There was a time when simple planning for development worked to accommodate the population increases as they occurred. Times have changed drastically as people from other areas of the country have discovered the coastal region of Alabama and all its natural beauty, small town atmosphere, and vibrant southern culture.

Population increases have been on the rise since the early ‘80s and yet our planning efforts have not kept up with this fast growth pattern. The ability and the willingness to manage the growth has been reactive rather than planned which has allowed growth and development to happen when and where it was convenient and profitable.

An early effort was made, under the project name of Healthy Coastal Communities Initiatives, to determine how leaders in the region perceived growth and development in the coastal region of Alabama.

This shed some light on what might lead to some changes for the future management of growth. As a result, Smart Coast was conceived as a possible means to facilitate the engagement and involvement of citizens in the design and development of their communities and the entire coastal region.

Building on the early progress of the 2002-2004 Healthy Coastal Communities Initiative, the precursor to Smart Coast, a non-profit organization was established in early 2005, that supports regional dialogue about growth and development, and about how our communities can work together to promote the future health of our region.

The ultimate goal is to move the region toward a regional long-range comprehensive plan through the efforts of an engaged and informed citizenry in cooperation with local elected officials and a diverse stakeholder group.

Let us remember, our watersheds know no territorial boundaries and here in Coastal Alabama we are most definitely living downstream. It will behoove our current and all future generations to become educated and actively engaged in maintaining a healthy coastal community.