Gulf Shores City Schools to Host Ribbon Cutting and Open House for New STEAM Collaborative Learning Center

Gulf Shores City Schools invites the public to attend a special ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house for the new STEAM Collaborative Learning Center at Gulf Shores Elementary School on Thursday, September 15, at 4 p.m.

The event will consist of a brief ribbon-cutting ceremony and an open house allowing community members to tour the new center and speak with school administration and faculty members.

The center officially opened to students at the beginning of the school year and provides a student-centered, experienced-based learning atmosphere by integrating low- and high-tech teaching styles into the educational philosophy. It features six new flexible classrooms, two fully-equipped STEAM labs, break-out spaces, outdoor learning areas and three aquariums.

"We are so excited to have an opportunity for the community to come and see the new STEAM Collaborative Learning Center. To see pictures is one thing, but to experience the facility in person is really remarkable," said Gulf Shores City Schools Superintendent Dr. Matt Akin. "This center gives you a glimpse into the future of where Gulf Shores City Schools are heading."

Event parking will be available in the lot located behind the middle school directly south of the school bus loop that is accessible by Dolphin Avenue. For more information about the event or the new STEAM Collaborative Learning Center, please contact the Gulf Shores City Schools Central Office at 251.968.9873.

Mayor Craft Releases Statement Regarding ALDOT's Decision on the Waterways Bridge Project

I am glad to learn that the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) has refused a proposal that would have placed the transportation fate of Alabama’s beaches in the hands of a foreign bridge company for the next 50 years. Thirteen months of negotiations between ALDOT and the toll bridge owners culminated in a proposal that would enforce a 50-year restriction on building any new, free, public bridge across the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) between State Highway 59 in Gulf Shores and State Highway 161 in Orange Beach. This 50-year restriction would remain regardless of future growth, traffic conditions, or any other justifiable need. Proponents of the toll bridge company’s plan have focused on their proposal to provide Baldwin County residents toll-free passes. However, any deal that would allow a foreign bridge company to control access and dictate the expansion of transportation infrastructure in any part of Alabama is a bad deal.

I am encouraged that ALDOT is planning to begin advertising to accept bids on its long-proposed Waterways Bridge project, which will provide a new, free route to and from Alabama’s beaches for everyone. While some try to make this a “Gulf Shores project” or a Gulf Shores versus Orange Beach debate, it is not. This project was designed by ALDOT as their solution to traffic congestion on State Highway 59. The proposed bridge begins in Gulf Shores and lands in Orange Beach. The project has received overwhelming public support from local residents, tourism officials, hospital leaders, and elected officials, including Orange Beach Mayor Tony Kennon and me. Mayor Kennon and I even released a joint letter to the editor in 2018 which referenced this project as “our bridge to the future.” When constructed, the Waterways Bridge project will immediately improve traffic conditions on State Highway 59, provide an additional evacuation route off the island and create a foundation of new transportation infrastructure that is critical to accommodate the continued growth and success of Alabama’s beaches.

City of Gulf Shores Holding Special Recycling Days

The City of Gulf Shores will host a Special Recycling Drive from September 12-30. During this time, the public can drop off items that are not normally accepted at the Drop Off Recycling Center.

Accepted items include:

• Electronics
• Fluorescent Lightbulbs
• Paint

The Drop Off Recycling Center is located at 160 W. 36th Ave. For more information on recycling, click here. 

Gulf Shores Police Department recognized by the Lexipol Connect Program for achieving the Lexipol Connect Gold level.

The Gulf Shores Department (GSPD) was recently recognized by the Lexipol Connect Program for achieving the Lexipol Connect Gold level for consistently and effectively disseminating policies to officers, issuing timely policy updates as laws change, and ensuring officers are trained on these policies.

Lexipol is the nation’s leading provider of policy, training and wellness support for first responders and public servants. The Connect Program tracks the Gulf Shores Police Department's performance on five metrics proven to measure success in policy management.

Last year, Gulf Shores Police Department personnel responded to 16,146 requests for assistance. The department relies on comprehensive, up-to-date policies to maintain a consistent and professional response. The Gulf Shores Police Department’s excellence in policy and policy training enhances community safety by ensuring consistent, effective responses based on national best practices.

Specific Use Regulations Amended for Townhouse and Multiple-Family Dwelling Uses

On August 22, City Council voted to amend Article 11 Specific Use Regulations & Article 16 Site Plan Review of the Zoning Ordinance to amend Specific Use and Architectural Regulations for Townhouse and Multiple-family Dwelling Uses.

The amendment was recommended to the council by Lee Jones, Director of Planning & Community Development. “The significance of this text amendment for the City of Gulf Shores is really two-fold. It will bring multi-family residential development more in line with what is envisioned by the community, and it will require developers to take care of the impacts of their developments on existing and planned public infrastructure,” said Jones.

In the recommendation, two primary concerns were presented as it relates to Multiple-family Dwelling and Townhouse Uses:

1. There are hundreds of undeveloped acres zoned for thousands of Multi-family and Townhouse Units within the City
2. Current Specific Use Regulations for Multiple-family and Townhouse developments do not implement the design recommendations of the City’s Land Use Plan; therefore new development is not living up to what is envisioned by the community

The approved Zoning Text Amendment updates the Zoning Ordinance to implement recommendations of the City’s 2014 Land Use Plan and creates requirements for analyzing and mitigating the impacts of new Multiple-family and Townhouse developments on city infrastructure.

“The Zoning Ordinance is our primary means of implementing the City’s adopted Land Use Plan, and it must be amended from time to time to be in line with the policies and recommendations of the Plan. After the results of the 2020 Census, the Mayor and Council really emphasized the importance of aligning the City’s Zoning with the community’s development goals, since already entitled development is occurring and will likely continue to occur at a fast pace,” said Jones.

The City of Gulf Shores Code of Ordinance is available to view on the City’s website at www.gulfshoresal.gov/501/Planning-Zoning.

If you have any questions about the recent amendments or any other questions, please contact the Community Development Department at 251.968.1164. 

City of Gulf Shores Receives Leading the Way Award for Ranking in top 10 Percent Nationally for Resident Satisfaction

The City of Gulf Shores has been named a Leading the Way Award Winner by ETC Institute for ranking in the top 10 percent of all U.S. cities in terms of resident satisfaction with local governmental services based on the results of the city's 2021 Resident Satisfaction Survey.

The Leading the Way Award recognizes local governments for outstanding achievement in the delivery of services to residents. Recipients of the awards must rank in the top 10 percent of all local governments in the United States concerning their composite performance in the three core survey areas:

• Satisfaction with the overall quality of services
• Satisfaction with customer service provided by employees
• Satisfaction with the value residents think they receive for local taxes and fees

A maximum of 100 points are awarded in each of these areas based on the survey results. A city must have received a composite score of 210 or more to rank in the top 10 percent, which means the city scored an average of at least 70 points in all three areas. The City of Gulf Shores' composite rating was 235, which is 59 points higher than the average composite score of 176 for all cities in the United States.

Click here to view the results or to learn more about the 2021 City of Gulf Shores Resident Satisfaction Survey. 

City of Gulf Shores Hosts Sunset Series on the Town Green at Gulf Place

Join us for our Sunset Series concerts! 

These FREE concerts take place on the Town Green at Gulf Place from 6-8 p.m. and consist of live music overlooking our beautiful white-sand beaches at sunset!

Upcoming concerts: 

• Sept. 22 - Early James
• Sept. 29 - Frank Brown Songwriters Showcase

Click here for more information.