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Community organizers are counting on landmark status to curb what they see as runaway growth in Baldwin County.
Alabama Constitutional amendments on the Nov. 5 ballot would create “landmark districts” surrounding three unincorporated communities in Baldwin County, as a ploy to prevent lawmakers from annexing them into larger nearby cities.
Supporters of the proposed districts of White House Fork, Stapleton and Bon Secour say it’s a move to push back against municipalities that have extended their police and zoning jurisdiction beyond city limits as a first step to annexing them later.
Landmark status will “help preserve our way of life, our identity and our heritage,” Bart Rider, advocate for the measure in White House Fork, said. “The landmark district would give our community a legal identity and a collective voice. Residents of White House Fork and surrounding communities would have the right to vote should a municipality propose annexation - taxation.”
Stapleton got its landmark bid on the ballot this year, overcoming opposition two years ago from from Alabama State Sen. Greg Albritton, whose district includes Stapleton.
“Landmark district is a made-up entity that has more dangers than good to it," Albritton said. "With (new business development) and you want to restrict cities and county growth," Albritton said. "Is that what they're trying to do?"
Other opponents of granting landmark status, including some in Fairhope, say the landmark districts aren’t recognized legal entities and need better definition.
Four years ago, Barnwell neighbors celebrated after their community won overwhelming support from voters for the Landmark district status they had worked for years to achieve.
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