Smart, Balanced Growth

Growth should make Baldwin County better—not simply bigger.

I want Baldwin County to grow. New businesses, new residents, and responsible investment can expand our tax base, create jobs, and provide opportunities for our community.

But growth should be planned carefully, and it should not come at the expense of the people who already call Baldwin County home.

My approach is simple: put the right development in the right place and consider the consequences before decisions are made.

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Protect Property Rights

I strongly believe in private property rights.

But property rights work both ways.

A property owner should have reasonable freedom to use his or her land, while neighboring homeowners, farmers, and landowners also deserve reasonable protection from uses that could substantially affect their property.

Good land-use policy should provide clear rules and reasonable protections for everyone involved.

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Improve Planning & Zoning

Recent development proposals have demonstrated the limitations of Baldwin County's current approach to land use.

I support a more comprehensive planning and zoning process that gives property owners, developers, and citizens greater certainty about what types of development are appropriate in different areas of the county.

The goal isn't more regulation for the sake of regulation.

The goal is to establish reasonable expectations before a controversial project arrives.

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Put Intensive Development in Appropriate Locations

A project can be good for Baldwin County and still be wrong for a particular location.

Large industrial and other intensive developments should be encouraged in areas with appropriate transportation access, utilities, infrastructure, and adequate separation from established neighborhoods and rural residences.

Location matters.

Planning ahead can help Baldwin County attract investment while reducing conflicts between economic development and existing property owners.

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Consider the Impact on Neighbors

Major developments can affect much more than the property where they are built.

Depending on the project, county officials should consider potential impacts involving:

• Traffic and truck routes

• Road conditions and maintenance

• Noise and lighting

• Dust and other off-site impacts

• Water supply and drainage

• Utility capacity

• Emergency services

• Buffers and setbacks

• Nearby homes and property

When appropriate, reasonable conditions can help reduce those impacts while still allowing responsible development to move forward.

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Plan for Emerging Development

The types of development coming to Middle Georgia are changing.

Data centers, large-scale solar developments, major industrial projects, and other land-intensive uses present opportunities, but they can also create new questions about utility capacity, water, traffic, noise, infrastructure, and compatibility with surrounding properties.

Baldwin County should establish reasonable policies for these uses before applications arrive—not attempt to create policy in the middle of a controversy.

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Protect Rural Baldwin County

One of Baldwin County's greatest assets is the character of our rural communities.

Economic development and rural preservation do not have to be opposing goals.

With thoughtful planning, we can direct intensive development toward appropriate locations while protecting established neighborhoods, farmland, timberland, and rural areas from incompatible uses.

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Plan for the Baldwin County We Want

Land-use decisions made today can shape our community for generations.

We should be asking what we want Baldwin County to look like 10, 20, and 30 years from now—and then making today's decisions with that future in mind.

I believe we can grow our economy, expand our tax base, respect private property rights, protect neighborhoods and rural communities, and welcome responsible investment.

Those goals aren't mutually exclusive. They simply require us to plan.

A Better Baldwin Starts Here.