RSA sues Baldwin County over Point Clear planning district

Dear Editors,

I am pleased to see Planning District 19 being challenged (“RSA sues Baldwin County over Point Clear planning District” by Gabriel Tynes, Lagniappe, 1/5/22). Unfortunately, it may be revisited in the courts, which is exactly what the people of the area had hoped to avoid. I was at the Baldwin County Commission on Feb. 2, 2021, and expressed concerns related to the election process held in Planning District 19. However, the minutes are absent from what I actually said, which was that while the process may have been followed within Alabama code, the manner by which the election was carried out was unethical. Essentially, just because it’s legal doesn’t make it right.

There was a whole population of people that were removed, misinformed or not given adequate access to this process, particularly during a time of heightened COVID. Nationally the people were voting for a president by mail-in but locally we couldn’t make a way? The County Commission did nothing to evaluate the concerns of these people other than refer to a zoning statute made in 2010. The people in attendance wanted to know what actions they could take regarding this unethical behavior to which the Commission, through the County Lawyer, said take it to the Circuit Court of Baldwin County. I believe they are still pursuing that.

But let’s be clear: Unfortunately, RSA is not filing their lawsuit on behalf of these people, they are filing because they have been a land developing bully in the Point Clear and Fairhope communities and their wings have been clipped by Planning District 19. I hope the entire course of events and actions associated with this are reviewed and county officials reprimanded. The constituents of the community deserve a fair and just outcome for all those concerned. The districts will come by legitimate vote, RSA will be relegated to its proper place and the people will have a say as to what happens in their communities.

Thank you,

James Black
Fairhope