Smart Coast had a very simple beginning. Two people – passionate about the coastal region in which they lived – realized, simultaneously, that if nothing were done to rein in the rapid growth and destruction of historic homes and ecologically precious land and water, what they loved would disappear. They merged two sets of skills and experiences into one mission -- creating a vision of development for the Alabama Gulf Coast.

Wendy Allen, a former Baldwin County Commissioner, witnessed many changes along the Gulf Coast. Farmland -- the heart of Baldwin County's identity and for many years its economic base -- was being built on and paved over at an alarming rate.

There was no plan in place to protect the rural way of life and the green open spaces that people find so appealing. Farmland was not all that was vanishing. Folks in charge began to view wetlands, waterfront areas, and forests – which contribute immeasurably to the overall health and wellbeing of all people and creatures in the region – as valuable only for its development potential.

The massive unraveling of the area’s core shocked Allen and many other people. Typically, citizens did not involve themselves in development decisions, unless it directly affected them. However, as more and more land was bulldozed, even those who never paid much attention to decisions that "weren't their business," began to sense they were losing something incalculable -- their own habitat.

Allen realized her life work had led her to this point. Her role was to help the people who felt powerless set a vision for what their communities should be. Without a perspective and a plan, development is left to those who just want to build and make money. There is nothing wrong with making money, but as the prophets noted, "without a vision, the people perish."

Charlene Lee knows firsthand how powerful a vision can be to a community. While creating the dream of a community park in Fairhope, she recruited and then coordinated over 3,000 volunteers. Their work is a model and inspiration for other villages.

Thousands of children and their families visit the park each year. Through this project, and a less-successful historic preservation program, Lee learned that a broad base of knowledge and support is critical to any effort.

It was also her research on sustainability and how other communities addressed issues of conservation, economic stability, and social equity, while maintaining a high quality of life that brought Charlene to her passion for citizen-driven planning and educational forums.

Together, Allen and Lee are helping to change the perception of growth and development along the coastal region of Alabama. Their much-heralded, major regional conferences and local workshops have created dialogue and action.

At Smart Coast events, planners, politicians, and ordinary citizens listen to and learn from premier national experts, who present an array of ideas, resources, and case studies. The upshot: follow-up study groups, implementation of best practices, and new planning tools and procedures were put in place.

Perhaps most important of all, Smart Coast has created an atmosphere of empowerment through knowledge. Allen and Lee's efforts to bring citizens together and facilitate the exchange of ideas have stimulated balanced dialogue about growth and development. That is the special hallmark of Smart Coast.