Meet The Team
The Gulf Shores Plan is a collaborative effort led by the City of Gulf Shores, bringing together local leadership, community members, technical experts, and planning professionals to create a shared vision for the city's future.
Supported by a multidisciplinary consultant team and informed by the guidance of the Advisory Committee and Topical Working Groups, the planning process combines technical expertise, local knowledge, and community priorities to help shape recommendations for Gulf Shores' future growth and development.
Most importantly, the Gulf Shores Plan is shaped by the people of Gulf Shores. Through surveys, workshops, open houses, pop-up events, stakeholder meetings, and ongoing engagement opportunities, residents, business owners, workers, property owners, and visitors will play a central role in defining the vision, goals, and strategies that will guide the community for years to come.
City of Gulf Shores, Alabama
The City of Gulf Shores is leading the development of the Gulf Shores Plan, a community-driven Comprehensive Plan that will guide future growth, investment, and decision-making through 2045. Building on the principles of Smart Growth, sustainable development, and New Urbanism, the City is committed to creating a place-based plan that reflects community priorities and provides a clear, accessible vision for the future of Gulf Shores.
Lee W. Jones, AICP, PLA
Assistant City Administrator, Community Development
O: 251-968-3979
lee.jones@gulfshoresal.gov
Jonathan Walker
City Administrator,
Executive Department
O: 251-968-1126
jwalker@gulfshoresal.gov
Blake Phelps
Director of Economic Development & Public Affairs, Economic Development
O: 251-968-1170
bphelps@gulfshoresal.gov
Advisory Committee
The Advisory Committee is composed of community leaders, stakeholders, City representatives, and partner organizations who provide guidance throughout the planning process. Committee members help review project findings, identify opportunities and challenges, and ensure the Gulf Shores Plan reflects community priorities and local knowledge.
Topical Working Groups
The Gulf Shores Plan is supported by a series of Topic Working Groups that provide expertise and feedback on key planning issues. Working Groups help inform recommendations, identify priorities, and explore opportunities related to the plan's six core elements:
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Land Use
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Housing
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Urban Design & Public Realm
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Multi-Modal Mobility
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Environmental Resilience
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Economic Development
Working Groups include City staff, technical experts, community stakeholders, and agency partners with experience and interest in each topic area.
Community Ambassadors
Get Involved with The Gulf Shores Plan as a Community Ambassador!
The City of Gulf Shores is seeking Expressions of Interest from active and well-connected community members to serve as informal Community Ambassadors during the development of the Gulf Shores Plan.
What are Community Ambassadors?
Community Ambassadors are trusted representatives from local organizations, neighborhood groups, faith-based institutions, schools, businesses, and community networks throughout Gulf Shores. They serve as liaisons between the planning process and the communities they represent—sharing information, promoting engagement opportunities, and helping gather input.
By working through established relationships and meeting people where they are, Community Ambassadors help expand participation beyond traditional outreach methods and support a more inclusive and representative planning process.
Participation is flexible and designed to fit within Ambassadors' existing community involvement. Ambassadors will receive project updates, engagement materials, and opportunities to help share information and encourage participation at key moments throughout the planning process.
Whether you're involved in a local organization, connected to a community network, or simply passionate about the future of Gulf Shores, we encourage you to apply and help shape the Gulf Shores Plan.
Community Members
The Gulf Shores Plan is a community-driven effort, and residents, business owners, workers, property owners, and visitors will play a central role in shaping the plan.
Throughout the planning process, community members will have opportunities to share ideas, identify priorities, provide feedback, and help establish a shared vision for Gulf Shores' future through surveys, public workshops, open houses, pop-up events, stakeholder meetings, and online engagement activities.
Meet The Consultant Team!
Interboro Partners
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Prime Consultant: Project management, comprehensive planning, urban design, and community engagement.
Code Studio
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Land Use & Implementation: Land use strategy, development framework, and form-based implementation.
Common Ground
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Urban Design: Urban design visioning and character area frameworks.
MPACT
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Community Engagement: Public engagement strategy, outreach, and facilitation.
Randall Gross / Development Economics
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Economic Development: Market analysis and economic development strategy.
Toole Design
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Mobility Planning: Multi-modal mobility planning and transportation strategy.
Waggonner & Ball
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Environmental Resilience: Landscape architecture, coastal resilience, and environmental planning.