BIG IDEAS FOR ALOE BAY
In the Aloe Bay update for this week we are going to discuss the final two BIG IDEAS from the Town Center Master Plan. As a reminder, these BIG IDEAS outline the vision for the plan which serves as a guide to the future of the Town Center area. These next points are tied together through the premise that as the Town Center develops it should serve the local community by addressing environmental resiliency and access to nature, and balance all the elements essential to a thriving Town Center with the things that make Dauphin Island special. In essence, at the heart of the plan are these BIG IDEAS which help guide implementation for the community and town leaders to maintain orientation toward the creation of a successful Town Center. For previous Aloe Bay updates on the other BIG IDEAS, please the Aloe Bay website (https://www.aloebay.org).
BIG IDEA NUMBER 4:
INCREASE ACCESS TO NATURE AND BUILD SUSTAINABLY.
The plan should focus on the environment as well as the economy by increasing access to nature and building sustainably. Access to nature can be provided by boardwalks along the northern estuaries, the De Soto waterfront, and kayak/blue way trails. This can be done in conjunction with Dauphin Island Sea Lab, The Estuarium, and government research of coastal ecology and natural environment. This should include an eco-tourism center to promote the ecology and environment of the regional through sustainable tourism. There should be protection for oystering activities near Aloe Bay because they provide economic benefits as well as ecological benefits (filtering and cleaning water). The town center should be built for storms and turbulent seas. This means there should be ‘green infrastructure’ to address stormwater and flooding.
Essential to the planning team through the process was the idea that ecology and natural environment should be respected for new developments. Integrated into the plan are recommendations for building techniques such as green infrastructure, low environmental impact designs, and considerations for sea level rise. These recommendations should be applied primarily during construction and implementation to mitigate the negative influences on the natural environment. By creating a walkable, bikable, and multimodal friendly place, and lowering parking demands the Town Center could reduce the need for automobile traffic and excessively large parking areas, which meets resiliency goals by reducing the spatial demand of cars and carbon emissions. Green infrastructure should be an integral part of the overall stormwater management system in Aloe Bay due to its ability to filter, clean, and absorb stormwater runoff. Green infrastructure can also be designed as an amenity with additional benefits for wildlife, recreation, and interaction with nature.
Throughout the planning process we heard the community desire to increase access to the natural environment. The waterfront can support a variety of different recreational uses, but access and public space near the waterfront is currently limited. Many residents voiced the desire for more public spaces such as docks for fishing, nature trails, and boardwalks. The plan for those opportunities are not only specifically incorporated into the Town Center, but the plan also supports the other on-going efforts for improving ecologically sensitive access around Aloe Bay.
Coastal ecology is one of the most important things to consider regarding Aloe Bay future developments. It is crucial to protect both flora, and fauna. The landscape and wildlife could be impacted by a lack of knowledge on the native ecology of the area. It is important to educate both residents and visitors on how to take good care of their environmental surroundings.
