The Gulf Shores Plan is organized around six plan elements. These are the major topics the plan will address, such as housing, transportation, the environment, and economic development. For each element, we’ve drafted a vision describing where Gulf Shores should be in the future, along with a set of goals that describe what the city will need to accomplish to get there.
These visions and goals will provide the foundation for the next stage of the planning process, guiding the strategies, recommendations, and actions that make up the final plan.
Now we want to know what you think. Choose one of the six plan elements to review—or as many as you’d like—and tell us what we got right, what we missed, and what you would change.
To learn more about the Gulf Shores Plan, visit our Website or follow us on Instagram for the latest updates.
This survey takes about 10 minutes.
Watch the video to respond
Never submit passwords Report abuse
'Oops! something went wrong.',
Start with one. You’ll have the option to review more at the end.
Watch the video to respond
Never submit passwords Report abuse
'Oops! something went wrong.',
Feel free to copy the text above and edit it.
Watch the video to respond
Never submit passwords Report abuse
'Oops! something went wrong.',
What We Heard: Survey and open house feedback favored existing centers and conservation. We’ve heard repeated requests to slow or stop development, retain open land, and improve existing places; other entries support suitable infill, mixed-use centers, and housing. It does not establish agreement to build out all available land.
Watch the video to respond
Never submit passwords Report abuse
'Oops! something went wrong.',
What We Heard: Across the survey and open house, we’ve heard respondents link additional development to traffic, drainage, utility reliability, schools, and emergency services. Many want infrastructure first or a pause in growth; others favor coordinated expansion. Requests for repairs and services in existing neighborhoods are as important as new capacity.
Watch the video to respond
Never submit passwords Report abuse
'Oops! something went wrong.',
What We Heard: Quiet, safety, neighbors, and trees recur across the survey and open house. We’ve also heard about cut-through traffic, airport or road noise, rental-event activity, and concern that district improvements could diminish nearby residential life. Some welcome new destinations; others want their neighborhoods to remain primarily residential.
Watch the video to respond
Never submit passwords Report abuse
'Oops! something went wrong.',
What We Heard: Survey and open house feedback supported connections among housing, shops, parks, and services. We’ve heard detailed requests for walkable mixed-use centers and nearby daily needs, alongside objections to turning quiet neighborhoods into destinations. The goal remains useful when applied to suitable places rather than uniformly across the city.
Watch the video to respond
Never submit passwords Report abuse
'Oops! something went wrong.',
What We Heard: Survey and open house feedback asked for coordination and accountability. We’ve heard respondents question whether input changes decisions, request follow-through on promised parks and infrastructure, and raise access to meetings and fair treatment of businesses and property owners. Other respondents praise City staff and current improvements. These views call for visible delivery, not unverified findings of misconduct.
Watch the video to respond
Never submit passwords Report abuse
'Oops! something went wrong.',
Feel free to copy the text above and edit it.
Watch the video to respond
Never submit passwords Report abuse
'Oops! something went wrong.',
What We Heard: Survey and open house feedback connected housing costs to workforce retention. We’ve heard from workers struggling to live near jobs and homeowners worried about rising insurance and other carrying costs, plus requests for starter and senior housing. Affordability is not only about attracting new residents or producing vacation accommodation.
Watch the video to respond
Never submit passwords Report abuse
'Oops! something went wrong.',
What We Heard: Across the survey and open house, some respondents request apartments, duplexes, smaller homes, and mixed-use housing; others strongly oppose apartments, dense subdivisions, and taller buildings. We’ve also heard requests for starter, senior, and accessible housing. The draft retains housing choice as an outcome to test, not a claimed consensus on density or a particular product.
Watch the video to respond
Never submit passwords Report abuse
'Oops! something went wrong.',
What We Heard: Survey and open house feedback raised short-term-rental concerns. We’ve heard respondents distinguish quieter residential life from visitor accommodation and object to large rental houses as well as condos. Others value a balance of uses or seek more rental flexibility. Long-term tenants, seasonal residents, and short-term visitors should not be treated as one category.
Watch the video to respond
Never submit passwords Report abuse
'Oops! something went wrong.',
What We Heard: Survey and open house feedback criticized repetitive and out-of-scale development. We’ve heard requests for varied housing, retained trees, adequate space, and parking that does not obstruct walking or emergency access. A renter specifically describes repair and building-condition concerns. This broadens the goal from the appearance of new development to the condition of existing housing.
Watch the video to respond
Never submit passwords Report abuse
'Oops! something went wrong.',
What We Heard: Survey and open house feedback located housing near services and developed areas. We’ve heard respondents connect housing costs, work commutes, transportation, and access to everyday needs; some residents describe the value of remaining independent close to shops and services. These accounts strengthen the existing goal without settling which specific sites should receive housing.
Watch the video to respond
Never submit passwords Report abuse
'Oops! something went wrong.',
Feel free to copy the text above and edit it.
Watch the video to respond
Never submit passwords Report abuse
'Oops! something went wrong.',
What We Heard: Survey and open house feedback favored local businesses. We’ve heard about retaining older premises, commercial rents, fair permitting, vacant storefronts, and disruption during roadwork or major events. Others want chains and broader choice. The goal supports local enterprise without treating a chain ban or specific subsidy as agreed policy.
Watch the video to respond
Never submit passwords Report abuse
'Oops! something went wrong.',
What We Heard: Survey and open house feedback supported diversification. We’ve heard about pressures from wages, benefits, seasonality, and multiple jobs—not just a job shortage. Respondents suggest healthcare, professional services, trades, and other sectors; some oppose industrial or airport expansion. These are directions to test, not validated target industries.
Watch the video to respond
Never submit passwords Report abuse
'Oops! something went wrong.',
What We Heard: Survey and open house feedback described Gulf Shores as a community, not only a destination. We’ve heard respondents recognize tourism’s economic role and request off-season activity, but also ask for quieter periods, less crowding, and better resident access. Some welcome festivals; others experience disruption. A year-round economy is not automatically a mandate for peak tourism all year.
Watch the video to respond
Never submit passwords Report abuse
'Oops! something went wrong.',
What We Heard: Survey and open house feedback linked housing, learning, and workforce retention. We’ve heard respondents connect wages and housing with transport, work schedules, childcare, training, and opportunities for younger and older workers. These issues concern access to employment and advancement, not just attracting additional workers.
Watch the video to respond
Never submit passwords Report abuse
'Oops! something went wrong.',
What We Heard: Across the survey and open house, we’ve heard repeated requests for primary and specialist care, senior services, food choices, arts, and activities for young people. Others consider existing provision sufficient or prefer supporting businesses already here. The earlier goal is made more specific about resident needs without promising a hospital, store, or attraction.
Watch the video to respond
Never submit passwords Report abuse
'Oops! something went wrong.',
Feel free to copy the text above and edit it.
Watch the video to respond
Never submit passwords Report abuse
'Oops! something went wrong.',
What We Heard: Across the survey and open house, we’ve heard repeated concerns about crossing hazards, speeding and cut-through traffic, red-light behavior, obstructed sidewalks, and faster bikes or carts on walking paths. Others defend e-bikes and seek more golf-cart access. The common problem is safe coexistence, not an assumed agreement on blanket vehicle bans.
Watch the video to respond
Never submit passwords Report abuse
'Oops! something went wrong.',
What We Heard: We’ve heard requests for connected routes, distinguishing recreation trails from routes that reach everyday destinations. Specific needs include County Roads 6 and 8, northern neighborhoods, West Beach, and older island streets; some describe disability, stairs, traffic, or missing links that prevent otherwise short trips.
Watch the video to respond
Never submit passwords Report abuse
'Oops! something went wrong.',
What We Heard: At the open house and in the survey, we’ve heard concerns about Highway 59 and Fort Morgan congestion, turn-lane backups, difficulty leaving neighborhoods, road repairs, event traffic, and prolonged construction impacts on businesses. Some favor widening or roundabouts; others prioritize maintenance or fewer cars. Specific projects require current-network analysis.
Watch the video to respond
Never submit passwords Report abuse
'Oops! something went wrong.',
What We Heard: Survey responses repeatedly request trolleys, buses, shuttles, park-and-ride, and affordable travel for workers, older adults, visitors, and people without cars. Golf-cart connections attract both support and opposition. The draft strengthens the need for usable service while leaving mode, coverage, and operations open to testing.
Watch the video to respond
Never submit passwords Report abuse
'Oops! something went wrong.',
What We Heard: We’ve heard requests for neighborhood connections, more route choices, and safer emergency access, but also concerns about cut-through traffic in Craft Farms, Gulf Pines, Wedgewood, and other residential areas. Some oppose particular extensions or routing changes. Connections should be evaluated for benefits and effects, not assumed beneficial everywhere.
Watch the video to respond
Never submit passwords Report abuse
'Oops! something went wrong.',
Feel free to copy the text above and edit it.
Watch the video to respond
Never submit passwords Report abuse
'Oops! something went wrong.',
What We Heard: We’ve heard strong support for conservation. Responses object to filling every remaining parcel and describe habitat fragmentation, loss of wildlife routes, and impacts beside new subdivisions; others support limited development on suitable land. These reports support a connected-landscape approach but do not establish specific violations.
Watch the video to respond
Never submit passwords Report abuse
'Oops! something went wrong.',
What We Heard: We’ve heard drainage and flood concerns. Responses repeatedly request ditch and culvert maintenance, describe standing water and neighborhood flooding, and worry that site changes worsen conditions nearby. Clear maintenance responsibilities and upstream and downstream relationships are as important as designing for new development.
Watch the video to respond
Never submit passwords Report abuse
'Oops! something went wrong.',
What We Heard: We’ve heard a focus on Little Lagoon and water quality. Responses raise pressure, sewage, runoff, circulation, and boating concerns, often firsthand. Some request dredging or jetties, but the survey does not prove their effectiveness or a systemwide shortage, contamination event, or cause; technical evidence must guide the response.
Watch the video to respond
Never submit passwords Report abuse
'Oops! something went wrong.',
What We Heard: We’ve heard repeated requests for trees and shade, and strong concern about clearing mature trees, loss of wooded neighborhood identity, and long-term upkeep of required landscaping. Respondents value both natural canopy and planted streetscapes. These reinforce the existing goal without establishing a citywide canopy-loss rate.
Watch the video to respond
Never submit passwords Report abuse
'Oops! something went wrong.',
What We Heard: We’ve heard calls for emergency preparedness and flood planning, and concern about storm-resistant housing, utilities, emergency access, and the ability of existing neighborhoods to recover after growth. These strengthen the all-hazards goal; individual service deficits and project feasibility still need verification.
Watch the video to respond
Never submit passwords Report abuse
'Oops! something went wrong.',
Feel free to copy the text above and edit it.
Watch the video to respond
Never submit passwords Report abuse
'Oops! something went wrong.',
What We Heard: Across the survey and open house, we’ve heard strong value for local identity and objections to generic buildings, blocked water views, high-rise or oversized coastal buildings, and repetitive development. Some favor creative mixed-use design or taller housing; others prefer low buildings. These responses do not establish a citywide height limit.
Watch the video to respond
Never submit passwords Report abuse
'Oops! something went wrong.',
What We Heard: We’ve heard support for activity in existing centers, including downtown and Waterway Village improvements, older-storefront reuse, and local businesses, but others worry about losing neighborhood peace or changing places they already value. The opportunity is selective improvement, not making every area a tourist destination.
Watch the video to respond
Never submit passwords Report abuse
'Oops! something went wrong.',
What We Heard: At the open house and in the survey, we’ve heard repeated requests for neighborhood parks, the Coastal Gateway park, northern recreation access, pools, libraries, senior activities, and indoor places for children and younger adults. Others praise existing facilities or prefer better use of them to new construction. Both facilities and programming merit assessment.
Watch the video to respond
Never submit passwords Report abuse
'Oops! something went wrong.',
What We Heard: We’ve heard requests for shade, comfortable public space, seating, restrooms, and accessibility, along with concerns about cracked paths, overgrowth, unclear maintenance responsibility, blocked sidewalks, and facility crowding. Some want more lighting; others want less glare and wildlife-sensitive lighting. Improvements should be tailored rather than uniform.
Watch the video to respond
Never submit passwords Report abuse
'Oops! something went wrong.',
What We Heard: Survey and open house participants value waterfront access, especially beach parking and boating, with concerns about parking eligibility and retaining the canal boat launch. Views differ on full-time residents, seasonal owners, renters, workers, and visitors. The goal addresses access without endorsing one eligibility rule or assuming a reported closure is confirmed.
Watch the video to respond
Never submit passwords Report abuse
'Oops! something went wrong.',
Watch the video to respond
Never submit passwords Report abuse
'Oops! something went wrong.',
These questions help us understand who is participating in the planning process. Responses are optional and will only be reported in aggregate.
Watch the video to respond
Never submit passwords Report abuse
'Oops! something went wrong.',
Your feedback will help us refine the draft vision and goals for the Gulf Shores Plan. Want to stay in the loop? Visit our Website or follow us on Instagram for updates and upcoming events.
Questions? Email us at [email protected].
This form was created for FREE using Youform.