City of Satsuma Comprehensive Plan 2030 Prepared by: ADOPTED SOUTH ALABAMA REGIONAL March 3, 2011 PLANNING COMMISSION 2010 Funding for this project provided by the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, State Lands Division, Coastal Section, in part, by a grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management, Award # NA09NOS4190169. This Plan’s mission, vision, and goals were developed by the Satsuma Comprehensive Plan 2030 Steering Committee, the 2010 Satsuma Planning Commission and the 2010 Satsuma City Council members listed below with assistance provided from the South Alabama Regional Planning Commission. Steering Committee Billy Reeves Wes Gerhardt Flora Reeves Ashley Smith Betty Knapp Robin Stewart Rodney Waltman Al Haupt Sandra Turner Debbie Harbin Carol Bates William Hamblin Ann Lister Mike Crownover Gary Watts Planning Commission ChrisHicks, Chairman Vicki Miller, City Clerk J.B. Locke, Vice Chairman Robert Smallwood William “Bill” Stewart, Mayor Palmer Gatlin Pamela B. O'Gwynn, Council Representative William Hamblin In Memory of - Dot Brannon Mayor William “Bill” Stewart City Council Representatives Billy Jackson, Place 1 Thomas Williams, Place 4 Pamela B. O'Gwynn, Place 2 William “Bill” Black, Place 5 Pratt Monk, Place 3 I, Chris Hicks, _________________________, do hereby certify that this a true copy of the City of Satsuma’s Comprehensive Plan, Adopted March 3, 2011. Satsuma Comprehensive Plan Table of Contents Mission Statement and Purpose ------------------------------------------- iii Introduction --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 Section 1 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7 Historical, Regional, and Environmental Setting Section 2 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 17 Land Use Section 3 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 29 Population and Economy Section 4 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 51 Housing Section 5 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 61 Transportation Section 6 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 69 Community Facilities and Services Section 7 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 81 Parks and Recreation Section 8 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 91 Community Design i Satsuma Comprehensive Plan THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK. ii Satsuma Comprehensive Plan Mission Statement and Purpose Mission Statement and Purpose Mission Statement To preserve and enhance Satsuma’s small town atmosphere, historical heritage, and natural resources while providing quality City services; progressive and innovative government that is accessible, accountable, and efficient; allowing only businesses that enhance our small town atmosphere, the natural environment, including air and water quality; and, to identify and seize opportunities for maintaining and sustaining the highest quality of life for all present and future Satsuma citizens. Purpose This plan is be made with the general purpose of guiding and accomplishing the coordinated, adjusted and harmonious development of Satsuma and its environs which will, in accordance with present and future needs, best promote health, safety, morals, order, convenience, prosperity and general welfare as well as efficiency and economy in the process of development, including, among other things, adequate provision for traffic, the promotion of safety from fire and other dangers, adequate provisions for light and air, the promotion of good civic design and arrangement, wise and efficient expenditure of public funds and the adequate provision of public utilities and other public requirements. Satsuma Veterans Memorial iii Satsuma Comprehensive Plan Mission Statement and Purpose THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK. iv Satsuma Comprehensive Plan Introduction Introduction The planning process for the City of Satsuma created a future vision and direction for development based on the community’s values, issues, and ideas. What Is A Comprehensive Plan? A Comprehensive Plan is a policy document developed with substantial public participation to help guide public and private decision makers, specifically related to land use and public infrastructure. Comprehensive planning is a process, which provides, regardless of size or economic capabilities, an opportunity to develop goals and identify gaps based on long-range concerns and issues. The Comprehensive Plan is an official document, which is approved and adopted by the Planning Commission and City Council. It describes goals, objectives, and recommendations for various segments of City operations such as transportation, recreation, economic development, public facilities, and land use. While it is considered by some as a blue print or road map to reach a designated goal in the future, it is, by necessity, a document or plan which is under constant scrutiny and revision as conditions change over time. Why Should Satsuma Have A Comprehensive Plan? A Comprehensive Plan provides not only a guide for the present, but also a plan for future leaders to build on as Satsuma grows and changes over the next 20 years. It identifies the deficiencies now and enables leaders to have a plan to address those areas while looking to future improvements. What Will A Comprehensive Plan Do For Satsuma? Comprehensive Planning will provide Satsuma with the opportunity to focus on long-range concerns and issues. The Satsuma Comprehensive Plan is an official document that shall be adopted by the Satsuma Planning Commission and Satsuma’s City Council. The Satsuma Comprehensive Plan describes goals and recommendations under various elements such as: Historical, Regional, and Environmental Setting Population and Economy Housing Transportation Land Use City Facilities and Services Parks and Recreation Community Design 1 Satsuma Comprehensive Plan Introduction The Comprehensive Plan is a guide for decision making related to growth and development. The Comprehensive Plan will help the City of Satsuma determine when and where new public facilities and improvements are needed. The Satsuma Comprehensive Plan is a main point of reference for evaluation of City programs and projects affecting development, and a major source of guidance for private investors. It also provides guidance for areas outside the City’s current boundaries that will influence the City’s development such as transportation, public facilities, and land use decisions. Satsuma’s Comprehensive Plan Implementation section identifies immediate, short-term (1-4 years), and long term (more than 5 years) priorities. Recommendations can be amended as new information becomes available, or to address a change in circumstances. The Satsuma Comprehensive Plan should be updated periodically, at minimum once every five years, to reflect changing conditions. The City of Satsuma and its planning commission should: 1. Develop and adopt a Comprehensive Plan, Satsuma Comprehensive Plan 2030. 2. Revise Zoning Ordinance. 3. Review and act on all subdivision plans within the corporate limits and planning jurisdiction. 4. Review and make recommendations to City Council on all amendments to the Zoning Ordinance, including the drafting of revisions to the text and map. 5. Review all public improvements, proposals, and thoroughfares, which involve the implementation of the Comprehensive Plan. 6. Every year revise the long-range Capital Improvements Program. 7. Undertake surveys and studies, and prepare reports as may be required to carry out this planning program. Upon adoption, the Satsuma Comprehensive Plan is to be used by the Planning Commission, Board of Adjustments, and City Council as they review all proposed development plans to determine conformance with the comments and recommendations included in the Plan. Comprehensive Plans Are Meant To Be Implemented The adoption of a Comprehensive Plan is the beginning of the implementation process. The Plan’s success rests on how well ideas and visions for the future of Satsuma are expressed in the Plan and how well the Plan is monitored and implemented over time. The Plan provides guidance on strategies for successful implementation and identifies implementation priorities. It includes priority assignments for both physical improvements and policy and regulatory enhancements. These listings can be found in the full text of the Plan. 2 Satsuma Comprehensive Plan Introduction Citizen Comments To ensure that Satsuma’s Comprehensive Plan reflects the values and desires of the residents, it is important that the community play an active role in its development. During the comprehensive planning process, residents of Satsuma were asked to participate in many visioning workshops. Three community participation methods were used to collect data: the Public Opinion Survey, S.W.O.T. Analysis, and the Visual Preference Survey. The citizen comments identified in this comprehensive plan were formulated from these methods in cooperation with the City, Planning Commission, Steering Committee and residents of the community. The data provided from the city and residents, combined with in-depth analysis and projections from the South Alabama Regional Planning Commission; Governmental Planning