceed on the proposal to build a service road connecting Bass Pro Shops to the Eastern Shore Centre at Highway 181. 

He indicated that this road would cost the taxpayers a reported $7 million, and would do significant environmental harm to the fragile soils and wetlands near Interstate Highway 10.  Increased water runoff could flood surrounding homes and harm Lake Forest Lake and Mobile Bay.

Residents in the immediate area have expressed opposition to the project at a previous County Commission meeting, and the Daphne City Council has recently come out in opposition to the service road.  The primary beneficiaries are two developers who own land that will have an increase in commercial value if the service road is built, said Gover.

Supporters say the road is needed to provide a link from the Bass Pro Shops to the Eastern Shore Centre.  However, the CFRG statement to be presented to the County Commission points out there are three roads in the immediate area linking these two shopping malls: U.S. Highway 31 a few blocks to the North, Interstate 10 adjacent to the proposed road, and U.S. Highway 90 just two blocks to the south.   Another expensive and environmentally destructive road is not necessary, said Gover.  

He went on to say that if the County Commission does want to proceed with the service road project, it should proceed only after a full Environmental Impact Statement has been prepared, not merely an Environmental Assessment.

At a time when the Baldwin County Commission is cutting staff (including the two natural resource planners from the Planning & Zoning Department) Gover said it is inexcusable for the County Commission to be spending $7 million for an environmentally destructive road that will primarily benefit two large land owners / developers, and will benefit road construction companies and companies that supply road building equipment, but that will provide little if any benefit to the county taxpayers.  

Citizens for Responsible Government will urge that the Baldwin County Commission at their December 7 meeting to vote to cancel plans for the service road.