# Presentation: 671359

## Conserving  Dauphin Island:   A Strategic Vision for the Future

**Funded by**
**Town of Dauphin Island**
** ****Mississippi Alabama Sea Grant Consortium**** **
**Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, State Lands Division- Coastal Section**
**Mobile Bay National Estuary Program**

- Conserving  Dauphin Island:   A Strategic Vision for the Future

## Coming to the TableFunding Partnerships for Change

**Coming to the Table****Funding Partnerships for Change**

- Mississippi Alabama Sea Grant Consortium
- Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
- Mobile Bay National Estuary Program
- And
- The Town

## Overview of DI Strategic PlanningGuiding Principles

- To guide resource management and growth over time
- To balance economic development and environmental conservation,  preserving the community’s quality of life and cultural integrity
- To recognize change as inevitable
- To manage change  so that Dauphin Island is a better place to live, work and visit

## A Community Driven Process Gathering Citizen Input and Participation

- Steering Committee
- Stakeholders Visitors and residents alike
- Input  Methods to assess community values
- Communication Provision of feedback throughout process
- Visioning The future
- Strategy and Design SWOT and Charrette
- Action On the ground

## Determining What is Important: The Vision

**On behalf of the people of Dauphin Island, **
**the ****Town will lead**** this small island community **
**through the 21****st**** century **
**By ****preserving ****the**** ****island’s ****history****, **
**culture****, and ****environmental assets****, **
**while planning for a future **
**that ****capitalizes ****on its**** natural resources**** to **
**promote economic  and community well-being.**

## Getting to the Community Priorities 

- Yellow- West End Beach Issues
- Green- Natural Resource Protection
- Blue- Community and Economic Development
- Grey- Revenue Opportunities
- Red/Pink- Top Ranked Objectives
- Orange- Communications

## Island Priority Needs 

- _Economic Development That Is Compatible With Island Environment And Community Life_
**Design of ****Historic**** ****Village Downtown Business**** ****District**** **
**Promotion of ****Working Waterfronts**** throughout the Island**
**Enhancement and interconnection of ****economic opportunities**
**    ****at Ferry Landing**
**Promotion of ****nature based tourism**** opportunities**
- _Protection Of The Island’s Natural Resources__ _
**Alternative ****Development Strategies**** for West End**
**Protection/conservation of primary ****shallow water aquifer****  **
**Low Impact ****development of East End**
**Promotion of ****Green Building**** practices**
- _Coordinated Island Governance_
**Expansion of ****local revenue sources**** to support Town growth**
**Expansion of ****collaborative activities**** among governing entities**

## Economic Development that is compatible with island environment and community life

_**Historic Village Revitalization**_
**Design of Centralized ****Downtown Business District**** **
**Zoning- Design Concept Development ****Districts/Downtown Corridor District**
**Development of ****Gateway(s)**** to Island**
**Sustainable ****Small Town Community**** Development**

## Economic Development that is compatible with island environment and community life

_**East End Economic Opportunities**_
**Design/build a ****commercial tourist district ****that incorporates neighborhood services at Island’s East End/Ferry Landing**
**Develop a ****public transit**** system**
**Expand environmentally appropriate ****trailer/car parking**

## Economic Development that is compatible with island environment and community life

_**Working Waterfronts**_
**Consistent ****zoning**** that supports working waterfronts**
**Incorporate ****multifaceted working waterfront activities in the village**** business district**
**Promote ****commercial fishermen ****use of working waterfront for ****product sales and dockage**

## Economic Development that is compatible with island environment and community life

_**Nature Based Tourism**_
**Preserve and promote Dauphin Island’s ****history and culture**
**Expand tourist activities that are cultural or ****nature based**
**Protect all natural and cultural resources by determining ****user capacity vs. resource vulnerability**

## Protection of the Island’s natural resources 

_**Environmental Protections And Low Impact Growth**_
**Protect and sustain the ****Island’s groundwater**** shallow aquifer**
**Design and implement programs for ****canopy protection and habitat preservation**** of the maritime forest ecosystem**
**Preserve ****wetland and surface water ecosystems**** **
**Preserve and restore the ****island’s dune system**
**Pursue ****conservation based strategies**** that achieve low impact housing in the wooded areas of the island**

## Protection of the Island’s natural resources 

**Educate about ****value of West End**** to community sustainability**
**Identify beach ****stabilization alternatives ****(renourishment vs. “let go”)**
**Determine ****best use benefits**** of West End to support island wide community well being**
**Identify ****methods for beach environmental protection**** and dune restoration/preservation**

_**Alternative Development Strategies for West End**_

## Working Together Coordinating Island Governing Entities

**Expansion of local ****revenue sources**** to support Town growth**
**Coordination and collaboration**** among** **governing entities**** **

## Balancing ProgressProjects and Policies

- Ordinance development, modifications
- Zoning Changes -Comprehensive Plan Update
- Public Outreach and awareness
- On the Ground Projects

## “Show Stoppers” to ImplementationFunding Limitations

**Local ****Money**
**Technical ****Assistance****/Planning support**
**Regulatory**** Obstacles**
**Future**** of Oil and Gas Royalties**
**Sustainable ****Tax Base**
**Grant ****Eligibility**

## “Show Stoppers” to Implementation Market Limitations               

**Supply vs. demand of ****housing****—the glut**
**Insurance**** issues**
**Available ****workforce**** to meet seasonal employment demands**

## “Show Stoppers” to Implementation Nature’s Limitations 

- Future Storm Events
- Continued Accretion/Erosion
- Salt Water Intrusion
- Deforestation/Loss of wetlands

## What The Future HoldsAlready in Action

**Wetlands ****Ordinance ****Revision**
**Working ****Waterfronts**** Workgroup**
**Village and West End ****Design ****Projects with Auburn and MASGC**

**Funding sought for ****East End Beach Re-nourishment**** **
**Dauphin Island Bird Sanctuaries ****acquisition**** of wetlands**
**MASGC Legal Program ****Evaluation of Existing Ordinances ****and covenants**

## Where Do We Go From Here?

- Adoption of plan by Town Council
- Presentation to the public
- Determination of implementation process
- Partnering with local, state, federal agencies
- Soliciting “Island Stakeholders” to champion issues
- Prioritization of action items
- Implementation of projects