Gulf Shores
Gulf Shores Hit Pause on Growth. The Clock Runs Out Before the Plan Is Done.
The city froze rezonings and new PUDs in March while a $500,000 consultant writes a 20-year plan. The freeze expires in March 2027. On the city's own timeline, the plan isn't due until after that.
On March 23, 2026, the Gulf Shores City Council put a pause of up to 12 months on rezonings, new planned unit developments, conditional use permits and major subdivisions outside approved PUDs that extend streets and utilities. It ends sooner if the council acts on the finished plan. Applications already accepted before that date keep moving. (City of Gulf Shores)
Mayor Robert Craft's explanation: "This is about thoughtful growth." The stated goal is to make sure growth matches roads, utilities and the long-term vision a new Comprehensive Plan will set. (same source)
The plan, and who's writing it
The council hired Interboro Partners, LLC, a planning firm based in Brooklyn and Detroit, for up to $500,000: $300,000 in this year's budget and $200,000 in next year's. (1819 News) The city picked Interboro after a nationwide search that drew 12 proposals. (NBC15)
The finished document, branded "The Gulf Shores Plan," is meant to guide land use, housing, transportation, economic development, parks, resilience, infrastructure and public services through 2045. (City of Gulf Shores) It builds on Vision 2035, the city's earlier resident-input effort, which the city described as focusing on areas like healthcare access, environmental stewardship, planned growth, education and economic opportunity. (City engagement page)
Do the math
- March 23, 2026: development pause starts (city)
- July 14, 2026: first public meeting on the plan; city describes a 12-month process (NBC15)
- Oct. 28, 2026: council meeting on a vision statement for the plan (agenda)
- March 23, 2027: pause expires unless extended
- About July 2027: plan finish, if the 12 months run from the July kickoff
- About Sept. 2027: latest the pause can run, with both allowed extensions (six months total)
If the plan runs on schedule, it finishes about four months after the pause expires. That means the council is likely to face a vote to extend the pause next spring, and possibly a second one after that. Every extension is a decision about who gets to build what, and when.
What to watch
- Impact fees. A new impact fee schedule from consultant TischlerBise was on the Nov. 2 work session agenda, and the council could vote on it Nov. 9. A lawsuit settlement requires the update to cover schools, parks and transportation. Proposed fees for a new single-family home run from $4,831 for 1,000 square feet or less to $15,326 for 4,000 square feet or more. (Gulf Coast Media)
- The vision statement. The council met Oct. 28 to shape it. No public summary has been posted yet.
- Vision 2035 itself. We could not find a published Vision 2035 document on the city's website. If the new plan builds on it, residents should be able to read it.
How to weigh in
The plan's website is thegulfshoresplan.com. Planners held a walking tour Oct. 29 at Canal Park and an open house Oct. 30. (City of Gulf Shores) Island Insider will track every public session and report what residents said and what made it into the plan.
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