Fairhope Single Tax Corporation

FSTC donates 42 acres for nature park

The Fairhope Single Tax Corporation donated another forty-two acres of land to the City of Fairhope for development as a nature park. Charles Ham, FSTC Secretary, presented the deed to Mayor James P. Nix at the City Council meeting on Monday, June 26, 2000. "The presentation of this deed to the city affirms our long standing commitment to the City of Fairhope, assisting with parks and services", said Ham.

This land, which is part of the Weeks Bay watershed, is located at the southwest corner of Highway 13 and Highway 44 (Twin Beech Road). It is to be restored to open, undeveloped parkland with removal of kudzu and other alien vegetation, the addition of nature trails, and a model restoration of the environment of Cowpen Creek.

The City of Fairhope is clarifying the possible use of this donation of approximately 42 acres to serve as a "mitigation bank" for another 420 acres of new development, as the City requires a 10 percent set-aside for green space/parkland in all new developments over 10 acres. Details have yet to be worked out, but developers may be able to draw on this mitigation bank to be relieved of their obligation to set aside one or more acres of a new development. They would, however, be required to put back into the "bank" either land or money equal to the value that they received. This, in turn, would allow for the possibility of another donation of parkland in the future. Hopefully this could allow for continued availability of large parks for the City of Fairhope.

Copyright © 2000 Fairhope Single Tax Corporation. All rights reserved.
Revised: October 15, 2002