Mayor wants big turnout June 6 as town explores adopting Form Based Code to help attract new businesses
Flomaton Mayor Dewey Bondurant Jr., is asking Flomaton residents to show up and show up in big numbers on Thursday, June 6, when John Robert Smith comes to town to make a presentation about Smart Growth America's Form Based Code program which the mayor says can drastically help Flomaton grow for the future.
Smith, chairman of T4 America and policy advisor for Smart Growth America, will be in Flomaton on June 6 to meet with residents, business leaders, land owners and others to explain the Form Based Code concept.
Mayor Bondurant first met Smith in Atmore when that city had a series of workshops to develop strategies for long-term economic growth.
Smith used the Form Based Code concept during his 16 years as mayor of Meridian, Miss., which helped produce a major revitalization of the downtown area in that city.
As Bondurant explained, Form Based Code is a great alternative to zoning. It is designed to shape land usage and keep non-conforming things from being next to each other.
Bondurant previously said he has had about five businesses that were interested in coming to Flomaton but didn't come because the town was not zoned. He added a motel wouldn't come since the town had no zoning but said the Form Based Code will open the door for new development in the town.
The town council previously agreed to spend about $3,000 to have Smith come to town to make his presentation.
“I don't want him to come down here and nobody shows up,” Bondurant said. “June 6 is a very important day for the town of Flomaton.”
The day will begin at 9 a.m. at town hall with a safe community meeting involving pastors and church leaders; a meeting with downtown business owners will be held at 9:30 a.m.; major property owners at 10 a.m.; health and education at 10:30 a.m. and a meeting with the town council at 11 a.m.
Following lunch, all residents of Flomaton are asked to be at town hall at 1 p.m.
“We need everybody to show up,” Bondurant said. “The direction this town takes for the next 50-plus years may depend on what happens June 6.”
More details about the June 6 meetings will be forthcoming.
