Leaders, residents meet to discuss land use plan

By Ebony Horton

Published: June 30, 2008

OZARK — The year 1939 was decades behind the technological and household advancements Stan Parker enjoys now at his residence along Dale County Road 36, near Coffee County. What has been consistent for a man who enjoyed life before and after World War II, however, has been the impact that changes over Fort Rucker have had near his home.

Parker was one of about 20 residents who attended a Joint Land Use Study in Ozark on Monday for answers. Scott Farmer, community development director for the Southeast Alabama Regional Planning and Development Commission, said noise, vibration and safety are the largest impacts from Fort Rucker affecting residents nearby.

One purpose of the land use study is to develop strategic goals to help maintain Fort Rucker’s training mission without degrading the public health, safety and welfare of surrounding communities, he said.

Farmer said the study was essential to assuring any future growth at Fort Rucker would also address areas with training air and stage fields through areas north of Dale County.

The next step after a series of community meetings is to finalize the land use plan and then have it adopted by Fort Rucker and each local government, Farmer said.

“If Fort Rucker’s training mission changes three years from now some (of the plan) will be a little different. This (plan) gives us the best idea we have at this time with what’s going on,” Farmer said.
“For some people already in the areas, Fort Rucker sets priority of property they want to see preserved. So we can take what the priorities are of the (communities) and Fort Rucker. What Ozark can do is different from what unincorporated Dale County could do, and what Houston County could do would be different from what Geneva County could do.”

Parker said he came out to the meeting to see how the plan might affect him.

“There’s a lot of flyin,’ lot of night flyin,’” Parker said of Fort Rucker’s effects in his area. “I just wanted to come out and see if there was any plan that would address that.”