At the Smart Coast Mixed Use conference on April 18, 2006, participants heard about mixed use and its potential impact on quality growth in our coastal cities. As part of that message, we learned that making communities walkable was an important feature of mixed use.

Continuing the effort begun at the conference, Smart Coast has started an initiative called a Walkable Communities Study Group, which will continue to look at the whole issue and put together suggestions for action. The first Walkable Communities Study Group meeting brought together twelve concerned citizens to promote walkability in Baldwin County cities. The goal was to research how communities become walkable and what each city and the county have in place concerning walkability and connectivity. After completing the initial research, a summary report was submitted by Study Group member, Ed Lawrence. To view a copy of the report, select this link: Creating Walkable Communities in Baldwin County.

The Study Group began working with a planning commission member of the City of Daphne to propose and get accepted a plan to add trails and walking paths to the largest subdivision in the city. With the support of the group and Smart Coast, the plan was accepted and funding is being sought to implement the plan.

Research plans for the Walkable Communities Study Group now include Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) and how ADUs can increase walkability, affordability, and density within cities.

When Hurricane Katrina hit in August 2005, Mobile County Alabama suffered a great deal of damage. The citizens of Mobile County worked with FEMA and the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA) to produce a Long Term Recovery Plan for Mobile County. As part of this effort, residents of South Mobile County realized their needs were not being heard. After a meeting coordinated by Smart Coast, residents of Coden, Heron Bay, Alabama Port, San Souci, and Fowl River decided to form an organization that would give voice to their concerns.

Their initial meetings were held in March of 2006 and after a full year of coming together, South Bay Communities Alliance has a very active Board of Directors and a new building leased from the Mobile County Commission. They have brought their message all the way to Congress and the Governor of Alabama.

South Bay Communities Alliance has applied for 501c3 non-profit status and is now planning how the organization can serve the whole community. Smart Coast has connected them to an organization called the Institute for Sustainable Communities, an international group that will work to build their leadership capacity and their effectiveness as a community organization.

In 2006, Smart Coast worked with Mobile County and its municipalities to compile a countywide plan for recovery from Katrina. The yearlong project produced a planning book, which described each project being proposed for Katrina funds allocated by Congress. Smart Coast's role was to coordinate the town meetings and work with the unincorporated areas in south Mobile County to identify projects to be included in the overall recovery plan.