By Residents in Baldwin County, Alabama, are pushing hard for landmark district status, seeking to protect their rural lifestyle against potential urban expansion. At stake in the upcoming local elections are amendments that would grant landmark status to communities like Stapleton, Bon Secour, and Whitehouse Fork, ensuring property owners retain the right to decide whether their land falls within city limits.
A Vote to Preserve Rural Life
Baldwin County’s property owners have been battling for over two years to place amendments on the ballot that would establish landmark district status for their communities. If passed, these amendments will prevent annexation by nearby cities unless property owners explicitly agree. Michele White, a Stapleton resident, has been vocal about the community’s desire to maintain a rural lifestyle, emphasising that their choice to live in Baldwin County’s countryside wasn’t incidental.
“It really became a mission because all of us who live in Stapleton moved out there on purpose,” White told WEAR News. “We didn’t get thrown out to the country. We moved out there to lead a rural life in Baldwin County, and the area to do that is getting smaller and smaller, and we want to preserve that in Stapleton.”
Understanding the Amendments
The three local amendments—proposed for Stapleton, Bon Secour, and Whitehouse Fork—are designed to secure property owners’ rights to control annexation. Currently, as nearby cities like Loxley, Spanish Fort, and Bay Minette continue to expand, residents in Baldwin County’s rural areas feel the pressure of urban sprawl creeping closer.
Here’s a breakdown of what the amendments mean:
- Landmark District Status: This designation helps define these communities as distinct rural areas, aiming to limit unwanted annexation by neighboring cities.
- Owner Control: If the amendments pass, property owners will have the ultimate say in whether their land can be incorporated into city limits.
- No Change to Zoning or Taxes: White emphasizes that the amendments would not impact zoning, land use, or tax rates; they’re solely focused on maintaining landowners’ autonomy.
“This landmark district status doesn’t change zoning, doesn’t change land use, [and] doesn’t affect anything that hurts anyone else,” White explained. “It simply gives the property owners the ability to choose if they want to stay in the county, should a nearby city want to annex their property.”
Community Sentiment and the Fight Against Annexation
Residents in Baldwin County’s rural areas have been vocal in their opposition to forced annexation. Many feel that their way of life is under threat from expanding city boundaries, and landmark district status offers a buffer. Voting “yes” on the amendments, advocates argue, will provide a layer of protection without closing the door on future annexation by choice.
The fight is particularly crucial for families who have built lives on farms and open land, as they believe urban expansion threatens the rural environment they cherish. Property owners like White express appreciation for neighboring municipalities but maintain that preserving Baldwin County’s rural character is essential.
“We’re watching the cities get closer and closer on all sides,” White observed. “I live in Stapleton, and our area is bordered by Loxley, Spanish Fort, and Bay Minette. And the growth is wonderful. We appreciate the municipalities and everything they do, but we’d like to see preservation of rural areas in Baldwin County.”
Why Landmark Status Matters for Baldwin County
At its core, landmark district status is about allowing Baldwin County’s rural residents to maintain their way of life amid a tide of development. Residents in Stapleton, Bon Secour, and Whitehouse Fork are advocating for the ability to preserve their land and lifestyle, even as surrounding cities expand. For them, the amendments aren’t just about land control but about protecting a lifestyle that reflects Baldwin County’s heritage.
Should these amendments pass, property owners in these communities will gain a clear voice in the future of their land. With landmark status, they can preserve their identity as distinct rural areas, separate from the ever-growing city limits that press closer each year.