ML042800044

Limestone County, Alabama Comprehensive Plan, 1983

ML042800044
Person / Time
Site:	Browns Ferry
Issue date:	07/31/1983
From:	Top of Alabama Regional Council of Govts
To:	Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, State of AL, Dept of Economic & Community Affairs
References
-RFPFR, HUD-B-82-DC-01-0001 ALA-TAC-083-12
Download: ML042800044 (191)

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BlBLlOGl3APHlC DATA 1. Report No 2 3. Rrcipienl's Accession No 1 SHEET ALA-TAC-083-12

4. Title and Subtitle I July, 1983 Comprehensive Plan, Limestone County, Alabama 6 7 Author(s) 8 Performing Organization Rept 10 Prolecl/T'ask/Work Unit No Top of Alabama Regional Council of Governments Third 115 Washington St,, SE 11 Contract/Grant No Huntsville, Alabama 35801 HUD-B-82-DC-01-0001 12 Sponsoring Organization Name and Address 13 Type of Report 8 Period Covered Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs Final Office of State Planning and Federal Programs Division 14 135 South Unian St.

Montgomery, AL 36130-5601

16. Abstracts The Comprehensive Plan presents a development plan for Limestone County, covering I a planning period of 1982-2000. This Plan includes plans for land use, community facilities, transportation, and a capital improvements program and capital improve-ments budget. Also included is a program f a r overall plan implementation, which emphasizes various avenues of cooperative endeavors to be undertaken by the munici-palities and county government. The Plan stresses several "growth corridors" in Limestone County - where future urban growth should occur because public facilities, utilities, and transportation services can be most easily developed in these corridor areas.

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7. Key Words and Document Analysis. 174. Descriptors i

I c 7c COSATI FieldIGroup 1RAvailabihty Sratcment National Technical Informalion 1

I 19 Securily Class (This Report)

Service UNCLASSIFIED 2285 Royal P o r t Road 22 P r i c e springfield.Virginia 22151 UNCLASSIFIEC

Reproduction of this document in whole or in part by a user is permitted. The preparation of this report was financed in part through a commnnity development block grant from the Department of Housing and Urban Development under the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, as amended; administered by the Office of State Planning and Federal Programs, Office of the Governor.

For Information Address:

Top of Alabama Regional Council of Governments 115 Washington St., SE Huntsville, AL 35801 First Printing Printed in the United States of America Cover Designed by Anderson Carroll Unique Report Number: ALA-TAC-083-12 Source of Copies: Limestone County Commission Courthouse Annex Washington Street Athens, AL 35612 National Technical Information Service 2285 Port Royal Road Springfield, Virginia 22151 Abstract:

The Comprehensive Plan presents a development plan for Limestone County, cover-ing a planning period of 1982-2000. This Plan includes plans for land use, community facilities, transportation, and a capital improvements program and capital improvements budget. Also included is a program for overall plan im-plementation which emphasizes various avenues of cooperative endeavors to be undertaken by the municipalities and county government. The Plan stresses several "growth corridors" in Limestone County where future urban growth should occur because public facilities, utilities, and transportation services can be most easily developed in these corridor areas.

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CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION Today's increasing population growth, the pace of urbanization and the resultant problems point to the critical need for comprehensive planning. Local officials and citizens alike are becoming increasingly aware of the effects of haphazard development. They are concerned not only with technological and economic development, but also with trends in population growth and distribution, employment, land use development, environmental quality, housing, the provision of adequate public facilities and services and their implications for the future of Limestone County.

Metropolitan Huntsville, of which Limestone County is a part, is a rapidly urbanizing area. The Huntsville SMSA which comprises Madison, Marshall, and Limestone Counties has grown from 201,879 in 1960 to 308,593 in 1980. Accord-ing to recent population projections, the SMSA will contain over 500,000 per-sons by the year 2000.

The steady growth of the region's population and economy will result in the expenditure of millions of dollars over the next twenty-year period for housing, industrial expansion and construction, and for public services and facilities. Since investment in these facilities will have a far reaching im-pact on Limestone County's development, decisions for expenditures can best be guided by effectively related public policies and programs. Thus, the need for realistic county planning is becoming increasingly evident in Limestone County.

INTENT The Limestone County Comprehensive Plan has as its basic intent the estab-lishment of a long-range public policy which provides for the coordinated de-velopment of all elements of the county to create a satisfying and efficient en-vironment for its residents; and the development of short-range development activities designed to implement short-range objectives and development poli-cies.

The Comprehensive Plan must consider all aspects of county activity, pro-viding policies and guiding future decisions relative to countywide development and land use. Its recommendations bear directly upon the decision-making of public bodies within the county, coordinating public decisions of a wide variety of governmental boards or commissions so that decisions may be mutually rein-forcing.

The Plan is a l s o intended for use by the private sector. Since the Plan is based upon citizen involvement, it reflects preferences on the part of 1

I residents of Limestone County that should be respected and reinforced by the private business community. I The Plan is general in nature, and its policy recommendations concentrate upon issues countywi.de in scope. The policies will provide a guide for deter-mining which uses are appropriate in which areas and when development should I take place.

GOALS 1 The planning process involves many different elements which include the establishment of goals and objectives followed by the formulation of,some means of achieving the desired goals. The Limestone County planning program is con-I cerned with the future of the county--its environment, its economy, and above all the welfare of its people. The goals selected for the Limestone County plan provide the basic framework for the physical arrangement of land uses and I the social and economic development of the county.

The goals selected for the Limestone County plan includer I a Develop a strong, diversified economic base, and provide for the orderly distribution of employment opportunities throughout the county. I a Protect and manage the diverse and valuable land, water, and air resources a

of the county for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.

Develop and maintain a harmoniously balanced ecological system for the I

county in the context of regional problems and solutions and develop methods that enable man to continue physical development of the county without detriment to the environment.

I a Provide all residents with opportunities f o r a wide range of econamic, social, educational, health, commercial, and recreational activities and 1

facilities.

0 Provide safe and adequate housing f a r all county residents with an oppor-tunity for choice among alternative living environments.

1 Promote a safe, efficient, and functional transportation system to serve the needs of all citizens and to support all segments of the economic base I

in the movement of goods and people.

0 Coordinate future urban and agricultural development in order to provide I a harmonious arrangement of activities for total development in the county.

Reserve prime agricultural and forest lands and promote proper and inten-sive cultivation of agricultural areas. I PROCESS I

The planning process, although varying from county to county, consists of several interrelated and continuing activities. The Comprehensive Plan is not I

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I i simply a product of the Limestone County Commission. Many county citizens and all local governments within the county have been involved in the process; and I the Plan is, in large part, a product of the advice, assistance, and comment of the people and governments of Limestone County.

1 The process of planning for countywide development, as employed in Lime-

%tone County, can be summarized in the following outline of major steps:

Phase I I 1. Research and Analysis 2 . Problem Identification and Goal Formulation 1 3. Development and Evaluation of Alternatives

4. Development and Refinement of Plan Proposal

5. Plan Adoption 1 Phase I1

1. Implementation Activities 1 2.

3.

Other comprehensive Planning Activities Updating and Revision 1 Citizens and local governments have been invol-:eci in the process of the major steps in Phase I, and it is the intent to rnaiT-tain opportunities for citizen participation and increased local goverinenzs involvement throughout 1 Phase 11.

COMPONENTS OF C O M P R E H E N S I V E P L A N 1 The Comprehensive Plan for Limestone County, crzsented in the following sections, consists of five interrelated elements:

I 1. The Population and Economic Analyses prese-ts en analysis of age, sex, race, income, employment, education, and other 52-acteristics of the population essential to the development 0 5 f-xczio-al plans. Projections of the population and employment are a l s o p r e s t ? - t e 3 to form a basis for 1 future recommendations.

2. The Community Facilities Plan proposes a s y s z - z 35 2ublic facilities for 1 the county designed to provide a level of pCbi:c services and facilities appropriate to the existing and anticipated sizs ~ ? dcomposition of the population.

I 3. The Housing Element is prepared in accorsance -*-Lz?. the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1968 and the Housing and Cc-;;-.xity Development Act of 1974. The Housing work program analyzes the exiszing housing market in I terms of condition, supply and demand. Ho7:sk; zolicies are developed which insure the provisions of an adequate s x s 2 l y of housing and a decent residential environment throughout the COU~~~:J.

1 4. The Major Thoroughfare Plan proposes a circularior. system for the movement of people and goods in Limestone County. It 1 5 2ased primarily on I

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I p r o p o s a l s of t h e A l a b a m a Highway Department. A d d i t i o n a l recommendations f o r highway improvements a r e made by t h e Limestone County Board of Com-I m i s s i o n e r s and TARCOG. Recommendations i n c l u d e improvements t o t h e l o c a l t h o r o u g h f a r e s s e r v i n g Limestone County d e s i g n e d p r i m a r i l y t o improve t r a f -

f i c flow and r e d u c e t r a f f i c c o n f l i c t s and c o n g e s t i o n .

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5. The F u t u r e Land U s e P l a n i d e n t i f i e s t h e l o c a t i o n and i t e n s i t y of f u t u r e county development. P o l i c i e s a r e p r e s e n t e d i n o r d e r t o p r o v i d e s p e c i f i c I c r i t e r i a t o be a p p l i e d i n e v a l u a t i n g proposed p r o j e c t s .

Accordingly, t h e P l a n r e c o g n i z e s t h e broad s t r u c t u r e of t h e county and d e a l s w i t h p o l i c i e s , o b j e c t i v e s , and s t a n d a r d s r a t h e r t h a n t h e d e t a i l e d s t a t i c I

a l l o c a t i o n s o f s p e c i f i c l a n d u s e s . The p o l i c i e s and o b j e c t i v e s form t h e b a s i s f o r more s p e c i f i c county and m u n i c i p a l p l a n s which c a n and s h o u l d be p r e p a r e d .

I I n o r d e r t o c r e a t e a more e f f e c t i v e , r e s p o n s i v e county p l a n n i n g p r o c e s s i n Limestone County over t h e n e x t s i x y e a r s , t h e r e p o r t c f f e r s a s e r i e s of recom-mendations. I 1.

These i n c l u d e :

Techniaues f o r Improvins t h e Countv Planning P r o c e s s 1

a. The e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f a v o l u n t a r y a s s o c i a t i o n of e l e c t e d and a p p o i n t e d l o c a l o f f i c i a l s t o m e e t r e g u l a r l y t o recommend major county p l a n n i n g 1

and c a p i t a l improvements programming d e c i s i o n . An o r g a n i z a t i o n of t h i s n a t u r e would promote awareness of common county problems and improve communication among a r e a o f f i c i a l s . A Count17 P l a n n i n g Commission c o u l d function i n t h i s capacity.

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b. The u n d e r t a k i n g by such an a s s o c i a t i o n of a c o o r d i n a t e d review and s c h e d u l i n g of c a p i t a l improvements p r o g r m s for major t h o r o u g h f a r e s ,

I s e w e r and water s e r v i c e s , e t c . Proper sche&Jling o f t h e s e programs would g u i d e t h e development p r o c e s s i n accor5ance w i t h p u b l i c o b j e c -

tives. I

c. The e s t a b l i s h m e n t of a Limestone County I n f o r n a t i o n S e r v i c e t o p r o v i d e a common base o f f a c t u a l knowledge t o p u b l i c and p r i v a t e i n v e s t o r s and t o e n a b l e them t o e v a l u a t e t h e i r a c t i o n s . V i t a l i n f o m a t i o n which would I

be g a t h e r e d and s t o r e d and d i s s e m i n a t e d p e r i o d i c a l l y would i n c l u d e :

1) Trend i n f o r m a t i o n c o n c e r n i n g p a s t and c u r r e n t d a t a on t h e c o u n t y s I

p o p u l a t i o n , economy, and l a n d development.

2) Program i n f o r m a t i o n c o n c e r n i n g e x i s t i n g and programmed county p u b l i c improvements and f e d e r a l and s t a t e a i d programs f o r county d e v e l -

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opment i n c l u d i n g open s p a c e , t r a n s p o r t a t i o n , and p u b l i c f a c i l i t i e s .

The r e v i s i o n and c o o r d i n a t i o n every f i v e y e a r s of t h e County Comprehen-I s i v e Plan.

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I c I dwelling units in the county, approximately 2,351 units were considered substandard. By the year 2000, approximately 20,000 additional dwelling 1 units will be required to house the county's population. The Plan, there-fore, establishes a set of policies to encourage sound housing develop-ment for people of every age, sex, race, income level and origin.

1 5. The Comprehensive Plan proposes the development of a coordinated transpor-tation system, including arterials, collectors, and local roads. Alabama Highway 53 should be four-laned from Huntsville to Ardmore, and the four-I laning of the U S . 72 bridge over the Elk River should be completed. Policy guidelines are presented to provide adequate circulation means for people and goods in relation to present and future land use patterns.

1 6. The Comprehensive Plan encourages greater variety and flexibility in resi-dential development. It encourages a diversity of life styles through a variety of dwelling types and their integration with well planned open I space, well located commercial facilities axd the prese-nation of needed environmental amenities. Population dexity criteria or residential areas are presented within which a variety of 5welling types can be achieved I and within which future services can be adeqJately planned and provided.

Development corridors are delineated alcnq i a a j o r highways of the county having growth potential. The uses inclilded in tlese._=ectors are those that 8 7.

have a strong necessity for accessibi1it:J.

The Comprehensive Plan recognizes the need for well balanced and well planned commercial development. The P 1 m maintains <?at m increase in 1 pre-planned, multi-purpose shopping centers should be encouraged and strip commercial development along major thoroughfares discourageci. A balanced pattern of community shopping z e a s throughout the county should I 8.

be encouraged with adequate provision fcr tke transportation system.

The Plan proposes that industrial develcsment is expected to increase t during the planning period. Most of the heustrial develoFment areas are located within or near the major urban zxeas. The county has existing natural assets, including rail, highway, a r i wazer trznssortation which will continue to aid its industrial grokx5. Tu5lic utilizies services, 1 including water, sewer, and gas are neekc? in t5e at'zaction of addi-tional industry. Policies are presentee whiz:? 3hou15 be XtilizeC! when determining location of industrial sites wi=?in the count-?.

I 9. The Comprehensive Plan recognizes the LTor-ance of open s_cace as a major aspect of environmental quality. T t sro&wsesto reserve prime agricultural land in the county for exclxsi-ze agricultural use. It I proposes that every effort be made to prese-ve zke r.atural open space and recreational resources of the county-. Gf pzrticxlar concern are tne land and water areas along major streams the Tennessee River.

I 10. The Plan emphasizes the need for continced cooriinstion efforts to keep pace with new approaches to problem solvinc.

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2. Development P o l i c i e s f o r Limestone County I

The r e p o r t f o r m u l a t e s p o l i c i e s or county l a n d u s e s : h o u s i n g , i n d u s t r y ,

commerce, and open s p a c e ; f o r p u b l i c f a c i l i t i e s and services: w a t e r , sewer, I r e c r e a t i o n , h e a l t h , f i r e and p o l i c e p r o t e c t i o n , s o l i d w a s t e and a d m i n i s t r a t i o n ,

1 and f o r t r a n s p o r t a t i o n and o t h e r f a c t o r s concerned w i t h c o u n t y development.

The p o l i c i e s a r e d e s i g n e d t o p r o v i d e a c l e a r and c o n s i s t e n t framework f o r 1

t h e Comprehensive P l a n and f o r programs d e s i g n e d t o implement t h e p l a n . They would p r o v i d e a d i r e c t b a s i s f o r p u b l i c and p r i v a t e a c t i o n . 1 The p o l i c i e s r e p r e s e n t what i s b o t h d e s i r a b l e and f e a s i b l e f o r county development. They a r e based on a n a l y s e s of the p o p u l a t i o n and economy as w e l l as l a n d development t r e n d s . The p o l i c i e s proFosed a r e i n t e n d e d t o p r o v i d e a n a c t i o n program d i r e c t e d toward implementation of t h e Limestone County Compre-hensive Plan.

SUMMARY

The proposed a c t i o n s and programs preser,teE i n t h e P l a n a r e i n d i v i d u a l p o l i c y s t a t e m e n t s r e l a t i n g t o e a c h of many a s p e c t s of t h e p h y s i c a l environment such a s : l a n d u s e , t r a n s p o r t a t i o n , open s p a c e , e t c . T h e r e f o r e , t h e Compre-h e n s i v e P l a n e s t a b l i s h e s a u n i f i e d p o l i c y procram t o g u i d e t h e f u t u r e develop-ment of Limestone County. The f o l l o w i n g i s a con3ensed summary of t h i s p o l i c y program:

1. The Comprehensive P l a n assumes a p o p u l a t i o n i n c r e a s e i n Limestone County of a p p r o x i m a t e l y 1 9 , 0 0 0 r e s i d e n t s betweer? 1980 and t h e y e a r 2000. P u b l i c f a c i l i t i e s and services a r e proposed t o 3e extended and expanded i n o r d e r t o a d e q u a t e l y s e r v e t h i s p r o j e c t e d p o p u l z t i o n . The P l a n a l s o p r o p o s e s a d e c r e a s e i n n e t m i g r a t i o n , a h i g h e r m e d i m a g e , and an i n c r e a s e i n t h e e d u c a t i o n a l l e v e l of M a r s h a l l County r e s i d e n t s .

2. The P l a n p r o p o s e s , by t h e y e a r 2000, t h z c wployment i n t h e county s h o u l d r i s e t o a p p r o x i m a t e l y 2 1 , O C ) O w o r k e r s , an i n c r e a s e o f o v e r 60% d u r i n g t h e planning period. S e v e r a l economic c h a r z c t e r i s t i c s i n c l u d e : a g e n e r a l decrease i n t h e s i g n i f i c a n c e of a g r i c u l t a s e as a major employing f o r c e i n t h e County; t h e t r e n d t o a predominantly young l a b o r F o r c e , a d e c l i n i n g unemployment r a t e , a r i s i n g median f a m i l y income, a n u n u s u a l s t r e n g t h i n r e t a i l s a l e s and w h o l e s a l e t r a d e , and a need f o r f u t h e r d i v e r s i f i c a t i o n of t h e county i n d u s t r i a l b a s e i n o r d e r XI broaden i t s economic s t a b i l i t y .

3. The P l a n emphasizes t h e programming o f c a p i t a l - l e v e l p u b l i c s e r v i c e s t o s e r v e t h e county r e s i d e n t s as t h e p o p u l z t i o n i n c r e a s e s and t h e demand o r more and v a r i e d p u b l i c f a c i l i t i e s m-2 s e r v i c e s i n c r e a s e s . In order t o p r o v i d e county r e s i d e n t s w i t h a d e q u a t e p u b l i c f a c i l i t i e s and s e r v i c e s ,

over $ 4 , 7 4 5 , 0 0 0 i n c a p i t a l e x p e n d i t u r e s n u s t b e a l l o c a t e d by t h e y e a r 2000

4. The Comprehensive P l a n p r o p o s e s t h e improveaent of t h e o v e r a l l housing s t o c k w i t h i n t h e county by t h e y e a r 2 0 0 0 . I n 1 9 8 2 , of t h e t o t a l 5

CHAPTER 2 FACTORS AFFECTING DEVELOPMENT The p h y s i c a l c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s of L i m e s t o n e C0ur.z:~ h a v e b e e n major i n f l u e n c e s o n t h e q u a l i t y a n d l o c a t i o n of d e v e l o p m e n t i n t h e Co.in=y. A knowledge and under-s t a n d i n g of t h e man-made a n d n a t u r a l c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s i s

• l i t a l l y i m - w r t a n t t o t h e c o m p r e h e n s i v e p l a n n i n g p r o c e s s s i n c e t h e s e c h a r a c t e r : s C i c s p r o v i d e c h e basis u p o n which p h y s i c a l development p l a n s a r e f o r m u l a t e d . The n a z u r a i r e s o u r c e s a s w e l l a s t h e e x i s t i n g l a n d u s e p a t t e r n w i l l a c t a s p h y s i c z l ~ Z Eq e g g r = p h i : z l I i m i t a -

t i o n s u p o n t h e c o u n t y s p o t e n t i a l f o r f u t n r e p h y s i c z l ;zZwth and. E e - J e l o p e n t .

TOPOGRAPHY T h e e n t i r e c o u n t y o f L i m e s t o n e l i e s w i t h i n rne -?r.:.?sseo .all?y 2 i s t r i c t of t h e H i g h l a n d R i m S e c t i o n of t h e S t a t e . T k i s sec---__C._ _____ *

.:rh:~! t2e I n t e r i o r Low P l a t e a u s a re a of n o r t h Alabama.

T h e l a n d s u r f a c e i s a r o l l i n g u p l a n d w i t h els7.-zzic:. z z z g i x g f z c a 5 5 6 f e e t above m a i n sea l e v e l i n t h e s o u t h t o 4 0 f t e t i n t>.e ~:zzr:-., 2r.d -19.5 z f s z a t t h e c o u r t h o u s e i n Athens.

T h e s m o o t h e s t p a r t s a r e O i . zr.e z z z ~ cr i c g e z i z s S e r w e e n t h e main c r e e k s . G r e e n b r i a r , M o o r e s v i l l ? , B e l l e !-!~F.z, s--i % a r r % 2ri s sittelments Of some of t h e s m o o t h e r a r e a s .

T h e s u r f a c e i s g e n e r r - - y ~ o r ?~ S L - L F . ~~ = : ~ c e n t t o t h e major stream c h a n n e l s , a n d s p e c i a l l y so n e z r 2 - 2 T s x 2 s s s e .<-:er.

T h e P l a t e a u s e c t i o n , l o c a l l y known 2s t5.e c r z y l z ~ . ? ~ ,

=cc:=les 2 . e r e s t of t h e county n o r t h of t h e Limestone Valleys. T!-,is s e z z i = z :--as .di?s v z r l z r i o n s i n s u r f a c e r e l i e f - - s e v e r a l l a r g e areas are a l m s c le=-el =: ~.

.:F.=:L~~:TI~ 31 ~ ? ~ - t l y s l o p i n g , w h i l e o t h e r a r e a s , p a r t i c u l a r l y i n t h e iarr:-:-ssztrF. ;&rzs 2 : z.1.0-C o u n t y , a r e b a d l y d i s s e c t e d . T h e l a r g e s t of t h e s s ? : ~ : = ? ~~. i. ~ s r z ~ - . s z s r - rrorn zrz n o r t h of B l a c k b u r n S c h o o l t o a p o i n t n e a r t h e n o r r h E a r e r z c s r n e r o f z;12 c o u n t y .

T h e h i g h e s t e l e v a t i o n s o n t h e P l a t e a u a r e 300 t o 55; fssz z k ~ se t 2 L Z ~ J Z ~a n, d t h e e l e v a t i o n a t t h e r a i l r o a d s t a t i o n i n Z l k m o n t i s t Z 3 . 3 fesr. 7F.s r c u g h e s t a n d most b r o k e n a r e a s a r e a l o n g t h e E l k R:.ier snd S:;zz :re=;? ir. f5.2 : k r = h -

w e s t e r n p a r t of t h e c o u n t y . T h e l a r g e s t s c r e x n s 17. z-:?z > -5 ____ 2 r...-:.-

E 22: n ~ r r o w gorges 75 t o 200 f e e t deep a n d i n p l a c e s .Lon? tt-.:ese s z r s z ~ ~ sz, . 2 ~ -~r 2. 3 e d r o c k p r e c i p i c e s up t o 1 0 0 or more f e e t i n heig:?:.

T h i s d i s s e c t e d a r e a i s c h a r a c t e r i z e t b y n a r r z ; . .

• Z - - S T J S 2.76 nzrr=;., ;rind-i n g , s t e e p - s i d e r i d g e s and k n o l l s . T h e s l o p e s o f z e r . r=i.;e t3 6 3 o r 70 P e r c e n t .

T h e A l l u v i a l P l a i n s s e c t i o n i n c l u d e s n e a r l y 1s.:?1 I=. cndul.zi?.c f-rst bottoms a n d stream t e r r a c e s a l o n g t h e T e n z e s s e e 27.2 x-.o E l k ?.:ve-rs, ~ 7 . f z l o n c ;

some o f t h e l a r g e r c r e e k s . The a r e a s i n : h i s p h : ~ ~ l c ; r s ; ? ~ i z3 ; 1 x ~ i i ~ : ~ rare .

from a f e w e e t t o m o r e than a mile w i d e . T h e f i r s : ZC::_TIC  ?:.- SL::?~: :o o v e r f l o w f r o m s t r e a m s whtai-e they a r t not G r o t e z t e . 5 z.. :?.-I- s;:srer 5: . z r = i ~

-~

7

upstream on t h e T e n n e s s e e R i v e r a n d i t s t r i b u t a r i e s . I n a d d i t i o n to t h e areas o r i g i n a l a l l u v i u m , t h e r e a r e some l a r g e s h a l l o w d e p r e s s i o n s , or s i n k s , t h r o u g h -

o u t t h e c o u n t y t h a t c o n s i s t of l o c a l a l l u v i u m . Most o f t h e s e d e p r e s s i o n s a r e s u b j e c t to a t l e a s t t e m p o r a r y i n u n d a t i o n d u r i n g periods o f h eav y r a i n f a l l . The stream t e r r a c e s a r e o f t e n a s much a s 100 f e e t o v e r f l o w .

PHYaIOGRAPHY L i m e s t o n e C o u n t y i s a p a r t o f t h e H i g h l a n d Rim s e c t i o n o f t h e I n t e r i o r L o w P l a t e a u s p h y s i o g r a p h i c p r o v i n c e of t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s . It lies i n the T e n n e s s e e V a l l e y a n d i s comprised o f t h r e e p h y s i o g r a p h i c s u b d i v i s i o n s : t h e Limestone V a l l e y s , t h e P l a t e a u , and t h e A l l u v i a l P l a i n s . T h e f i r s t t w o of t h e s e s u b d i v i s i o n s cover m o s t of t h e c o u n t y , w h e r e a s t h e A l l u v i a l P l a i n s oc-c u r a l o n g t h e rivers a n d c r e e k s t h r o u g h o u t t h e area.

The L i m e s t o n e V a l l e y s , l o c a l l y c a l l e d t h e r e d l a n d s , i n c l u d e t h e s o u t h -

e a s t e r n q u a r t e r of t h e c o u n t y a s w e l l a s o t h e r s m a l l e r a r e a s a l o n g t h e E l k R i v e r a n d t h e e a s t e r n border o f t h e c o u n t y . T h i s s e c t i o n r a n g e s f r o m a b o u t 12 m i l e s i n width i n t h e e a s t e r n part t o about one m i l e i n t h e western.

CLIMATE L i m e s t o n e C o u n t y h a s a temperate climate a n d a b u n d a n t r a i n f a l l . Temper-a t u r e extremes are r a r e a n d , d u r i n g t h e w i n t e r , p e r i o d s of f r e e z i n g w e a t h e r r a r e l y last longer than t w o days. L o n g t e r m r a i n f a l l a n d t e m p e r a t u r e records are n o t a v a i l a b l e f o r L i m e s t o n e C o u n t y , b u t r e c o r d s f o r t h e H u n t s v i l l e area show a n average a n n u a l r a i n f a l l of a b o u t 5 2 i n c h e s , a n average summer temper-a t u r e of 80°F, a n average w i n t e r t e m p e r a t u r e o f 46OF, a n d a n a n n u a l average of 620F. P e r i o d s of h e a v i e s t r a i n f a l l g e n e r a l l y o c c u r d u r i n g J a n u a r y , F e b r u a r y ,

a n d March: p e r i o d s of l o w e s t r a i n f a l l u s u a l l y o c c u r d u r i n g J u l y , A u g u s t a n d September.

, MINERALS S e v e r a l t y p e s of r o c k masses a n d m i n e r a l s a r e l o c a t e d w i t h i n t h e c o u n t y .

The f o r m a t i o n s a n d d e p o s i t s a r e of v a r y i n g i n d u s t r i a l u t i l i t y . Among t h e m are limestone, c h e r t , p h o s p h a t e , p o t a s h , s h a l e s , a s p h a l t i c l i m e s t o n e , s a n d ,

s a n d s t o n e , and a s p h a l t i c s a n d s t o n e . L i m e s t o n e u n d e r l i e s a c o n s i d e r a b l e por-t i o n of t h e c o u n t y a n d i s f o u n d i n many i n s t a n c e s i n l a r g e o u t c r o p p i n g beds w i t h l i t t l e o r no overburden. A l a r g e s u p p l y of t h i s s t o n e i s a d e q u a t e f o r ex-t e n s i v e u s e as a g g r e g a t e s , f e r t i l i z e r component, and through its l i m e derivative, i n t h e manufacture of cements and v a r i o u s o t h e r p r o d u c t s .

DRAINAGE The T e n n e s s e e R i v e r a n d i t s t r i b u t a r i e s comprise t h e d r a i n a g e s y s t e m of t h e county. Some d r a i n a g e i s t h r o u g h s u b t e r r a n e a n o u t l e t s i n s i n k s ; a n d i n l o c a l -

i t i e s w h e r e most of t h e d r a i n a g e i s t h r o u g h t h e s e u n d e r g r o u n d p a s s a g e s , t h e s u r -

f a c e d r a i n a g e s y s t e m is n o t d e v e l o p e d . Surface drainage is adequate f o r agri-c u l t u r e , e x c e p t i n p a r t s of t h e f i r s t bottoms a n d i n some o f t h e s i n k s a n d de-pressions.

D 8

I L i m e s t o n e County o c c u p i e s p a r t s of t w o s e c t i o n s o f t h e I n t e r i o r Low P l a t e a u s physiographic province. The n o r t h e r n p a r t O F t h e c o u n t y i s d r a i n e d by t h e Elk 1 River i n t h e Nashville Basin s e c t i o n .

t h e Tennessee River, is i n t h e Highland R i m S e c t i o n .

The r e m a i n d e r o f t h e c o u n t y , d r a i n e d by Knobby s t e e p - s i d e d h i l l s , n a r r o w e l o n g a t e d d r a i n a g e d i v i d e s capped b y t h e F o r t P a y n e C h e r t , and n a r r o w v a l l e y s u n d e r l a i n b y t h e C h i c k a m a u g a L i m e s t o n e a r e c h a r a c t e r i s t i c of t h e N a s h v i l l e B a s l n i n L i m e s t o n e C o u n t y .

I The t o p o g r a p h y of t h e H i g h l a n d R i m s e c t i o n i n L i m e s t o n e C o u n ty is t y p i c a l l y a l o w , broad r o l l i n g u p l a n d . D r a i n a g e d i v i d e s are l o w a n d l o c a l r e l i e f is s u b -

d u e d , e x c e p t i n t h e area n e a r t h e E l k R i v e r w h e r e stream g r a d i e n t s are steeper.

1 The n o r t h - c e n t r a l a n d n o r t h w e s t e r n p a r t s of t h e c o u n t y a r e d r a i n e d b y t h e E l k River. L a r g e r streams i n t h i s p a r t o f t h e c o u n t y a r e , f r o m e a s t t o w e s t ,

Ragsdale, M i l l , S h o a l , S u l f u r , a n d S u g a r C r e e k s .

I The d r a i n a g e i n t h e s o u t h e r n p a r t of t h e L i m e s t o n e County is s o u t h t o t h e T e n n e s s e e River b y f o u r major streams w h i c h a r e , f r o m e a s t t o w e s t , L i m e s t o n e ,

1 P i n e y , Swan, a n d Round I s l a n d C r e e k s .

WATER RESOURCES I T h e m o s t developable n a t u r a l r e s o u r c e s i n t h e c o u n t y appears t o be x a t e r . I t i s v a l u a b l e o b v i o u s l y i n s u p p l y i n g commercial, r e s i d e n t i a l , a n d i n d u s t r i a l u s e r s ,

b u t p e r h a p s i s g r e a t e s t p o s s i b i l i t i e s l i e i n t h e f i e l d of r e c r e a t i o n and t o u r i s n .

I If Limestone County w e r e to e f f e c t i v e l y u t i l i z e i t s w a t e r r e s o u r c e s as o t h e r s u c h i d e a l l y p o s i t i o n e d areas h a v e d o n e , i t w o u l d f i n d t h a t i t s e c o n o m y w o u l d ;sP- d i r e c t -

l y i n f l u e n c e d by t h e available t o u r i s t trade dollars.

1 W h e e l e r L a k e , formed b y t h e i m p o u n d e d w a t e r s of t h e T e n n e s s e e River, i s located i n t h e c o u n t y . T h i s r e s e r v o i r was c r e a t e d by t h e T e n r . e s s e e V a l l e y A u t h o r -

I i t y b y c o n s t r u c t i n g Joe W h e e l e r D a m f o r f l o o d c o n t r o l , w a t e r n a v i g a t i o n , m d h y d r o -

electric g e n e r a t i n g purposes.

E l k River, located i n t h e w e s t e r n p o r t i o n of t h e c o u n t y , i s also n a v i g a b l e 8 f o r s e v e r a l m i l e s a b o v e i t s c o n f l u e n c e w i t h t h e T e n n e s s e e River.

M u n i c i p a l w a t e r s y s t e m s a r e p r o v i d e d w i t h i n all o f t h e i n c o r - D o r a t e d dreas of I t h e county. Wells, s p r i n g s , l a k e s , streams, a n d c i s t e r n s f u r n i s h ample water f c r urban use and a g r i c u l t u r e . D r i n k i n g water c a n be h a d i n a l l p a r t s of t h e count:,;

h o w e v e r , w e l l s m u s t be s u n k t o c o n s i d e r a b l e d e p t h o n t h e u p l a n d p l a t e a u s .

IGROUND: WATER Ground w a t e r i n t h e Chickamauqa L i m e s t o n e o c c u r s i n o p e n i n g s a l o n g j o i n t and 1 b e d d i n g - p l a n e s y s t e m s . Some o f t h e s e o p e n i n g s h a v e beer, e n l a r g e d t h r o u g h t h e s o l -

v e n t a c t i o n of m o v i n g g r o u n d water t o f o r m s o l u t i o n a c t i v i t i e s . Wells d r i l l e d i n t h e L i m e s t o n e m u s t p e n e t r a t e o n e o r more o f t h e s e w a t e r - b e a r i n g o p e n i n g s c r c a v i -

t i e s t o be s u c c e s s f u l . L a r g e w a t e r - b e a r i n g o p e n i n g s i n t h e Cnickamauqa a r e f e w ,

b u t w e l l s p e n e t r a t i n g t h e s e o p e n i n g s s u p p l y water t h a t is a d e q u a t e i n q u a n t i t y 2nd q u a l i t y f o r d o m e s t i c o r stock u s e .

9

The C h a t t a n o o g a S h a l e i s n o t c o n s i d e r e d a n a q u i f e r i n L i m e s t o n e County b e -

c a u s e of i t s r e l a t i v e l y i m p e r m e a b l e c h a r a c t e r a n d s l i g h t t h i c k n e s s .

SOIL ANALYSIS The v a r i o u s t y p e s o f s o i l s e x h i b i t e d i n L i m e s t o n e County w i l l a f f e c t a n y p r o p o s e d l a n d devedopment t h a t t a k e s place i n t h i s a r e a . S o i l s i n p a r t i c u l a r w i l l a f f e c t land development i n t h a t certain s o i l groups cannot s u p p o r t urban u s e s ,

a n d t h e a r e a s i n c l u d e d i n t h e s e g r o u p s s h o u l d be r e s e r v e d a s a g r i c u l t u r a l o r o p e n space l a n d s .

A d e s c r i p t i o n o f e a c h s o i l g r o u p ' s e f f e c t o n l a n d d e v e l o p m e n t is provided i n the following paragraphs. T h e r e a r e four m a j o r s o i l g r o u p s exhibited i n Lime-s t o n e County.

S o i l Group Number 1: T h i s g r o u p c o n s i s t s o f D e c a t u r , C o o k e v i l l e , a n d Dewey t y p e s . T h i s g r o u p c o n s i s t s of l e v e l area s o i l s l o c a t e d b a s i c a l l y s o u t h of U.S.

7 2 , s p a n n i n g t h e s o u t h e r n t h i r d of L i m e s t o n e County. L i m i t a t i o n s f a r u r b a n de-v e l o p m e n t i n t h i s g r o u p are moderate; t h e l o w s t r e n g t h c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s o f t h i s g r o u p a r e i t s o n l y major d r a w b a c k . Urban d e v e l o p m e n t w i t h o n - s i E e s e p t i c t a n k can o c c u r w i t h o n l y s l i g h t l i m i t a t i o n s i n t h i s g r o u p ' s area. T h i s zrez a l s o c o n -

s i s t s o f prime a g r i c u l t u r a l l a n d .

S o i l Group Number 2 : T h i s g r o u p c o n s i s t s of D i c k s o n , S a n a a , and T a f t s o i l s .

The a r e a covered by t h i s g r o u p approximates t h e n o r t h e a s t e r n quarrer of +&e c o u n t y ,

t h e c e n t r a l area o f t h e c o u n t y , and t h e u p l a n d r i d g e s w e s t of t h s Zlc ,River. The l i m i t a t i o n s on u r b a n d e v e l o p m e n t a r e m o d e r a t e , e x c e p t i n g d e v e l o p e n = x i z h o u t p u b l i c sewer s e r v i c e . I n t h i s case, l i m i t a t i o n s a r e s e v e r e ; t h e r e f o r e , ? & l i c sewer s e r v i c e , n o t s e p t i c t a n k s , s h o u l d be provided o r areas covered 3 y z'nis s o i l group.

T h i s area c o n s i s t s of prime a g r i c u l t u r a l l a n d , as d o e s t h e area c ~ v l - r e cS y Group N u m b e r 1, a l t h o u g h n o t t o t h e e x t e n t of c o v e r a g e as e x h i b i t e d i n S n c ? ?Iuiir 1.

S o i l Group Number 3 : T h i s s o i l g r o u p c o n s i s t s o f B o d i n e x-.E i d l e r t o n soils.

The a r e a s of t h e c o u n t y covered b y t h i s g r o u p c o n s i s t of t h e E l k X - z e r w a t e r s h e d ,

e x c e p t i n g f l o o d p l a i n a r e a s a n d u p l a n d areas i n Soil Group Number 2 . L h l i i a t i o n s

~.

o n urban d e v e l o p m e n t i n t h i s area i s severe, 2 u c t o slope c h a r a c z e r i s a c s . Bow-e v e r , u r b a n d e v e l o p m e n t c a n t a k e p l a c e , provided a d e q u a t e f o u n d a z i o x L-e u s e d a n d p u b l i c s e w e r s e r v i c e is p r o v i d e d . T h e s e a r e a s , i n g e n e r a l , 50 n o t e x h i b i t a r e a s of prime a g r i c u l t u r a l l a n d . H o w e v e r , f o r e s c d e v e l o p m e n t CZCI zzke ?lace i n t h i s group as i t can i n a l l o f t h e o t h e r t h r e e groups.

S o i l Group N u m b e r 4 : T h i s g r o u p c o n s i s t s of G u t h r i e , A b e r n a t i e y , a n d L i n a -

side soils. Land i n f l o o d p l a n s c o n s i s t o f t h i s s o i l g r o u p . Dus & J rhe p r o p e n s i t y f o r f l o o d i n g i n t h i s s o i l g r o u p , n o u r b a n d e v e l o p m e n t s h o u l d t a k e ? l a c e i n areas c o v e r e d by t h i s g r o u p . A g r i c u l t u r e and f o r e s t development are t : ? ~ besr u s e s f o r l a n d u s e i n t h i s group.

T h i s i n f o r m a t i o n i s s c a l e d for u s e a t t h e c o u n t y w i d e l e v e l or.iy. General p l a n n i n g c o n s i d e r a t i o n s f o r l a n d u s e of a n a r e a w i d e n a t u r e c a n be S u p F o r t e d by t h i s l e v e l of i n f o r m a t i o n .

A d e v e l o p e r i n t e r e s t e d i n s u b d i v i d i n g or d e v e l o p i n g l a n d s z o ~ L dz o n s u l t t h e D i s t r i c t Conservationist a t t h e C o u n t y a q r i c u l t u r 3 1 S ~ ~ V L C :LA!): C .r ~ t ;its:

Washing-t o n 5 t r c c t Ln A t h c n . , o r any i n f o r m a t i o n net.dcd f 3 i t n e p u r p o s e zf - c c z i Land d e -

C velopmenl.

10

TABLE 11-1 EXISTING LAND USE LIMESTONE COUNTY URBAN RURAL OTHER

( C i t y of A t h e n s ) (Unincorporated) Ardmore, E l k m n t , L e s t e r and Mooresville TOTAL Acres  % Total % Dev. Acres  % T o t a l % Dev. Acres  % T o t a l % Dev.

R e s i d e n t ia 1 1,287 9.0 36.0 4 ,901 1.1 30.5 248 7.4 42.3 5,436 Come rc i a 1 3 50 2.5 9.7 185 0.0 1.4 32 0.9 5.5 567 Industrial 200 1.4 5.6 540 0.2 4.2 30 0.9 5.1 7 $0 Social, Cultural, and Governmental 374 2.6 10.5 560 0.2 4.4 103 3.1 17.6 1,037 Transportation 1 Corn. & U t i l . 1, 364 9.5 38.2 7 ,625 2.1 59.5 173 5.2 29.5 9,162 Forests 915 6.4 77,640 22.3 34 5 10.3 78 ,900 A g r i . and Vacant 9,764 68.6 2 4 1 ,088 70.0 2,406 72.2 253,258 Water 14,390 4.1 14,390 14,254 100 345,923 3,337 3G3,52O

EXISTING LAND USE A d e s c r i p t i o n and a n a l y s i s of t h e e x i s t i n g u s e of t h e l a n d i n a g i v e n a r e a i s a v i t a l s e g m e n t of t h e t o t a l p l a n n i n g p r o c e s s . An u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f s u c h i n -

f o r m a t i o n can p r o v i d e inva.Luable i n s i g h t i n t o both p a s t and p r e s e n t development t r e n d s i n Limestone County. I t is an awareness o f t h e i m p l i c a t i o n s o f t h e s e t r e n d s w h i c h make i t p o s s i b l e , f o r p u b l i c o f f i c i a l s and p r i v a t e c i t i z e n s to under-s t a n d t h e p o s i t i v e and n e g a t i v e a s p e c t s o f development. By s h o w i n g t h e magni-t u d e a n d l o c a t i o n o f d i f f e r e n t t y p e s o f l a n d u s e , i t i s o f t e n p o s s i b l e t o de-p i c t d e v e l o p m e n t a l p r o b l e m s which may a d v e r s e l y a f f e c t t h e g r o w t h o f t h e c o u n t y before they reach crisis proportions.

LAND: USE: CLASSIFICATION D u r i n g t h e summer months o f 1 9 8 2 , a s u r v e y o f e x i s t i n g land u s e w a s con-d u c t e d t h r o u g h o u t t h e c o u n t y . The r e s u l t s o f t h i s s u r v e y p r o v i 2 e d t h e b a s i c d a t a o n l a n d u s e c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s a n d a c t i v i t i e s p r e s e n t e d i n t h e f o l l o w i n g an-alysis.

The f o l l o w i n g c a t e g o r i e s w e r e e s t a b l i s h e d t o c l a s s i f y e x i s t i n g l a n d u s e according t o function. A b r i e f d e s c r i p t i o n o f t h e s e c a t e g o r i e s are as f o l l c w s :

1. R e s i d e n t i a l Development--Land o n w h i c h s t r u c t u r e s h o u s i n g o n e o r mre f a m i l i e s , p e r s o n s , o r households are located.

2. Commercial Development--Land o n w h i c h c o m m e r c i a l e s = & l i s h m e n E s such as r e t a i l e r s , w h o l e s a l e r s , a n d s e r v i c e f a c i l i t i e s a r e l o c a t e d .

3. I n d u s t r i a l Development--Land o n which goods a r e prccessed, r a n u f a c t u r t e ,

o r stored.

4. S o c i a l a n d C u l t u r a l Development--Lane used t o p r o v i 5 e f a c i l i t i e s f o r e d u c a t i o n a l , r e c r e a t i o n a l , r e l i g i o u s , c u l t u r a l , l o c a l g o v e r n n e n z , and social functions.

5. T r a n s p o r t a t i o n Development--Land u s e d f o r f e d e r a l , s z a t e , cou?t:J, 2nf m u n i c i p a l r o a d s , h i g h w a y s , r a i l r o a d s , a i r p o r t s , w a t e r w a y s , anE r ? t i l i t i e s .

6. F o r e s t r y a n d A g r i c u l t u r a l Development--Land o n w h i c h f s d e r a l , sczte, a n d p r i v a t e woodland c r o p a n d p a s t u r e l a n d e x i s t s , a s w e l l 2 s c x l r i v a t e d l o c a l .

LAND USE A N A L Y S I S The E x i s t i n g Land Use Map f o r t h e c o u n t y i l l u s t r a t e s l a 5 i ~ s & f o r r e -

s i d e n t i a l , commercial, i n d u s t r i a l , s o c i a l , c u l t u r a l , a n d g o v e r x z - e n t a i , f o r e s c e d a r e a s and a g r i c u l t u r a l purposes. The major u r b a n c e n t e r o f Eke c o u n t y i s t h e C i t y o f A t h e n s , c h a r a c t e r i z e d by a s t r o n g a n d c l e a r l y i d e n t i f i a b l e c e n t r a l k u s i -

n e s s d i s t r i c t and a g r e a t v a r i e t y o f l a n d u s a g e o n a more i n t e n s i v e l e v e l t h a n a t o t h e r p o i n t s within t h e county. S e c o n d a r y c o n c e n t r a t i o n s c f u r b a n gr0r;t.i a r e located i n t h e s m a l l e r towns o f A r d m o r e , E l k m o n t , L e s t e r , a n d LKooresville.

T h i s s p r e a d o f u r b a n u s e s a c r o s s t h e c ~ u r l t r y s i d emay S c i e s - r r .c. e a- 3s ..rkz- u- u -

s p r a w l . " Major p r o b l e m s accompany s u c h s p r a w l . T h e l a c k of z a z m u n i t y f a c i l i c i l i -

o r t h e d i s t a n c e o f r o m e s t a b l i s h e d c o m m u n i t y f a c i l i t i e s is o n e cf t h e n a j c r p r o -

blems. Lack o f p u b l i c water and s e w e r a g e a c i l i t i e s is a p r o k i s r n a l s o i n mn:;

12

c of these areas. I n some cases w h e r e homes h a v e been l i n e d a l o n g a n e x i s t i n g highway, t h e y have i n c r e a s e d t r a f f i c c o n f l i c t a n d have r e d u c e d t h e e f e c t i v e n e s s o f t h e h i g h w a y s a s w e l l a s a d d i n g d a n g e r to t h e r o a d s i d e u s e r s . Futhermore, s u c h u r b a n d e v e l o p m e n t o f b o t h r e s i d e n t i a l a n d commercial u s e s h a s t e n d e d t o c u t o f f t h e l a r g e r t r a c t s o f l a n d between t h e r o a d s , t h u s s t r i n g i n g b u i l d i n g s o u t o v e r a maximum d i s t a n c e , i n c r e a s i n g s e r v i c i n g c o s t s and r e d u c i n g t h e e f f e c -

t i v e n e s s o f t h e highway. With a l l t h i s , i n many cases, s u c h f r o n t a g e d e v e l o p -

ment r e s u l t s i n a c l u t t e r e d a n d c o n g e s t e d a p p e a r a n c e . Where p r i v a c y and s e n s e o f s p a c i o u s n e s s were prime m o t i v a t i n g f a c t o r s i n b r i n g i n g d e v e l o p m e n t i n t o t h e c o u n t r y s i d e , i t would appear t h a t t h e e n d r e s u l t may f r e s t r a t e t h e o r i g i n a l i n -

tent.

RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT The l a n d u s e a n a l y s i s o f L i m e s t o n e C o u n t y ' s r e s i d e n t i a l d e v e l o p m e n t re-v e a l s t h a t t h e r e are approximately 14,300 year-round occupied d w e l l i n g u n i t s .

One t h i r d of t h e t o t a l p o p u l a t i o n r e s i d e s i n t h e f i v e i n c o r p o r a t e d a r e a s of t h e c o u n t y : A r d m o r e , A t h e n s , E l k m o n t , L e s t e r , a n d Mooresville. There is also a s i z a b l e p o p u l a t i o n r e s i d i n g i n a r e a s a l o n g t h e major roads a n d h i g h w a y s where r u r a l community water s y s t e m s serve t h e r u r a l n o n f a r m r e s i d e n t s . Athens is by f a r t h e most d e n s e l y p o p u l a t e d a r e a i n t h e c o u n t y .

From t h e l a t e 1 9 3 0 s t o t h e e a r l y 1 9 6 0 s , L i m e s t o n e C o u n t y s u s t a i n e d a lonc-term d e c l i n e i n t o t a l p o p u l a t i o n . I t appears, h o w e v e r , t h a t t h e t r e n d h a s r e -

v e r s e d i t s e l f s i n c e 1 9 6 0 ; a n d L i m e s t o n e County i s now e x p e r i e n c i n g a A m F u l a t i c n i n c r e a s e . Most of t h e new h o u s i n g d e v e l o p m e n t i s t a k i n g place i n 'he e a s z e r n p o r t i o n o f t h e c o u n t y w i t h t h e h e a v i e s t c o n c e n t r a t i o n i n t h e Czpshow F r e n c h Yill area. T h e s e d e v e l o p m e n t s c o n s i s t p r i m a r i l y of middle income h o u s i n g . T h e r e is a l s o a s i g n i f i c a n t number of new d w e l l i n g units i n t h e Browns F e r r y RoaE a r e z .

I n b o t h cases, r u r a l community w a t e r s y s t e m s , i n a d d i t i o n t o n e a r n e s s to i i u n t s v i l l e and Athens, have s p u r r e d t h i s growth i n e a s t e r n Limestone County. The h e a v i e s t c o n c e n t r a t i o n of m b i l e home p a r k s i s i n t h e area e a s t of T a n n e r a n d i n Lie Achens u r b a n area. F o r t Hampton i s a l s o g r o w i n g .

The r e s i d e n t i a l d e v e l o p m e n t i n L i m e s t o n e C o u n t y c o n s i s t srimril:/ of t h e single-family dwelling u n i t . The l i m i t e d number o f m u l t i - f a m i l y s t r u c t u r e s E r e found i n t h e m u n i c i p a l i t i e s , p r i m a r i l y A t h e n s . A s t r u c t u r a l c o n d i 5 o r i s analy-sis o f year-round d w e l l i n g u n i t s i n Limestone County i n d i c a t e d a s u b s a n t i a l amount o f s u b s t a n d a r d h o u s i n g . Dilapidated and d e t e r i o r z t i n g d w e l l i n 5 u n i t s are found s c a t t e r e d t h r o u g h o u t t h e c o u n t y w i t h t h e l a r g e s t c o n c e n t z a t i o n s i n t h e r u r a l areas w e s t o f A t h e n s . The r e l a t i v e l y h i g h p e r c e n t a g e of t e n a n t f a r n e r s i n t h i s area i s a p r i m a r y f a c t o r r e s p o n s i b l e f o r t h e h i g h c o n c e n t r a t i o n of sub-standard units. T h i s c o n d i t i o n also exists i n s o u t h and southwest Linestone County -

G R O W T H PROSPECTS P o t e n t i a l i n e x p e c t e d r e s i d e n t i a l d e v e l o p m e n t i n L i m e s t o n e County d e p e n d s primarily on population increases. I t i s e x p e c t e d t h a t :he m a j o r i t y cf t h e growth w i l l t a k e p l a c e i n and around t h e C i t y o f Athens and t h e T V A ~ r o p o s e d n e w r u r a l community o f Elkmont V i l l a g e . L i m e s t o n e County's new h0usir.q w i l l be m a i n l y s i n g l e - f a m i l y u n i t s w i t h t h e m a j o r i t y of mu1 t i - f a m i l y C O ~ I S : T ~ C ~ : O F I t a k i n g p l a c e i n t h e C i t y o f A t h e n s , a n d t h e Town o f Ardmore. ProvFded the Tcvri Elkmont c o n s t r u c t s n s a n i t a r y sewer s y s t e m , t h e n E l k m o n t w i l l a l s o w i ' _ n r s s new mu1 t i F a r n i 1 y construct L O I I.

13

Over t h e n e x t e i g h t e e n y e a r s , new d w e l l i n g u n i t c o n s t r u c t i o n is expected t o p r o c e e d a t a n a v e r a g e a n n u a l r a t e o f 580 u n i t s i n L i m e s t o n e C o u n t y i n c l u s i v e of t h e m u n i c i p a l i t i e s .

I n t e r v i e w s w i t h r e a l t o r s a n d d e v e l o p e r s i n d i c a t e d t h a t t h e i r majar c r i t e r i a f o r new s u b d i v i s i o n l o c a t i o n s a r e ( i n g e n e r a l o r d e r of p r i o r i t y ) : 1) land c o s t s ,

2 ) a v a i l a b i l i t y of w a t e r and s e w e r s e r v i c e , 3 ) a m e n i t y , 4 ) protective z o n i n g a n d t h e c h a r a c t e r of n e a r b y l a n d , 5 ) p r e s t i g e , a n d 6 ) t h e n e a r n e s s of e x i s t i n g roads g i v i n g access t o s h o p p i n g a n d employment. The i n t e r v i e w s f u r t h e r i d i c a t e d pro-b a b l e f u t u r e g r o w t h i n t h e immediate A t h e n s Area, eastward a l o n g U - S - 72. s o u t h f r o m t h e C i t y of A t h e n s t o w a r d T a n n e r , n o r t h a n d e a s t of A t h e n s tovaxe the Town o f E l k m o n t , a n d west of A t h e n s a l o n g U.S. 72. Secondary growth c e n t e r s uould d e v e l o p n e a r Lester, Salem, B e l l e Mina, and G r e e n b r i e r .

OPPORTUNITIES F O R ACTION The f u t u r e r e s i d e n t i a l p a t t e r n w i l l c o n t i n u e t o be o n e t h a t is l i e e r s e d a n d d i s c o n t i n u o u s , However, g i v e n t h a t r e a l i t y , p u b l i c p o l i c y c a a=?E s5ouI.6 encourage a h i g h e r q u a l i t y and a g r e a t e r v a r i e t y o f development.

O p p o r t u n i t i e s or i m p r o v i n g t h e s t a n d a r d of r e s i d e n t i a l d e v e l c r z e n t i n -

clude :

1. C o n s t r u c t i n g p u b l i c w o r k s i n a d v a n c e of f i e d e v e l o p n e n z 2-1 rrrkn d e n s i t y areas.

2. Preventing t h e i n t r u s i o n of incompatible uses i n t o re32n--rai neighborhoods.

3. Encouraging h i g h e r s t a n d a r d s i n s u b d i v i s i o n d e s i q n .

4. Providing i n f o r m a t i o n on county growth t r e n d s an2 t h e k o u s i - 1 ~

market.

5. S t i m u l a t i n g t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n of a v a r i e t y of ' n o u s i n s tlsss.

U s e of t h e above t e c h n i q u e s c a n e n c o u r a g e t h e p r o v i s i o n o f 2 ~ 5 z c z -r z a r i e t y of h o u s i n g t y p e s , i n c l u d i n g r e n t a l a n d s a l e h o u s i n g , f o r a l l irxcze 1 2 - r e l s . So c a n t h e a d o p t i o n of l a n d u s e r e g u l a t i o n s a l l o w i n g a r a n g e o f i n u i z L - f x n L y cie-velopment from townhouses and condominiums.

The major means o f e n o u r a g i n g b e t t e r r e s i d e n t i z l d e v e l o p ri2.P.L . 2x2 Z - J E r Z C P d e n s i t y z o n i n g a n d p l a n n e d n e i g h b o r h o o d u n i t and new tokn d i s t r i c r s . A11 s E ~ -

m u l a t e i n n o v a t i o n s i n t h e d e s i g n a n d g r o u p i n g of h o u s i n g . They s r a v i l ? =re u s e a b l e o p e n space t o r e s i d e n t s a n d r e d u c e p u b l i c u t i l i t y c o s t s .

With t h e i n c r e a s i n g c o s t of c o n v e n t i o n a l s i n g l e - f a m i l y ; hcus:nc, t: is sro-j e c t e d t h a t m u l t i - f a m i l y h o u s i n g w i l l p l a y a n i m p o r t a n t r o l e i n resizencial ex-pansion. I t i s e s s e n t i a l t h a t multi-family development be s s r v e e ? f E i c F s n t l y by p u b l i c f a c i l i t i e s . High d e n s i t y a p a r t m e n t s g e n e r a t e h e a v y t r a f f i c an6 should have a c c e s s t o r o u t e s w i t h a h i g h t r a f f i c - c a r r y i n g c a p a c i t y . The;: alss r e q u i r e p u b l i c sewer a n d w a t e r s e r v i c e .

P 14

TABLE: 1 1 - 2 ESTIMATKO DvlLLIffi VWlT CCNBTROCTIM. 1 9 7 0 - 1 0 0 0 1970 1980 1990 lo00 19 m-lo00 Total mt.1 mt.1 mt.1 k" Jurldlctlon Units Units Unlta Unlts Unltm

~~ ~~~

Athenm 4,588 5

• 598 6.790 8,158 1,670 Ardsore 187 401 500 600 I1 I Elknont I I5 171 400. 500 165 Laster 25 40 45 55 10 W r e s v i Ile I1 28 45 50 19 L imes on e County 7,641

~ 10.258 -

10.680 L L . B I ~ 4,195 TOTAL 12.677 16,497 1a.460 21,229 8.552 SOURCE: U.S. Bureau o f t h e C e n s u s ( A l a b a - I 1 9 7 0 , and T A K O G S t a f f P r o ) e c t i o n s .

• I n c r e a s e i n 1 9 8 0 - 2 0 0 0 p c r i o d a l s u m e s a n n e x a t i o n of Elk R i v e r O e v e l o p H n c A s 6 0 c i a t ~ 0 n new community by To- of E l k m n t The l a c k o f a d v a n c e d u t i l i t i e s p l a n n i n g h a s t y p i f i e d many s u b u r b a n p - - - ? r z -

m e n t s w h o s e r a p i d g r o w t h was u n a n t i c i p a t e d . N o w , h o w e v e r , t h e d i m e n s i o n s 35 =rz-..,:+,

c a n be f o r e s e e n i n L i m e s t o n e C o u n t y . I n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h P l a n p r o p o s a l s , z.5 local g o v e r n m e n t s s h o u l d t a k e a d v a n t a g e of a v a i l a b l e f i n a n c i a l a i d s t o e s s e n t i a l f a c i l i t i e s i n advance of development. These aids are described 1  : z.2 s e c t i o n on p u b l i c improvements.

An i n f o r m a t i o n S e r v i c e c a n c o n s i d e r a b l y improve d e v e l o p e r s ' r e s p o n s i v s r . t s s t o h o u s i n g demand. I t w o u l d i s s u e p e r i o d i c summaries o f r e s i d e n t i a l c o n s z r . : = z i a n t r e n d s a n d p r o j e c t i o n s of h o u s i n g n e e d a c c o r d i n g t o i n c o m e , f a m i l y s i z e , 135 S Z : ? P ~

demographic f a c t o r s . T y p i c a l l y , s u b d i v i s i o n a n d a p a r t m e n t b u i l d e r s a c t cr. i-.~

b a s i s of h u n c h o r p a s t t r e n d s . T h e y l a c k a f a c t u a l b a s i s o r a n t i c i n a t i n c :.t~

n e e d s and t e n d t o c o n s t r u c t o n l y a f e w u n i t s a t a t i m e t o s e e i f t h e i r prod:^:

w i l l s e l l . T h u s , t h e y f a i l t o make f u l l u s e o f e c o n o m i e s of s c a l e . The:: als2 m i s s o p p o r t u n i t i e s to c a p t u r e unserved p o r t i o n s of t h e h o u s i n g m a r k e t .

C O b W RC IAL DEVELOPMENT T h e l e v e l o f commercial l a n d u s e a c t i v i t y i n L i m e s t o n e C o u n t y i s i z f L . 2 ? 2 c e d by s e v e r a l f a c t o r s , t h c most i m p o r t a n t b e i n g s t r o n g c o m p e t i t i o n from s u r r o u n t i n g urban c e n t e r s . The d e v e l o p m e n t o f r e t a i l a n d s e r v i c e e s t a b l i s h m e n t s h a s s u f 5 e r s d 15

c I

b e c a u s e o f t h e number o v a r i e t y o f s h o p p i n g f a c i l i t i e s i n n e i g h b o r i n g H u n t s v i l l e i and Decatur. A l s o , m a j o r t h o r o u g h f a r c s l i n k i n g t h e c o u n t y w i t h Birmingham an d N a s h v i l l e make i t f e a s i b l e t o do w h o l e s a l e t r a d i n g i n t h e s e l a r g e r u r b a n a r e a s .

A t h e n s , t h e c o u n t y s e a t , h a s t h e l a r g e s t number a n d g r e a t e s t c o n c e n t r a t i o n I

o f commercial e s t a b l i s h m e n t s i n t h e c o u n t y . A new s h o p p i n g c e n t e r , w h i c h o p e n e d i n 1981, h a s h e l p e d t o r e t a i n some of t h e r e t a i l i n c o m a p r e v i o u s l y s p e n t i n o t h e r c i t i e s . T h e o t h e r i n c o r p o r a t e d t o w n s h a v e n e g l i g i b l e a m o u n t s of l a n d i n commercial 1

use. The l a n d u s e s u r v e y d i d , h o w e v e r , r e v e a l a s c a t t e r i n g of s t r i p com.ercia1 d e v e l o p m e n t t h r o u g h o u t t h e c o u n t y w i t h t h e g r e a t e s t c o n c e n t r a t i o n a l o n q U/S. 7 2 ,

a major t r a f f i c a r t e r y i n L i m e s t o n e C o u n t y w h i c h does n o t h a v e c o n t r o l l e c ' , o r l i , m i t -

ed access s t a n d a r d s e n f o r c e d a l o n g t h e r i g h t - o f - w a y . A h i g h e r q u a l i t y of s t r i p 1

commercial h a s a l s o c o n c e n t r a t e d a l o n g U.S. 31 a n o t h e r m u l t i l a n e r o u t e .

I GROWTH PROSPECTS Commercial, i n t h e p a s t h a s n o t been a major s o u r c e o f i n c o m e for i i i x s t o n e C o u n t y Cue t o t h e p r o x i m i t y of t h e l a r g e r e t a i l i n g c e n t e r s o f D e c a t u r and S u n t s - i l l s .

It w i l l , h o w e v e r , p l a y a n i n c r e a s i n g r o l e i n t h e f u t u r e d u e t o t h e p r s j e c c e d ,race m

of p o p u l a t i o n i n c r e a s e a n d t h e t r e n d of i n c r e a s i n g f a m i l y i n c o m e .

The major c o n c e n t r a t i o n of commercial a r e a s w i l l c o n t i n u e to L E . 1 rke 1

Athens area. The A t h e n s C e n t r a l B u s i n e s s D i s t r i c t s h o u l d a t t r a c t on::?

r e t a i l growth and c o n t i n u e t o g a i n i n office use.

1izirsC Other commercial c = z c ~ n r r a r i c n z w i l l develop i n t h e c o m m u n i t i e s of E l k m o n t a n d A r d m o r e w i t h l i m i t e c C 2 1 ~ e l ~ 2 ~ e ? . t I

i n L e s t e r a n d Mooresville. T h e U . S . 7 2 a n d 1-65 i n t e r c h a n g e provices a loca:ion f o r r e g i o n a l d e v e l o p m e n t a s does t h e 1-65 a n d Alabama 20 i n t e r c n z n g e , i ; e s z cf M o o r e s v i l l e . T h e c o n s t r u c t i o n of 1 - 5 6 5 w i l l a c c e n t u a t e t h i s p o t e n r i a l , 3 : :.?r-c 1

location.

OPPORTUNITIES F O R ACTION 1

T h e f o l l o w i n g o p p o r t u n i t i e s f o r p u b l i c a c t i o n c a n h e l p p r o n o t e ---elL-kalazc-ed a n d w e l l - p l a n n e d commercial d e v e l o p m e n t i n L i m e s t o n e C o u n t y . I

1. The s t i m u l a t i o n of p r e - p l a n n e d m u l t i - p u r p o s e s h o p p i n q ce:.;srs.

2. The e n c o u r a g e m e n t of s h o p p i n g c e n t e r l o c a t i o n s a t a c c e s s ; o F ~ . c s ==

h i g h - s p e e d t r a n s p o r t a t i o n r o u t e s ( 1 - 6 5 , 1-565, U . S . 7 2 , Y - 2 . 21; .

8

3. T h e e n c o u r a g e m e n t of a b a l a n c e d p a t t e r n o f c o m m u n i t y sko;?Lr.;

throughout t h e county.

azsss I

4. The l i m i t i n g of h i g h w a y commercial a r e a s t o a c c e s s p 0 i r . E ~ zr, 5155 speed t r a n s p o r t a t i o n r o u t e s .

I O v e r t h e n e x t e i g h t e e n y e a r s , t h e m o s t i m p o r t a n t t y ? e o f corrnerz132 ce-v e l o p m e n t i n L i m e s t o n e C o u n t y w i l l be t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n o f p l a n n e d s h o ~ p i n cc o n -

ters. Cohesive c e n t e r s , b u i l t a c c o r d i n g to s i n g l e d e s i g n , w i t h adsq.iace ~ u a n c i -

I t i e s of o f f - s t r e e t p a r k i n g , a r e p r e f e r a b l e t o t h e u n p l a n n e d c o m m e r c i a l r i 5 b c n s along major throughfares. P l a n n e d c e n t e r s a l s o a c t a s m a g n e t s a t t r a c r i r . , ; af?.:er u s e s , s u c h a s o f f i c e s , a p a r t m e n t s , arid major c o m m u n i t y facilities.

I 1

16 1

Land u s e p o l i c i e s s h o u l d e n c o u r a g e t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f m u l t i - p u r p o s e c e n t e r s which i n c o r p o r a t e o f f i c e s and community f a c i l i t i e s i n a d d i t i o n t o r e t a i l and s e r -

vice uses.

S h o p p i n g c e n t e r d e v e l o p e r s w i l l p l a c e i m p o r t a n c e upon s i t e s a t i n t e r c h a n g e s t o h i g h - s p e e d a r t e r i a l s a n d a l o n g major c o u n t y roads. T h i s type o f s i t e e n a b l e s t h e c e n t e r t o maximize t h e s i z e o f i t s t r a d e a r e a , w h i c h d e p e n d s o n t r a v e l t h e r a t h e r than p h y s i c a l d i s t a n c e . I t also g i v e s t h e c e n t e r exposure value, t h a t i s ,

v i s i b i l i t y t o motorists. L o c a t i o n a l and s i t e d e v e l o p m e n t p o l i c i e s s h o u l d e n c o u r -

a g e t h e l o c a t i o n o f s h o p p i n g c e n t e r s n e a r i n t e r c h a n g e s , b u t a t t h e same t i m e as-s u r e t h a t t h e t r a f f i c - c a r r y i n g c a p a c i t y o f t h e i n t e r c h a n g e s a n d major roads a r e protected .

S i n c e f u t u r e p o p u l a t i o n g r o w t h w i l l t a k e p l a c e i n many p o r t i o n s o f t h e c o u n t y ,

land use planning should p r o v i d e f o r a balanced p a t t e r n o f shopping a r e a s t o max-imize c h o i c e f o r t h e p o p u l a t i o n .

C a r e f u l p l a n n i n g i s n e e d e d a l s o for l o c a l o r n e i g h b o r h o o d a n d community s h o p p i n g c e n t e r s . T h e s e c e n t e r s t y p i c a l l y serve 5 , 0 0 0 t o 1 0 , 0 0 0 p e o p l e . They a r e c h a r a c t e r i z e d by a s u p e r m a r k e t a n d s m a l l e r r e t a i l s t o r e s a n d s e r v i c e es:ab-l i s h m e n t s , s u c h a s r e s t a u r a n t s , h a r d w a r e , d r u g s t o r e s , a n d d r y c l e a n e r s . The p l a n n e d l o c a l s h o p p i n g c e n t e r g e n e r a t e s m o d e r a t e l y h e a v y t r a f f i c a n d s h o u l d be d i r e c t l y a c c e s s i b l e t o major t h r o u g h f a r e s .

The f u t u r e d e v e l o p m e n t o f p l a n n e d s h o p p i n g c e n t e r s s h o u l d d i m i n i s h t h e p r e s s u r e f o r s t r i p d e v e l o p m e n t a l o n g major h i g h w a y s . The number of highway con-mercial s i t e s s h o u l d be s t r i c t l y l i m i t e d t h r o u g h l a n d u s e r e g u l a t i o n s . They s h o u l d S c r e l a t e d p r i m a r i l y t o t h e I n t e r s t a t e highway a r t e r i a l newwork so C u t t h e n e e d s o f t r a v e l e r s c a n e f f i c i e n t l y be served. F u r t h e r , t h e y s h o u l d be so l o c a t e d t h a t n o c o n f l i c t s r e s u l t w i t h t r a f f i c a t t r a c t e d by s h o p p i n g c e n t e r s .

F i n a l l y , i n order t o r e d u c e h a z a r d s a n d c o n g e s t i o n , d e v e l o p m e n t p o l i c i e s s h o u l d c l e a r l y l i m i t t h e number of e n t r a n c e s a n d e x i t s f r o m h i g h w a y commercial dreas to throughfares.

I N D U S T R I A L DEVELOPMENT L i m e s t o n e County r e m a i n s t h e l e a s t i n d u s t r i a l i z e d o f t h e f i v e c o u n c i e s i n t h e TARCOG R e g i o n . I t s g e o g r a p h i c p r o x i m i t y t o b o t h t h e H u n t s v i l l e and k c a t u r h a s t e n d e d t o r e s t r a i n a f u l l r a n g e of i n d u s t r i a l d i v e r s i f i c a t i o n . There i s ,

h o w e v e r , a p r o m i s i n g t r e n d toward d i v e r s i f i c a t i o n t h a t i s most n o t i c e a b l e in A t h e n s , A r d m o r e , a n d E l k m o n t , n e a r J . C. Calhoun Community C o l l e g e .

The c o u n t y ' s h i s t o r i c a l o v e r - d e p e n d e n c e o n low-wage a n d l o w - s k i l l L n d u s t r i e s is r e a d i l y apparent. T h e r e a r e o n l y a few t y p e s of i n d u s t r y w i t h r e l a t i v e l y h i g h o r m o d e r a t e wage r a t e s . The c o u n t y ' s i n d u s t r i a l p o t e n t i a l , h o w e v e r , i s excellent. I t s e x c e l l e n t t r a n s p o r t a t i o n a c c e s s , a l a r g e number o f prime s i t e s ,

a b u n d a n c e o f power a n d o t h e r r e q u i r e d u t i l i t i e s , a n d a l a r g e a n d a c c e s s i b l e labor f o r c e o f f e r a d v a n t a g e s few o t h e r a r e a s i n Alabama c a n p r o v i d e . The i n d u s t r y i s p r i m a r i l y c e n t e r e d o n A t h e n s where b o t h sewer a n d w a t e r s e r v i c e exist. S i m i l a r d e v e l o p m e n t a t a l e s s e r s c a l e , a p p e a r s p r i m e f o r Ardmore, where water a n d sewer s e r v i c e a r e a l s o a v a i l a b l e , a n d n e a r J. C . C a l h o u n Community Col l e g e .

17

Manufacturing a c t i v i t y i n Limestone County is e x p e c t e d to i n c r e a s e s h a r p l y during the planning period. Over w i d e r g e o g r a p h i c a r e a s , h o w e v e r , L i m e s t o n e County must c o m p e t e w i t h e s t a b l i s h e d m a n u f a c t u r i n g c e n t e r s , s u c h a s t h e c i t i e s of Decatur and H u n t s v i l l e .

The c o u n t y h a s e x i s t i n g n a t u r a l a s s e t s w h i c h w i l l a i d i t s i n d u s t r i a l g r o w t h C e r t a i n e s t a b l i s h e d manufacturing g r o u p s w i l l c o n t i n u e to expand and attract sup-porting activities. Limestone C o u n t y ' s e x c e l l e n t r a i l , highway, a i r , and w a t e r t r a n s p o r t a t i o n will be of b e n e f i t i n a t t r a c t i n g i n d u s t r y . These facilities, i n a d d i t i o n to rapidly-growing r e g i o n a l markets, should s t i m u l a t e f u r t h e r wholesale activity.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR ACTION L i m e s t o n e C o u n t y faces i n c r e a s e d c o m p e t i t i o n f r o m m e t r o p o l i t a n a r e a s d e s i r -

i n g new i n d u s t r y . I f t h e c o u n t y i s t o c a p t u r e i t s projected s h a r e o f g r o w t h ,

s t r o n g pu b lic a c t i o n m u s t promote a n a t t r a c t i v e i n d u s t r i a l e n v i r o n m e n t . There are several o p p o r t u n i t i e s f o r s t i m u l a t i n g local economic growth t h r o u g h i q r o v e d i n d u s t r i a l planning. They i n c l u d e :

1. C o n t i n u e d u t i l i z a t i o n of t h e A t h e n s - L i m e s t o n e D e v e l o p m e n t C o m m i t t e e t o p r o v i d e a c o n s o l i d a t e d e f f o r t t o p r o m o t e , a n d t o f i n a n c e i n d u s t r i a l develos-m e n t p r o j e c t s v i a t h e A t h e n s I n d u s t r i a l D e v e l o p m e n t Board.

2. R e c o g n i t i o n i n p l a n s a n d l a n d u s e r e g u l a t i o n s o f t h e new l o c a t i o n a l m o b i l i t y o f l i g h t i n d u s t r y a n d w h o l e s a l i n g a n d t h e s p e c i a l l o c a t i o n a l n e e d s of heavy i n d u s t r y .

3. C o o r d i n a t e d p l a n n i n g of roads a n d u t i l i t i e s f o r a r e a s w i t h h i g h i n -

dustrial potential.

4. P u b l i c encouragement and a s s i s t a n c e to planned i n d u s t r i a l districts.

L i m e s t o n e C o u n t y ' s s i g n i f i c a n t p o r t i o n of i t s la bor f o r c e t h a t i s e m p l o y e d a t Cummings R e s e a r c h P a r k , a n d a t t h e NASA M a r s h a l l S p a c e F l i g h t C e n t e r ane a t t h e U . S . Army M i s s i l e Command a n d M i s s i l e a n d M u n i t i o n s C e n t e r a n d s c h o o l ? r e vide a s o l i d basis upon w h i c h t o a t t r a c t h i g h - t e c h n o l o g y i n d u s t r y s i m i l a r t o t h e above-listed e c o n o m i c a c t i v i t i e s located i n a d j a c e n t Madison C o u n t y .

To be more s p e c i f i c , a n c i l l a r y h i g h t e c h n o l o g y - o r i e n t e d s e r v i c e companies e c o n o m i c a l l y l i n k e d t o M a d i s o n C o u n t y ' s h i g h - t e c h n o l o g y "base" c o u l d be d e v e l o i e 2 a t Athens, A r d m o r e , Elkmont and i n S o u t h Limestone County. The e x c e l l e n t r a i l a n d highway c o n n e c t i o n s d i r e c t l y t o w e s t e r n Madison County c o u l d foster s u c h i n -

t e r r e l a t i o n s h i p s i n economic-industrial development. However, s u c h f i r m s a n d c o m p a n i e s p r e f e r , a l b e i t a l m o s t i n s i s t , upon l o c a t i n g i n a p l a n n e d i n d u s t r i a l park. The c h a r a c t e r i s t i e s o f t h e s e p a r k s a r e d i s c u s s e d b e l o w .

The p l a n n e d i n d u s t r i a l p a r k o f f e r s a d e s i r a b l e a l t e r n a t i v e t o scattered i n d u s t r i a l g r o w t h t h a t h a s c h a r a c t e r i z e d many a r e a s i n t h e p a s t . Industrialists a r e n o r u n l i k e homeowners; t a r c i n t e r c x s t e d i n an O v c ~ r ~ ~ planll and 13 W h a t 18

1 t types o f neighbors t h e y might have. P l a n n e d i n d u s t r i a l p a r k s w i t h adequate s t r e e t s y s t e m s , E l e x i b l e s i t c p r o v i s i o n s a n d p r o t e c t i v e r e s t r i c t i o n s c a n be d e s i g n e d t o 1 most r e a d i l y meet t h e broad, a n d sometimes s p e c i f i c , n e e d s o f a m u l t i p l i c i t y of industries.

I Planned i n d u s t r i a l p a r k s c a n a l s o p r o v i d e a f u l l complement o f s e r v i c e s a n d u t i l i t i e s t o s m a l l i n d u s t r i e s w h i c h , i n d i v i d u a l l y , do n o t h a v e t h e r e s o u r c e s t o d e v e l o p them. T h e y a l s o i s o l a t e i n d u s t r i e s from o t h e r u s e s a n d , a t t h e same 1 t i m e , i n s u r e good d e s i g n a n d e n v i r o n m e n t a l s t a n d a r d s . They h a v e b e e n u s e d a s v a l u -

a b l e d e v i c e s f o r a t t r a c t i n g new i n d u s t r y a n d i n c r e a s i n g l o c a l t a x r e v e n u e s .

I t is v i t a l l y i m p o r t a n t t h a t t h e g o v e r n m e n t a l j u r i s d i c t i o n s i n t h e c o u n t y I program n e c e s s a r y p u b l i c i m p r o v e m e n t s , i n c l u d i n g sewer a n d w a t e r s e r v i c e s a n d h i g h w a y s , f o r areas of h i g h i n d u s t r i a l p o t e n t i a l . T h e Land U s e P l a n s p e c i f i c a l l y i d e n t i f i e s t h e s e areas.

I F u t u r e p l a n n i n g f o r t h e c o u n t y m u s t a l s o t a k e i n t o account t h e l o c a t i o n a l m o b i l i t y of l i g h t i n d u s t r y a n d w h o l e s a l i n g . A d i v e r s e n u m b e r of e m p l o y m e n t c e n t e r s ,

I close t o b u t compatible w i t h r e s i d e n t i a l a r e a s , c a n m a t e r i a l l y decrease t r a v e l t i m e t o a n d from w o r k . P o l i c i e s s h o u l d be framed t o a l l o w a v a r i e t y of l i g h t i n d u s t r i a l a n d w h o l e s a l e l o c a t i o n s , y e t i n s u r e a d e q u a t e highway access and u t i -

l i t y service.

1 A t t h e same t i m e , t h e s p e c i a l c h a r a c t e r a n d r e q u i r e m e n t s of h e a v y i n d u s t r y s h o u l d be r e c o g n i z e d . I t s n e e d f o r port a n d r a i l f a c i l i t i e s a n d i t s p o t e n t i a l I n o x i o u s n e s s t o o t h e r l a n d u s e s suggest restricted l o c a t i o n s close t o p r e s e n t a r e a s of s i m i l a r a c t i v i t y . Such development h a s i t s f u t u r e i n South Limestone C o u n t y , n e a r t h e G e n e r a l Motors S a g i n a w S t e e r i n g Gear D i v i s i o n P l a n t .

I SOCIAL, CULTURAL, AND GOVERNMENTAL Broad d i v e r s i f i c a t i o n a n d n u m e r o u s f a c i l i t i e s p r o v i d e L i m e s t o n e C o u n t y r e -

1 s i d e n t s w i t h a h i g h q u a l i t y of o u t d o o r r e c r e a t i o n a l o p p o r t u n i t i e s .

L a k e Reservoir of t h e T e n n e s s e e River forms t h e s o u t h e r n b o u n d a r y of t h e c o u n t y The W h eeler a n d h a s a l a r g e n u m b e r of f a c i l i t i e s f o r n u m e r o u s t y p e s of o u t d o o r a c t i v i t i e s .

I T h e r e a r e 1 1 5 miles of streams s t o c k e d , a n d c o n t r o l l e d f i s h i n g i s allowed. The E l k R i v e r area h a s some 59 a c r e s w i t h h i k i n g , b o a t i n g , a n d o u t d o o r c o o k i n g f a c -

i l i t i e s available.

1 T h e C i t y o f A t h e n s a n d o t h e r m u n i c i p a l i t i e s m a i n t a i n m o s t l y small p a r k s ,

b u t t h e c o u n t y i s f o r t u n a t e t o h a v e l a r g e o u t d o o r f a c i l i t i e s loc a te d p r i m a r i l y n e a r water r e s o u r c e s . However, t h e s e f a c i l i t i e s a r e u n d e r d e v e l o p e d f o r r e c r e a -

1 t i o n a l u s e b e c a u s e m o s t of t h e l a n d i s w i l d l i f e r e f u g e .

T h e l e v e l of e d u c a t i o n a l , h e a l t h , r e c r e a t i o n a l , a n d o t h e r c u l t u r a l a n d I social f a c i l i t i e s i s a n i m p o r t a n t p a r t o f a c o u n t y ' s t o t a l development. These f a c i l i t i e s are n e c e s s a r y f o r a n e n v i r o n m e n t which provides a h e a l t h f u l , whole-some, a n d p l e a s a n t l i v i n g e n v i r o n m e n t . T h e s e a r e a l s o t h e major a t t r i b u t e s I w h i c h e n h a n c e t h e human v a l u e s o f a n a r e a , a n d h e n c e i t s a t t r a c t i o n t o newcomers and i n d u s t r y .

I I 19

T h e r e a r e t w o scfiool s y s t e m s i n L i m e s t - o i l ( : C o u n t y [ J r o v i d i r l g e l e m e n t a r y , juri-l o r h i g h , a n d s e n i o r h i g h l e v e l e d u c a t i o n f o r some 12,000 s t u d c r i t s . The s c h o o l s a r e scattered throughout t h e c o u n t y , b u t l o c a t e d s t r a t e g i c a l l y n e a r growth c e n t e r s .

Limestone County a l s o h a s t h e services of t w o i n s t i t u t i o n s of h i g h e r l e a r n i n g - -

A t h e n s College, located i n A t h e n s , a n d C a l h o u n J u n i o r C o l l e g e , l o c a t e d n e a r t h e s o u t h e r n b o u n d a r y o f t h e c o u n t y of U . S . 3 1 . Medical f a c i l i t i e s i n c l u d e two has-p i t a l s , t h e Limestone - A t h e n s Hospital i n A t h e n s , and t h e J a c k s o n Hospital l o c a t e d i n t h e Town o f L e s t e r . -

Most of t h e major g o v e r n m e n t a c t i v i t y c e n t e r s a r e l o c a t e d i n A t h e n s , t h e c o u n t y s e a t . Large c o n s e r v a t i o n areas a l o n g t h e w e s t e r n and s o u t h e r n b o u n d a r i e s of L i m e s t o n e C o u n t y a r e owned b y t h e U . S . D e p a r t m e n t of t h e I n t e r i o r . The mos t r e c e n t l y e s t a b l i s h e d major g o v e r n m e n t i n s t a l l a t i o n i s t h e B r o w n ' s F e r r y N u c l e a r P l a n t on t h e Tennessee R i v e r . T h i s f a c i l i t y i s owned a n d o p e r a t e d b y t h e T e n n e s s e e Valley Authority.

T R A N S P O R T A T I O N DEVELOPMENT L i m e s t o n e C o u n t y i s s e r v e d b y m a i n l i n e s of b o t h t h e L o u i s v i l l e a n d N a s h v i l l e R a i l w a y passes i n a n east-west d i r e c t i o n t h r o u g h t h e c o m m u n i t i e s o f B e l l e Plina a n d G r e e n b r i e r . T h e L o u i s v i l l e a n d N a s h v i l l e l i n e p a s s e s i n a n o r t h s o u t h dire<-

t i o n s e r v i n g t h e communities of T a n n e r , A t h e n s , a n d E l k m o n t . The c o u n t y h a s o v e r 1 , 0 0 0 m i l e s of f e d e r a l , s t a t e , a n d l o c a l r o a d s a n d h i g h w a y s . T h e t w o major his:?-

ways a r e U.S. Highway 7 2 , a f o u r - l a n e h i g h w a y g o i n g e a s t and w e s t . In a d d i t i o r . ,

I n t e r s t a t e 6 5 , a l i m i t e d access c o r r i d o r , passes i m m e d i a t e l y e a s t o f A t h e n s , an5 p a r a l l e l U.S. 3 1 , a l s o a f o u r - l a n e h i g h w a y . A l a b a m a 2 0 r u n s e a s t from U1S. 31 a t D e c a t u r t o H u n t s v i l l e ; i t s c o r r i d o r w i l l be u t i l i z e d b y t h e new 1-565.

T h e T e n n e s s e e R i v e r , s o u t h of A t h e n s , i s a y e a r - r o u n d n a v i g a b l e w a t e r d a y c o n n e c t i n g a l l p o i n t s i n t h e T e n n e s s e e V a l l e y t o the c o u n t r y ' s g r e a t i n l a n d w a t e r -

way s y s t e m , p r i m a r i l y t h e M i s s i s s i p p i R i v e r s y s t e m a n d t r i b u t a r y systems.

Limestone County's n e a r n e s s t o t h e Huntsville/Madison County Jetplex and t h e l o c a t i o n o f p r y o r F i e l d i n s o u t h - c e n t r a l L i m e s t o n e C o u n t y make a i r transport-a t i o n e a s i l y accessible t o t h e c o u n t y ' s p o p u l a t i o n , b u s i n e s s , a n d i n d u s t r y .

FORESTED AREAS O f t h e 363,520 acres of l a n d i n L i m e s t o n e C o u n t y , a n e s t i m a t e d 78,900 a c r s s are i n forest l a n d s w h i c h are n o t withdrawn from u t i l i z a t i o n a n d are p r o d u c i n g ,

o r capable of p r o d u c i n g crops of timber. A g r e a t v a r i e t y o f s o u t h e r n p i n e s a n d hardwoods are found i n t h e s e f o r e s t s g r o w i n g o n s i t e s r a n g i n g from t h e d r y ,

s h a l l o w s o i l s of m o u n t a i n r i d g e s t o t h e r i c h , w e l l - d r a i n e d b o t t o m l a n d s o i l s o f r i v e r v a l l e y s . The m a j o r i t y o f t h e f o r e s t a r e l o c a t e d i n t h e n o r t h e r n t w o t h i r 2 s o f t h e c o u n t y i n t h e H i g h l a n d s mm R e g i o n of t h e A p p a l a c h i a n M o u n t a i n s . b l o s t of t h e timber t h r o u g h o u t t h e c o u n t y i s o f o a k a n d gum s p e c i e s of h a r d w o o d , w h i c h azc best s u i t e d t o b o t h t h e s o i l a n d climate of t h e r e g i o n .

F o r e s t l a n d s a t t h e p r e s e n t a c c o u n t f o r r o u g h l y o n e - f i f t h o f t h e total l z n d area i n t h e county b u t have been d e c r e a s i n g i n t h i s r e s p e c t f o r t h e p a s t decade.

S u r v e y reports p u b l i s h e d i n 1 9 3 6 , 1 9 5 3 , 1 9 6 3 , a n d 1 9 7 3 by t h e U . S . F o r e s t S e r v l z c i n d i c a t e d t h e p r o p o r t i o n o f t h e f o r e s t l a n d s to t o t a l l a n d a r e a s f o r t h e comt::

t o be 2 4 . 5 p e r c e n t , 25. 3 p e r c e n t , 2 8 . 1 p c r c e i i t a n d 20.5 p e r c e n t , r e s p e c t i v e l y .

Though a s t r o n g i n c r e a s e o c c u r r e d f r o m t h e t 1 1 i r t . i ~u ~ n t i l the early s i x t , ~ e s ,

t o t a l a c r e a g e csince. t l i a t t i m e tias d c c l inc,tf s ~ i c \ itli;lt 1)reL;ciit f i c l ~ r ' e s are ~ I P ~ I L - ~ ' ;

21 [ w r c c n t l e s s t h a i i wliat t h e y w c r i x r c ' p o r - t c

• d t o t i c 1 1 1 1 W - j .

20

T h e i n c r e a s e s i n f o r e s t acreage f r o m 1 9 3 6 t o 1 9 6 3 r e f l e c t a p e r i o d i n t h e c o u n t y ' s h i s t o r y when p o p u l a t i o n d w i n d l e d , c o u n t y e c o n o m i c g r o w t h s l o w e d , a n d many acres of a g r i c u l t u r a l l a n d were a b o n d o n e d a n d a l l o w e d t o r e v e r t b a c k t o f o r e s t l a n d . The e a r l y 1 9 6 0 ' ~h ~ owever, s a w an upswing i n t h e p o p u l a t i o n , ur-ban and i n d u s t r i a l g r o w t h , a n d a g r i c u l t u r a l a c t i v i t i e s . D u r i n g t h i s period of t i m e , t h o u s a n d s of a c r e s o f f o r e s t l a n d s b e g a n t o u n d e r g o t h e p r o c e s s of c o n v e r -

s i o n t o a g r i c u l t u r a l a n d o t h e r l a n d u s e s associated w i t h e c o n o m i c g r o w t h . Luck-i l y , l a n d which is n o t d i r e c t l y s u i t e d t o row-crop o r p a s t u r e l a n d i s , p a r t i c u l a r l y i n t h e Lester-Salem area, b e i n g c o n v e r t e d to f o r e s t use. T h i s is a positive t r e n d w h i c h s h o u l d be e n c o u r a g e d c o u n t y w i d e .

DEVELOPMENT ISSUES A p r i m a r y c o n s i d e r a t i o n of t h e L i m e s t o n e C o u n t y p l a n n i n g program i s t o b r i n g many f a c t o r s w h i c h a f f e c t t h e d e v e l o p m e n t of t h e c o u n t y i n t o f o c u s i n order t o develop a planned c o u r s e for f u t u r e a c t i v i t i e s . T h i s s e c t i o n of t h e r e p o r t i d e n t i -

f i e s a n d describes major i s s u e s i m p a c t i n g t h e c o u n t y a n d p r o v i d e s some d i r e c t i o n .

f o r f u t u r e a c t i o n by t h e c o u n t y leaders. F o r e a c h i s s u e a s e r i e s of o b j e c t i v e s i s p r e s e n t e d w h i c h i n d i c a t e s some a c t i o n t o be t a k e n t o r e s o l v e t h e c o n c e r n s .

COUNTY GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT ISSUES I. Land U s e L a c k of l a n d u s e c o n t r o l s h a s c o n t r i b u t e d t o b l i g h t a n d c o n g e s t i o n i n u n i n c o r p o r a t -

ed c o u n t y areas.

ACTION OBJECTIVES a I n c r e a s e t h e a w a r e n e s s of m u t u a l p r o b l e m s w i t h i n t h e c o u n t y a n d t h e need f o r a n e f f e c t i v e framework f o r d e v e l o p i n g s o l u t i o n s t o t h e s e problems.

0 S u p p o r t t h e e n a c t m e n t of new l e g i s l a t i o n w h i c h w o u l d p e r m i t c o u n t i e s t o exercise l a n d u s e c o n t r o l s ( s u b d i v i s i o n a n d zoning r e g u l a t i o n s )

i n u n i n c o r p o r a t e d Limestone County.

a D e v e l o p m e n t o f l a n d u s e c o n t r o l s s h o u l d be c o n s i s t e n t w i t h p l a n n e d i m p r o v e m e n t s o f major p u b l i c e x p e n d i t u r e s , s u c h a s t r a n s p o r t a t i o n r o u t e s , w a t e r a n d sewer f a c i l i t i e s .

D e v e l o p m e n t of t h e u n i n c o r p o r a t e d a r e a s o f t h e c o u n t y i s h i n d e r e d d u e t o t h e l a c k o f sound p l a n n i n g p o l i c i e s .

ACTION OBJECTIVES 0 R e s i d e n t i a l a r e a s s h o u l d b e l o c a t e d \ii t h i n c o n v e n i e n t t r a v e l t i n e o f s h o p p i n g a r e a s , e m p l o y m e n t c e n t e r s a n e c o m m u n i t y facilities a n d where p u b l i e u t i l i t i c s can b e r e a d i l y I ) r o v i d e t l .

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Areas s h o u l d be d e s i g n e d f o r f u t u r e i n d u s t r i a l d e v e l o p m e n t b a s e d upon f a c t o r s s u c h as f u t u r e e x p a n s i o n , p u b l i c u t i l i t i e s , t r a n s p o r t a t i o n f a c i l i t i e s , and p r o x i m i t y t o p o p u l a t i o n c e n t e r s .

0 P r o v i d e f o r a b a l a n c e d d i s t r i b u t i o n o f commercial a n d p e r s o n a l s e r v i c e i n planned sites throughout t h e county.

0 P r o v i d e t h e o p p o r t u n i t y f o r t h e c o u n t y p o p u l a t i o n t o c h o o s e from a v a r i e t y o f l i f e s t y l e s , d e n s i t i e s , and h o u s in g t y p e s .

S u p p o r t a n d e n c o u r a g e p o l i c i e s which s t i m u l a t e t h e c o n c e n t r a t i o n of new d e v e l o p m e n t of t h e u n i n c o r p o r a t e d a r e a s w i t h a d e q u a t e p u b l i c facilities.

Growth i n t h e u n i n c o r p o r a t e d areas of t h e c o u n t y h a s o c c u r r e d i n a n u n c o o r d i n a t e d ,

u n c o n t r o l l e d manner.

ACTION OBJECTIVES o M a i n t a i n a n a w a r e n e s s of t h e n e e d f o r proper d e s i g n , s c a l e , d e n s i t y c o n t r o l , openspace, and o t h e r environmental c o n s i d e r a t i o n s i n t h e p l a n n i n g a n d d e v e l o p m e n t of r e s i d e n t i a l a r e a s .

D i s c o u r a g e h a p h a z a r d , u n p l a n n e d commercial d e v e l o p m e n t a n d promote t h e g r o u p i n g of compatible r e t a i l and s e r v i c e o u t l e t s i n t o f u n c t i o n a l commercial c e n t e r s .

11. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT The d e v e l o p m e n t of t h e c o u n t y t o i t s f u l l e s t e c o n o m i c p o t e n t i a l s h o u l d be c o n t i n u a l l y encouraged.

ACTION OBJECTIVES Areas which e n a b l e i n d u s t r i a l f i r m s t o s h a r e common t r a n s p o r t a t i o n ,

u t i l i t i e s , a n d service f a c i l i t i e s s h o u l d be g i v e n p r e f e r e n c e .

A c h i e v e a l a n d u s e p a t t e r n w h i c h i n s u r e s t h e most p r o d u c t i v e u s e of l a n d w i t h i n t h e c o u n t y .

M a i n t a i n a h i g h l y c o m p e t i t i v e and a g g r e s s i v e p o s t u r e i n economic d e v e l o p m e n t e f f o r t s i n order t o r e t a i n e x i s t i n g e m p l o y e r s , a t t r a c t new i n d u s t r i e s a n d c r e a t e a s u f f i c i e n t number o f new job o p p o r t u n i -

t i e s t o meet t h e r e q u i r e m e n t s of a g r o w i n g p o p u l a t i o n .

S t r i v e t o e l i m i n a t e problems which may hamper l o c a l e f f o r t s t o p r o -

mote new e c o n o m i c d e v e l o p m e n t , e - g . , h o u s i n g , t r a n s p o r t a t i o n , a n d utilities.

R e c o g n i z e t h e c h a n g i n g r o l e o f a g r i c u l t u r e i n t h e c o u n t y economy and t h e p o t e n t i a l impact t h i s w i l l h a v e o n e x i s t i n g a n d p o t e n t i a l m a r k e t s and l a n d u s e p a t t e r n s .

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I I HUMAN RESOURCES I

I --

I.

- HOUSING 1 What m e a s u r e s c a n be t a k e n t o i n s u r e t h e c o n t i n u e d m a i n t e n a n c e of t h e e x i s t i n g h o u s i n g s t o c k or i n s u r e i t s r e p l a c e m e n t i n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h c o u n t y goals?

I ACTION OBJECTIVES Work t o e l i m i n a t e a l l s u b s t a n d a r d h o u s i n g and t o p r o v i d e s u f f i c i e n t I h o u s i n g i n q u a n t i t y , type, l o c a t i o n , a n d c o s t t o accommodate t h e a n t i c i p a t e d i n c r e a s e i n county population.

1 a The h o u s i n g d i s t r i b u t i o n i n t h e c o u n t y s h o u l d be d i r e c t l y r e l a t e d t o overall c o u n t y development p l a n and t h e c a r d c i t y t o p r o v i d e e s s e n t i a l services i n t h e u n i n c o r p o r a t e d a r e a s .

I i I n f o r m a t i o n o n t h e h o u s i n g m a r k e t s h o u l d be p e r i o d i c a l l y f u r n i s h e d t o r e s i d e n t i a l developers.

I The P r o v i s i o n of s o c i a l services a c t i v i t i e s a r e l i m i t e d t i r o u g h o u t t h e c o u n t y .

ACTION OBJECTIVES I E n c o u r a g e e c o n o m i c d e v e l o p m e n t which p r o v i d e s a m p l e employment oppor-t u n i t i e s for b o t h t h e h i g h l y s k i l l e d and r e l a t i v e l y u n s k i l l e d segments of t h e c o u n t y ' s p o p u l a t i o n .

I E n c o u r a g e t h e a c q u i s i t i o n of l a n d f o r p u b l i c f a c i l i t i e s p r i o r t o t h e t i m e t h a t i t i s a c t u a l l y n e e d e d and i n l o c e t i o n s w h i c h a r e c o n v e n i e n t 1 TRANSPORTATION t o p r o j e c t e d s e r v i c e areas.

1 I

H o w c a n t h e c o u n t y t r a n s p o r t a t i o n s y s t e m best accanrodate the t r a v e l demands of B t h e county r e s i d e n t s ?

ACTION OBJECTIVES I The s t r e e t a n d highway s y s t e m s h o u l d be p l a n n e d , d e s i g n e d , a n d d e v e l o p -

e d i n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h t h e a n t i c i p a t e d future l a n d u s e a n d a c t i v i t y 1 p a t t e r n s of t h e c o u n t y .

i 23

E s t a b l i s h a f u n c t i o n a l t r a n s p o r t a t i o n system o f primary and secondary t h o r o u g h f a r e s , c a p a b l e of moving p e o p l e a n d g o o d s s a f e l y a n d e f f i c i e n t -

ly-rn The c o u n t y t r a n s p o r t a t i o n s y s t e m s h o u l d c o o r d i n a t e a n d i n t e g r a t e t h e v a r i o u s modes o f t r a v e l - - h i g h w a y s a r t e r i a l a n d l o c a l s t r e e t s , as w e l l a s p u b l i c t r a n s p o r t a t i o n f a c i l i t i e s , ports, r a i l , a n d a i r - - s u c h t h a t t h e s e f a c i l i t i e s are m u t u a l l y complementary.

The t r a n s p o r t a t i o n s y s t e m o f t h e c o u n t y s h o u l d be e f f e c t i v e l y u s e d t o d i r e c t f u t u r e development.

ACTION OBJECTIVES rn T r a n s p o r t a t i o n s e r v i c e s s h o u l d be p r o v i d e d a n d managed s o a s t o r e d u c e t h e e x p e n d i t u r e s o f human a n d f i s c a l r e s o u r c e s a n d be s e n s i t i v e t o e x i s t i n g and projected energy requirements.

rn The t r a n s p o r t a t i o n s y s t e m s h o u l d be u t i l i z e d a s a means t o s h a p e c o u n t y d e v e l o p m e n t p a t t e r n s a s w e l l a s a d e v i c e t o r e l i e v e t h e problems w h i c h o t h e r growth f a c t o r s create.

NATURAL RESOURCES I. ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY What p o l i c i e s s h o u l d be e n a c t e d b y l o c a l g o v e r n m e n t t o r e d u c e t h e adverse e f f e c t s of u r b a n a n d r u r a l l a n d u s e on a i r a n d w a t e r q u a l i t y ?

ACTION OBJECTIVES rn E n c o u r a g e t h e a d o p t i o n of f l o o d p l a i n z o n i n g r e g u l a t i o n s t o m i n i m i z e p o t e n t i a l loss a n d damage d u e t o f l o o d i n g .

The p o t e n t i a l e n v i r o n m e n t a l impacts of a l l p l a n s a n d d e c i s i o n s re-l a t i n g t o c o u n t y d e v e l o p m e n t , l a n d u s e , a n d t r a n s p o r t a t i o n improve-m e n t s s h o u l d be c a r e f u l l y c o n s i d e r e d .

M a i n t a i n a b a l a n c e b e t w e e n w i l d l i f e , t h e c a p a c i t y of l a n d t o s u s t a i n i t , a n d t h e p r o j e c t e d human p o p u l a t i o n of t h e c o u n t y .

Land n o t d e s i g n a t e d or d e v e l o p m e n t i n t h e c o u n t y d e v e l o p m e n t p l a n s h o u l d r e m a i n i n a t t r a c t i v e o p e n s p a c e by p r e v e n t i n g h a p h a z a r d , pre-m a t u r e , and p o o r l y d e s i g n e d d e v e l o p m e n t i n s u c h a r e a s .

24

I L I 11. AGRICULTURE I I f a g r i c u l t u r e is c o n s i d e r e d an a c t i v i t y worth s a v i n g i n f u t u r e y e a r s , can e f -

f e c t i v e p r e s e r v a t i o n m e a s u r e s be c o r r e l a t e d w i t h e c o n o m i c a l s t a g i n g o f u r b a n d e v e l o p m e n t so a s n o t t o d i s t u r b r u r a l a r e a s u n n e c e s s a r i l y a n d so t h a t t h e I c o s t s of g o v e r n m e n t s e r v i c e s be k e p t t o a minimum?

ACTION OBJECTIVES a The d i s r u p t i o n of p r o d u c t i v e a g r i c u l t u r a l l a n d a n d n a t u r a l r e s o u r c e s s h o u l d be avoided i n t h e d e s i g n o f new h i g h w a y s a n d o t h e r t r a n s p o r t a -

t i o n improvements.

a P r o t e c t prime a g r i c u l t u r a l s o i l s from u r b a n e n c r o a c h m e n t b y c h a n n e l -

i n g i n t e n s i v e development t o less p r o d u c t i v e l a n d .

a P r o v i d e f o r a smooth a n d o r d e r l y f l o w o f l a n d r e s o u r c e s o u t o f a q r i -

c u l t u r e and i n t o non-farm u s e s as t h e need a r i s e s f o r t h e re p la c e m ent o f r u r a l l a n d by urban expansion.

111. OPEN SPACE, PARKS, AND RECREATION Which l a n d s c a n provide t h e m o s t m e a n i n g f u l o p e n q a c e s y s t e m based upon o u r human a n d e n v i r o n m e n t a l p r i o r i t i e s and o u r a b i l i t y t o pay d i r e c t a n d i r d i r e c t c o s t s of preservation.

A C T I O N OBJECTIVES a P r o v i d e r e c r e a t i o n a n d o p e n s p a c e a r e a s t h r o u g h o u t t h e c o u n t y which a r e c o n v e n i e n t t o u s e r s , a c c e s s i b l e , and. x n i c h e n h a n c e Lie u n i q u e c h a r a c t e r a n d q u a l i t y of s u c h a r e a s .

a S u p p o r t t h e e n a c t m e n t of a p p r o p r i a t e land. u s e c o n t r o l s '10 prese-rve outstanding n a t u r a l resources within t h e county.

a Emphasize n a t u r a l b e a u t y i n r e c r e a t i o n a-d. o p e n s p a c e s i a n n i n g and e n c o u r a g e a c o n s e r v a t i o n a n d r e s o u r c e d e v e l o p m e n t a p p r 3 a c n i n con-s i d e r i n g t h e r e c r e a t i o n n e e d s of t h e c o u z z y .

U t i l i z e o p e n space e f f e c t i v e l y by p r o v i 2 i n g s e r v i c e t o Z e v e l o p i n g areas t h r o u g h t h e p r o v i s i o n o f r e c r e a t i o n s p a c e , s c e n i c a n d h i s t o r i c s i t e s , f l o o d c o n t r o l , and r e s o u r c e c o n s e r v a t i o n .

a M u l t i p l e u s e s h o u l d be made o f o F e n s 2 a c i a r e a s .

PUBLIC UTILITIES I S l ~ o u l dt h e p r o v i s i o n of p u b l i c s e r v i c e s be usee t o z o n t r o l w h e r e a n d wher. l a n d d e v e l o p m e n t i n t h e u n i n c o r p o r a t e d a r e a s of ZOUT.~!; xi11 o c c u r ?

I 25

ACTION OBJECTIVES Encourage l a n d development p a t t e r n s which would p e r m i t t h e m o s t e c o n o m i c a l e x t e n s i o n of p u b l i c u t i l i t i e s .

D i s c o u r a g e t h e e x t e n s i o n Of p u b l i c u t i l i t i e s t o a r e a s w h i c h w o u l d

-. promote p r e m a t u r e d e v e l o p m e n t .

Coordinate t h e f u t u r e l a n d use p l a n for t h e county w i t h t h e p l a n s f o r p u b l i c u t i l i t i e s b y p r o v i d i n g s u c h f a c i l i t i e s o n l y i n areas d e s i g n e d for d e v e l o p m e n t .

I c

I CHAPTER 3 I POPULATION AND ECONOMIC I

DEVELOPMENT I POPULATION I GROWTH TRENDS IN REGION L i m e s t o n e C o u n t y i s l o c a t e d w i t h i n t h e immediate s s n e r e o f t h e i n f l u e n c e I of M e t r o p o l i t a n S t a t i s t i c a l Area, o n e o f t h e s t r o n g e s t g r o w t h a r e a s i n t h e State. P r i o r t o J u n e o f 1 9 8 3 , L i m e s t o n e C o u n t y w a s a ? a r t of t h e 3 - c o u n t y H u n t s v i l l e S t a n d a r d M e t r o p o l i t a n S t a t i s t i c a l Area ( S ! I S A ) a n d w a s removed f r o 3 t h e SMSA ( a l o n g w i t h M a r s h a l l C o u n t y ) d u e t o a slow-down i n p o p u l a t i o n g r o w t h I r a t e , r a t h e r t h a n a l e s s e n i n g of e c o n o m i c t i e s t o H u n t s v i l l e g r o w t h t r e n d s .

Much o f t h e r e g i o n ' s r e c e n t p o p u l a t i o n char.ges i s r e l a t e d t o t h e 2 e c l i r . e 1 i n t h e i m p o r t a n c e of a g r i c u l t u r e a n d t h e g r o w i n g r o l e 05 i x d u s r r y a n d conunerze.

The d e c r e a s i n g demand f o r f a r m w o r k e r s up t o a b o u t 1962 r e s s l t e d i n a s t e a d y o u t - m i g r a t i o n o f t h e l o c a l l a b o r f o r c e t o o t h e r a r e d s w i t h ;nore m a n u f a c t u r i r g I job opportunities. By t h e m i d 1 9 6 0 ' s , m a n u f a c t u r i n q ar.5 s e r v i c e s employment had b e g u n t o d e v e l o p s t r o n g l y , s p e a r h e a d e d by t h e a e r o s s a c e / d e f e n s e boom i n H u n t s v i l l e , and t h e s i g n i f i c a n t se c o n d a r y non-aerossace ma n u fa c tu rin g growth p r o m o t e d by H u n t s v i l l e ' s I n d u s t r i a l Development A s s o c i a --102 ' -

I The f i r s t d r a m a t i c i m p a c t p e r i o d i n t h e r e g i o n ( a x 2 t h e L i m e s t o n e Count:/

a r e a ) b e g a n a b o u t 1 9 5 0 w i t h t h e d e c i s i o n b y t h e U.S. Goverx-ent t o move t h e 1 h e a r t o f t h e n a t i o n ' s m i s s i l e a n d r o c k e t d e v e l o p m e n t t e a zo k i u n t s v i l l e .

t h e s e e a r l y y e a r s , t h e R e d s t o n e A r s e n a l complex a n d t h e s u F 9 o r t i n g i n d u s t r i e s i n H u n t s v i l l e were t h e f o c u s of t h e n a t i o n ' s space e f f c r t .

Dcix:

H u n t s * . r i l l e grew ? r z x a c i t y o f l i t t l e more t h a n 1 5 , 0 0 0 i n 1 9 5 0 t o t h e s t a t e ' s t h i r d m e t r o p o l i s .

I 1

1 9 7 0 w i t h more t h a n 1 3 7 , 0 0 0 people.

By 1 9 7 0 , t h e g o v e r n m e n t f u n d e d a e r o s p a c e / d e f e r s e k o o r i n H u c t s v i l l e ha6 1 u n d e r g o n e d r a s t i c r e d u c t i o n s , a n d t h e p r i v a t e manufact..rir,;

PPG, GET) had become t h e d o m i n a n t g r o w t h f o r c e .

s e c t o r ( i e . Dunlo?,

I I n t h e mid a n d l a t e 7 0 ' s n a t i o n a l economic r e c e s s l o n r r e n d s , c o u p l e d with e n e r g y r e l a t e d m a n u f a c t u r i n g p r i o r i t y c h a n g e s c a u s e ? a slc.*.-down i n t h e r e g i o n ' s p r i v a t e sector m a n u f a c t u r i n g g r o w t h .

I A s t h e j o b o p p o r t u n i t i e s i n c r e a s e d i n H u n t s v i l l e , t h e a 2 j a c e n t a r e a s s-c:?

as Limestone County w e r e impacted a s w e l l . Much of t h e g r o w t h i n L i m e s t o n e C o u n t y from 1955-1970 was a r e s u l t o f t h i s s p i n - o f f e f f e c t of e x p a n d i n g employ-I ment i n H u n t s v i l l e . The c l o s e e c o n o m i c a s s o c i a t i o n w i z h t h e Y u n t s v i l l e ec0nom.i was f o r m a l l y r e c o g n i z e d i n 1963 when t h e H u n t s v i l l e S t a n d z r e X e t r o p o l i t a n S t a t i s t i c a l Area ( S M S A ) w a s e x p a n d e d t o i n c l u d e L i n e s t o r . e Z o u n t y .

I I

27

c In the 1970's Limestone County added several s,&statial private sector manufacturing concerns to its basic economy (ie. Marcec, Conn Ltd., Mobile Home Manufacturing, DAB and General Motors) to offset the reduced area jobs in Huntsville's declining aerospace/defense market. By t h e late 1970's, however, many of these local national manufacturing firms were forced to either reduce employment or curtail expansion plans due to national economic and energy cost factors. Thjs once again forced Limestone County residents to migrate from the area in search of productive employment.

POPULATION GROWTH TRENDS I N T H E REGION Limestone County began its development when migrating homesteaders and families in search of productive farm land settled in rhe county. The agri-cultural development of the county from 1820 to 18EQ resulted in an increase of population from 9,871 to 21,600. From 1880 to 1921) tke status of agricul-ture, locally, experienced a steady growth. It was curin9 this period that cotton emerged as the major crop with livestock a-?E f i e l d crops also experienc-ing sizeable increases in production. Population curigg this period increased from 21,600 in 1880 to 31,341.

Since 1920, population growth in the counby :?as >eon slow and erratic, in-creasing from 31,341 in 1920 to the 1980 level of t 6 , C 3 5 . During this period, Limestone County experienced the same out-migratiox z k t affected many other non-urban counties in the United States.

TABLE I11 - 1 PERCENT OF POPULATION C Z W E Area 1900-1910 1920 1930 1940 4050 1960 1970 1980 n

Limestone County 20.1 16.6 16.9 -2.1 2.3 2.1 14.2 10.3 r r Huntsville SMSA 11.8 11.7 22.5 .6 0.3 41.6 48.3 9.3 TARCOG Region 14.0 13.5 12.1 5.1 2.3 13.5 29.8 13.8 SOURCE: U.S. Census of Population 1900-1980.

The 1960-1980 period, however, saw a substantial kcrease in population and the County experienced its highest rate of u ~ o w r : ?since 1930. This increase in population was primarily the result of the incsezss5 -sploTpent opportunities in Huntsville and Decatur: the construction of Lie E r c x n ' s Ferry Nuclear Plant and an increase in industrial development in the c c u z z ~in the 1960-1975 period.

28

TABLE I11 - 2 1 9 8 0 POPULATION DISTRIBUTION BY RACE Minority Total Black Other Minority T o t a l Minority Area Population No.  % Total No.  % Total No.  % Total 1

D e K a l b County 53 ,658 939 1.75 181 .34 1,1 2 0 2.09 J a c k s o n County 5 1 ,407 2 ,1 5 0 4.18 267 .52 2 ,417 4.70 Limestone County 46 I 005 6,539 14.21 115 .25 6 f654 14.46 Ardmore 1,096 8 .73 5 .46 13 1.19 Athens 1 4 ,558 2,450 16.83 46 .32 2 I 496 17.16 Elkmont 429 82 19.11 0 -0.0 82 19.11 L,ester 11.1 0 .

0 0 0 0.0 0 0.0 M o o r e s v i lle 58 12 20.69 0 0.0 12 20.69 H u r d l Area* 27 371 3 ,387 14-57 64 .23 4,051 14.80 Madison C o u n t y 1 9 6 ,966 39,069 19.84 3 ,1 1 5 1.58 42 ,1 8 4 21.42 Marshall County 6 5 ,6 2 2 1,016 1.55 162 .25 1,178 1.80 IARCOG R e J i o n 413,650 43,713 12.02 3 ,8 4 0 .93 5 3 ,553 12.95 A 1 aharna 3,830,061 335,623 25.53 2 4 ,750 .64 1 , 0 2 0 ,373 26.23 IJSA 2 2 6 , 5 4 4 ,I3 25 2 C ) , i l l l f ! , 21 H 11 .GO 1lfC,75,n17 5.1.5 30,164,035 16.85

- TASLE 111 - 3 POPULATION ESTIMATE AN0 ? W % E I O S S 1 9 8 0 - 1 9 9 0 BY RACE, SEX AN0 S T - E C E 3 AGE ZROUTS (AS OF Z2LY 11 L1MES"JtIE COLYn

~

Rdce, S e x

.~

\L'e , r o u i 198C 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990

'rota1 46,000 47,300 47.700 48,100 48.400 48.800 49,2C,C G9.500 49,800 50.200 50,400

'. -4 3,526 3,670 3,730 3,800 3,850 3,920 3 , 5.22 4,030 4,090 4,150 4,200 5-3 3,728 3,830 3.870 3,900 3,930 3,350 3.093 4.030 4.040 4,080 4,100 lu-14 4,230 4,210 4,130 4,050 3.960 3 . ~ ~ 8 3.312 3,710 3,640 3.560 3,490

5-19 4,536 4,500 4,420 4,320 4,240 4.150 4,062 3.980 3,880 3,790 3,730

";-24 3,969 4,OlC; 3,980 3,960 3.940 3.5.10 3,893 3.86C 3.830 3.810 3,780 25-:? 3,533 1,65C 3,680 3,720 3,760 3,:3C 3,343 3,380 3,910 3,950 3,970 30-34 3,345 3,450 3,500 3,550 3,590 3,630 3,6E5 3,710 3,760 3,800 3,830 25-39 2,849 2,960 3,000 3,050 3,110 3,:SsC 3,2CC 3,240 3,330 3,340 3,380 4ii-44 2.619 2,780 2,860 2,940 3,020 3,110 3,172 3.27G 3,350 3,430 3,490 45-45 2,451 2,560 2,590 2,650 2,690 2.7;C i.77: 2,920 2,870 2,900 2,940 59-54 2,259 2 , 350 2,380 2,430 2,450 2,550 2,542 2,560 2.61C 2,640 2,670 55-59 2,178 2,240 2,260 2,280 2,290 2.322 2,34: 2,370 2.360 2,390 2,410 60-64 1,877 1,950 1,960 1,990 2,010 2,::c 1,152 2,073 2,09C 2,120 2,130 6 5 6 Over 4,905 5.150 5,290 5,420 5,540 5.i3S 5,533 5 . 960 6,080 6,220 6,320 PERCENT D I S X I S L T I O S Total 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 103.x L C O . c.; i3.0.0c 100.00 100.00 100.00 5-4 7.67 7.76 7.82 7.90 7.95 8.53 8.C3 8.14 8.21 8.27 8.33 5-? 8.10 8.10 8.11 8.11 8.12 i.39 8.11 5.14 8.'1 8.13 8.13

!3-14 9.20 8.90 8.66 8.42 8.18 7.37 -I . -# 4 7.49 7.31 7.09 6.92

?5-1! 9.86 9.51 9.27 8.98 8.76 2.52 8.i5 2.04 7.79 7.55 7.40

. --* 8.63 8.43 8.34 8.23 5.14 25-29 7.68 7.72 7.71 7.73 7.77 6.31 7.91 1.23 7.50 i.84 1.69 7.85 7.59 7.87 7.53 7.88 7.29 7.34 7.38 7.42 7.:: 7.4E 7.49 7.55 7.57 7.60 10-34 35-30.

7.27 6.19 6.26 6.29 6.34 6.43 6.45 -

c.3.

& E i 6.62 6.65 6.71 30-44 5.69 5.88 6.00 6.11 6.24 6.37 6.44 6.61 6.72 6.83 6.92 45-49 5.33 5.41 5.13 5.51 5.56 - _.

3.0-

- c,: _ c -- 5.i 5.78 5.83

-i. .,

2. I _

3:<

jj . j:

4.91 4.73 4.97 4.74 4.99 4.76 5.05 4.7; 5.06 4.73 ._

5.12 1 --

r:

3.-c

. . . I =

5.17 4.75 5.24 4.74 5.26 4.76 5.30 4.78 6J-64 6 5 6 '3ver 4.08 10.66 4.12 13.30 4.11 11.09 4.14 11.27 4.15 11.45 4.14 1l.ii ,. - - __ 1:.

4.16 94 4.2;

!.2.::

4.22 12.39 4.23 12.54 SOURCE: Alabama S t a t e Data C e n t e r , C e n t e r For B u s i n e s s and E c ~ n o x z?.ese?:;?,, 7Ce : ? . i v e r s r t y of XZL-A.

!IOTE: D e t a i l s Do N o t N e c e s s a r i l y Add To T o t a l s Due to Round;-g.

30

I I I n a d d i t i o n , t h e l o c a l m a n u f a c t u r i n g growth, i n t h e m i d 1 9 7 0 ' s ( p r e v i o u s l y h i g h l i g h t e d ) c o n t r i b u t e d s u b s t a n t i a l l y t o t h e r e t e n t i o n of l o c a l p o p u l a t i o n I which would have o u t - m i g r a t e d a s a r e s u l t of r e g i o n a l j o b s l o w downs. By 1979-8 2 , however, t h e s t a g n a t i o n of t h e l o c a l m a n u f a c t u r i n g s e c t o r had a g a i n c r e a t e d an o u t - m i g r a t i o n t r e n d .

I The c u r r e n t p o p u l a t i o n as of J u l y 1, 1983 i s e s t j m a t e d a t 48,100, repre-s e n t i n g a 4 . 6 p e r c e n t i n c r e a s e s i n c e 1980.

I COUNTY GROWTH TRENDS I C u r r e n t n a t i o n a l p o p u l a t i o n t r e n d s have i n c l u d e d a s h i f t from r u r a l a r e a s t o u r b a n i z e d a r e a s . Limestone County i s a l s o e x p e r i e n c i n g t h i s s h i f t i n popu-l a t i o r ? , evidenced by t h e d e c r e a s e i n r u r a l p o p u l a t i o n i n t h e county from 74.4 I p e r c e n t i n 1960 t o 6 5 . 5 p e r c e n t i n 1970 and 59.5 p e r c e n t i n 1980. D e s p i t e t h i s t r e n d , t h e p r o p o r t i o n of t h e p o p u l a t i o n of t h e county t h a t c o u l d be c o n s i d e r e 2 urban i s s t i l l s i g n i f i c a n t l y below t h e s t a t e a v e r a g e .

I Because of t h e l o c a t i o n of Limestone County and t h e growth of Nor-A A l a b m a ,

i n t h e c o u n t i e s a d j a c e n t t o t h e Tennessee R i v e r , t h e c o u n t y can b e e x p e c t e d t o become i n c r e a s i n g l y more u r b a n i n t h e f u t u r e .

I I n Limestone County, the C i t y of Athens i s t h e o n l y s l c n i f i c a n t u r b a n a r e a .

I n t h e f u t u r e , w i t h t h e p r o j e c t e d growth s o u t h from the C i t y of Athens t o t h e I Tennessee River and e a s t of t h e C i t y of Athens toward t h e E u n t s v i l l e Ma6ison County J e t p o r t , an i n c r e a s i n g p r o p o r t i o n of Limestone County r e s i d e n t s may b e c l a s s i f i e d as "urban c o u n t y " ( t h o s e p e r s o n s l i v i n g i n s m a l l c o m n u n i t i e s and i?.

urban-type developments t h a t a r e n o t i n c o r p o r a t e d . )

I The s i z e and l o c a t i o n of t h i s "urban county" p o p u l a t i o n w i l l pose s e - i e r a l problems f o r Limestone County i n t h e f u t u r e . T h i s type of g e o q r a p h i c " s s r a w l "

I development i s u s u a l l y d i f f i c u l t t o s e r v e w i t h water and sewer f a c i l i t i e s a s w e l l a s o t h e r c o r n u n i t y f a c i l i t i e s and s e r v i c e s and i s n o t p r e s e n t l y con-t r o l l e d by o r a f f o r d e d t h e b e n e f i t of l a n d u s e c o n t r o l s such as zoninq acd s u 5 -

I d i v i s i o n r e g u l a t i o n s . Because of t h e s e and o t h e r f a c t o r s , it i s e x t r a e l : i i m -

p o r t a n t t o p l a n a t t h e c o u n t y l e v e l t o keep t h i s r a p i d t y p e of growth f r c n de-v e l o p i n g i n a haphazard manner c o s t l y t o b o t h c i t i z e n s anE l o c a l governments.

I POPULATION -C0 M P 0 s I TI 0 N I The c o m p o s i t i o n of t h e p o p u l a t i o n by a g e , sex, and r a c i a l c r o u p s ane t-ends r e l a t e d t o t h i s c o m p o s i t i o n a r e i m p o r t a n t p l a n n i n g f a c t o r s . Changes i z t h e a g e , s e x , and r a c i a l s t r u c t u r e s a f f e c t f a c e t s of c o u n t y govern-nent such a s h o u s i c c ,

s c h o o l s , r e c r e a t i o n n e e d s , f a c i l i t i e s f o r t h e e l d e r l y , w e l f a r e Frograms, and 5 e I p r o v i s i o n of p u b l i c u t i l i t i e s and s e r v i c e s . Such changes a l s o a f f e c t v z r i o u s t y p e s o f r e t a i l s a l e s , t h e l a b o r f o r c e , and t h e o v e r a l l economic p r o d u c t i v i t y and p o t e n t i a l of t h e community.

I I

I 31

I I

The most n o t a b l e changes i n t h e age composition o f t h e TARCOG r e g i o n ' s p o p u l a t i o n s i n c e 1950 have been t h e growing p r o p o r t i o n of o l d e r p e o p l e and t h e d e c l i n e i n t h e v e r y young. The r a p i d l y i n c r e a s i n g p r o p o r t i o n of e l d e r l y I

h a s been caused by: 1) t h e o u t - m i g r a t i o n of t h e younger, more p r o d u c t i v e r e s i d e n t s ; 2 ) a s l i g h t in-migratiop,of those a t retirement age; along with

3) a s t e a d y d e c l i n e i n t h e r e g i o n ' s b i r t h r a t e ; and 4 ) a n i n c r e a s e d l i f e ex-p e c t a n c y through h e a l t h and n u t r i t i o n a l service advances.

I Limestone C o u n t y ' s a g e composition h a s changed c o n s i d e r a b l y d u r i n g t h e 1960-1980 p e r i o d as i n most r u r a l c o u n t i e s . The u n d e r - f i v e p o p u l a t i o n d e c l i n e d I

(from 12.0 t o 7 . 5 p e r c e n t of t o t a l p o p u l a t i o n ) and t h e 5 t o 1 4 group d e c r e a s e d (by more t h a n 450 (from 23.2 p e r c e n t of 1 7 . 4 p e r c e n t ) e a c h of t h e o t h e r age groups i n c r e a s e d t h e i r p r o p o r t i o n a l s h a r e of t h e p o p u l a t i o n .

I The "aging" of t h e p o p u l a t i o n , through reduced b i r t h r a t e s , o u t - m i g r a t i o n and i n c r e a s e d l o n g e v i t y w a s t h e most d r a m a t i c i n t h e 15-34 y e a r s - o l d " p r i m e workforce" group and t h e 55 and o v e r " o l d e r " and " r e t i r e d " w o r k f o r c e age g r o u ~ .

I The 15-34 y e a r - o l d group grew by 52.7 p e r c e n t from 1960 ( 1 0 , 0 5 4 p e r s o n s )

t o 1980 (15,355 p e r s o n s ) and r o s e from 27.5 p e r c e n t t o 33.4 p e r c e n t of t h e c o t a i I

population. The a g e 55 p l u s p o p u l a t i o n group i n c r e a s e d by a l m o s t 3,500 i n t h e d e c a d e , from 15.0 p e r c e n t of t o t a l p o p u l a t i o n t o 19.4 p e r c e n t .

The median age i n Limestone County i n 1980 w a s 29.2 y e a r s , an i n c r e a s e of I

3.5 y e a r s o v e r t h e 1970 f i g u r e of 25.7, and 4.8 y e a r s .?hove t h e 1960 l e v e l o f 24.4 years. L i m e s t o n e ' s 1980 median age w a s t h e sane as t h e s t a t e - w i d e a v e r a g e ,

however t h e 13.6 p e r c e n t i n c r e a s e from 1970 was a l m o s t d o u b l e t h e s t a t e i n c r e a s e 1

r a t e of 7.4 p e r c e n t from 1970-80.

Sex I

The s e x r a t i o ( t h e number o f males t o f e m a l e s ) i s a l s o i n d i c a t i v e of 7renE.s which may be t a k i n g p l a c e i n t h e county. G e n e r a l l y , f e m a l e s comprise a large p e r c e n t a g e of t h e t o t a l p o p u l a t i o n . T h i s i s due t o two b a s i c f a c t o r s : 1)

I females have a l o n g e r l i f e e x p e c t a n c y , and 2 ) f e n a l e s have l e s s tendency t o out-migrate.

lation.

I n t h i s r e s p e c t , f e m a l e s predominzte Ln t h e Limestone County 2 0 9 ~ - I I n 1970 t h e r e w e r e 96.2 males p e r 100 females i n Limestone County a n e i n 1980 t h i s had d e c r e a s e d t o 95.2 males p e r 100 f e n a l e s , a 1 . 0 p e r c e n t d e c r e s s e I i n t h e p r o p o r t i o n of males. Both t h e n a t i o n a l and t h e s t a t e r a t i o of males t3 females w a s 95 and 92.5 r e s p e c t i v e l y of males p e r 1 0 0 f e n a l e s i n 1980. T a b l e I1 i n d i c a t e s t h a t t h e p o p u l a t i o n of Limestone CcunYj i s becoming i n c r e a s i n c l y more female i n i t s makeup. The p r i m a r y r e a s o n f o r t h i s t r e n d i s t h a t t h e F r e v i o u s I

o u t m i g r a t i o n t r e n d of m a l e s h a s c o n t i n u e d because of r e c e n t l o c a l and r e g i o n a l r e d u c t i o n s i n employment o p p o r t u n i t i e s a v a i l a b l e t o males i n t n e county.

I The l i m i t e d d a t a which i s a v a i l a b l e f o r 1960-1383 i n d i c a t e s t h a t due t3 a l a c k of major new i n d u s t r i a l development i n Limestone County d u r i n g t h i s pertot5 1

32 I

I

I I there will be only a minor slow down, but no reverse in the out-migraticn of males unless new industries, which employ, primarily, males at high-wage levels I locate in the region, and ideally in Limestone County itself.

TABLE I11 - 4 I PEPCENT DISTRIBUTION OF THE POPULATION BY SEX -.

I I Area Male 1960 Female Male 1970 Female Male 1960 Fernale I City of Athens Limestone County 47.4 49.4 52.6 50.6 47.9 49.0 52.1 51.0 46.5 47.6 53.5 52.4 TARCOG Region 49.6 50.4 49.0 51.0 48.7 51.3 I Alabama 48.7 51.3 48.2 51.8 46.3 53.-

I SOURCE: 1960, 1970 and 1980 U.S. Census of Population I Race The TARCOG region's racial composition has changed only slightly . :

1 t : ? p~z s r twenty years. The most readily apparent change has been the gradual dezlkc I n I the percentage of Blacks in Limestone and Marshall Counties.

m Limestone County has registered increases in White population and 5ecrease-c in Black population or each of the past two decades. The gain in whits ? o c 7 d z -

tion was, by far, the greatest during the most recent decade--over 19 p s r c e ~ .CCI-~

pared to just under 5 percent in the 1950-1960 period. Limestone County hze (prs-I portionately) the largest Black population in the TARCOG counties at 17 2 e r c e n r in 1970. This percentage has declined during each of the past three decaees frs-.

almost 23 percent in 1950 to approximately 17 percent in 1970, and just aver 14.2 percent in 1980. In 1980, the Madison County population reached 19.8 F S ~ C ~ T - :

I Black (21.4 percent total minority) and eclipsed Limestone as both absclute =nc proportional minority/Black populated county in the TARCOG region.

I 7 o--

In Athens in 1970, Blacks comprised 17.6 percent of the populatior.. 3 y L ~ Z - ,

this had dropped to 16.8 percent. It should be pointed out that the B ~ E c X:O~U-lation in Athens increased substantially during the 1960-1970 period. Ir. 136.3, I the Black population was 1,161 or 12.4 percent of the population, and ir. 1?-3.

2,536 or 17.6 percent. This represents an increase of 1,375 or 118.4 ~ 5 r c e r . r .

This increase was basically due to a large annexation to the city duric: 6:'s in which 4,933 people were added to Athens with approximately 25-30 perzer,t of I them being Black.

The 1970-80 decrease in the Black population (proportionally) can b e Z S C E ~

I to three primary factors: 1) a decline in birth rates; 2) out-migraticn 'CG I

I JJ

I n e a r b y c o u n t i e s ( e s p e c i a l l y Madison) f o r j o b s ; and 3) t h e f a c t t h a t most o f t h e 1970-80 a n n e x a t i o n t o t h e C i t y of A t h e n s w a s p r e d o m i n a n t l y White s u b d i v i s i o n s .

I PROJECTED POPULATION I The f o l l o w i n g p o p u l a t i o n p r o j e c t i o n s are d e s i g n e d t o d e p i c t a n e s t i m a t e o f f u t u r e g r o w t h , b a s e d upon t h e a s s u m p t i o n t h a t - e x i s t i n g l o n g - t e r m t r e n d s i n population continue i n t o f u t u r e decades.

I The p r o v i s i o n of a d e q u a t e p u b l i c f a c i l i t i e s s u c h a s s c h o o l s , p a r k s , h e a l t h f a c i l i t i e s , and w a t e r and s e w e r a r e p r e d i c t e d b a s e d upon a n a n a l y s i s of s u c h I p o p u l a t i o n p r o j e c t i o n . A l l f a c i l i t y n e e d s i n L i m e s t o n e County f o l l o w d i r e c t l y from a n a n a l y s i s of t h e n e e d s c r e a t e d by f u t u r e p o p u l a t i o n b a s e d upon r e c o g n i z e d development s t a n d a r d s f o r such f a c i l i t i e s . I TABLE I11 - 5 I POPULATION TRENDS AND PROJECTIONS BY AGE GROUP LIMESTONE COUNTY 1960-2000 I Age Group 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 I

0-4 4,383 4,159 3 ,453 4 ,200 4,875 I

5-14 8,456 8 ,908 8 ,000 7,590 9 ,815 15-24 25-34 35-44 5,713 4,341 4,338 7,366 5,341 4 ,620 8,518 6 ,837 5,485 7 510 I

7,800 6,870 8,385 10,400 9,750 I

4 ,211 4,777 45-54 55-64 65+

3,802 2 ,668 2,812 3,454 3,640 4,031 4,904 5,610 4,540 6,320 6,825 5 850 I

9,100 I

TOTAL 36 ,513 41 ,699 46 ,005 50,400 65,000 I

SOURCE: 1960, 1970 and 1980 f i g u r e s , U.S. Census O f P o p u l a t i o n ; 1 9 9 0 - 2 0 0 O f i q u r e s ,

M o d i f i e d Step-Down Method. ADO and TARCOG.

I Limestone C o u n t y ' s p o p u l a t i o n c a n b e e x p e c t e d t o r e t u r n t o an i n c r e a s i n g growth r a t e o n c e t h e f u l l i m p a c t o f p e r c e n t d e v e l o p m e n t s , s u c h as t h e slow-down and s u b s e q u e n t r e h i r i n g s a t t h e G e n e r a l Motors P l a n t a r e f e l t i n t h e c o u n t y .

1 R e c e n t d e v e l o p m e n t s , e l s e w h e r e i n t h e economy w i l l t e n d t o a t t r a c t p o p u l a t i o n ,

a s w i l l o t h e r p r o j e c t e d i n d u s t r i a l and commercial c o n c e r n s l o c a t i n g i n c l o s e p r o x i m i t y t o t h e C i t y of A t h e n s . W i t h o u t a d d i t i o n a l s l o w downs a t l a r g e m a j o r f a c i l i t i e s s u c h a s t h e G e n e r a l Motors P l a n t , L i m e s t o n e C o u n t y ' s l o c a t i o n i n t h e I

H u n t s v i l l e M e t r o p o l i t a n S t a t i s t i c a l A r e a and t h e c o u n t y ' s a c c e s s t o m a r k e t s i n c i t i e s s u c h a s D e c a t u r , Birmingham, and N a s h v i l l e w i l l t e n d t o p r o v i d e an i m p e t u s f o r a r e t u r n of economic g r o w t h and d e v e l o p m e n t i n Limestone C o u n t y .

I 34 I

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EDUCATION I A high e d u c a t i o n a l l e v e l i s considered a good i n d i c a t o r of t h e a b i l i t y t o o b t a i n s u i t a b l e employment and e a r n a n adequate income. The i n c r e a s i n g complexit,.

I and t e c h n i c a l n a t u r e of s o c i e t y makes education more and more important.

l e v e l of education d e t e r m i n e s t o a l a r g e degree t h e q u a l i t y of t h e a v a i l a b k l a b o r f o r c e i n an a r e a , and i n t u r n , t h e wage l e v e l of t h e i n d u s t r i e s which can The I be a t t r a c t e d t o an a r e a .

LEVEL OF ATTAINMENT I While t h e e d u c a t i o n a l l e v e l of Limestone County improved s i g n i f i c a n t l y between 1 9 7 0 and 1 9 8 0 i t w a s s t i l l below t h e education l e v e l of t h e United S t a t e s , t h e S t a t e , and t h e TARCOG Region. The percentage of p e r s o n s 2 5 y e a r s I o l d and over who had a t l e a s t a high school education was a l s o below o t h e r geographic reas as. State-wide i n 1 9 8 0 , 5 6 . 6 p e r c e n t of t h e p o p u l a t i o n 25 y e a r s o l d and over had a t l e a s t a high school education compared t o o n l y 5 0 . 7 p e r -

I c e n t i n Limestone County. Both t h e S t a t e and Limestone County lagged t h e n a t i o n a l r a t e of 78.7 p e r c e n t h i g h school g r a d u a t e s .

I TABLE I11 - 6 EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT, 1960-1970-1980 I LIMESTONE COUNTY, ALABAMA 1 School Years Completed 1960  % 1970  % 1980 ,

I Persons 25 y e a r s o l d and o v e r No school y e a r s completed 17,957 645 100.0 3.6 21,185 433 100.0 2.0 26,034 7,887 100.0 30.0 Elementary 1-4 y e a r s 2 ,995 16.7 2,057 9.7 1 5-8 y e a r s High School 1-3 y e a r s 6 ,817 3,205 38.0 17.8 6,252 4,484 29.5 21.2 4 ,950 19.0 4 years 2 ,692 15.0 5,239 24.7 8,272 31.8 I Co 1l e g e 1-3 years 4 y e a r s o r more Median School Years Completed 876 727 8.3 4.9 4.0 1,411 1,309 10.3 6.7 6.2 2,648 2,277 12.0 10.2 8.7 I Percent High School Graduates 23.8 37.1 50.7 1 SOURCE: 1 9 6 0 , 1 9 7 0 and 1 9 8 0 U.S. C e n s u s of Population.

However t h e Limestone County growth i n High School g r a d u a t e percentage from 1 1970-80 was over 1 3 . 5 p e r c e n t , and a s such, was s i g n i f i c a n t l y above t h e S t a t e i n -

c r e a s e of o n l y 5 . 3 p e r c e n t , and i n d i c a t i n g a s t r o n g e f f o r t a t t h e county l e v e l t o overcome p a s t d e f i c i e n c i e s . T h i s growth e f f o r t i s a l s o r e f l e c t e d by t h e f a c t t h a t I t h e Limestone County median school y e a r s f i g u r e o f 1 2 . 0 y e a r s was o n l y . 3 y e a r s below t h e s t a t e - w i d e a v e r a g e , a s opposed t o - 5 years below the s t a t e i n 1 9 7 0 .

I 35

c I

E CO NO MIC -DE V E LOPME N T 1

A n a n a l y s i s of income a n d i t s d i s t r i b u t i o n i s i m p o r t a n t f o r f o u r major r e a s o n s : F i r s t , income r e f l e c t s t h e v i t a l i t y of t h e c o u n t y ' s economic growth I

and development. Second, income r e f l e c t s t h e a b i l i t y of t h e community t o a f -

f o r d needed services a n d f a c i l i t i e s . T h i r d , income d e t e r m i n e s t h e p o t e n t i a l f o r l o c a l c a p i t a l i n v e s t m e n t and i n f l u e n c e s t h e demand f o r goods and services; and f i n a l l y , income d i r e c t l y r e f l e c t s e d u c a t i o n l e v e l s and kk+e a b i l i t y t o a f -

1 f o r d adequate p r i v a t e l y financed housing.

I INCOME Tables 111-7 t h r u 111-11 show a comparison of income d i s t r i b u t i o n from I 1970 and 1980 i n Limestone County, A l a b a m a , and t h e U . S . A . While a l l c a t e g o r i e s a r e n o t comparable f o r t h e p e r i o d due t o Census Category c h a n g e s , two d i s t i n c t t r e n d f a c t s a r e observable f o r t h e f o u r broad income c a t e g o r i e s , 0-$4,999, 0-$9,999, 0-$14,999, a n d 0-$25,000. F i s t , despite the semi affluent "rural I

s u b u r b s " s u r r o u n d i n g t h e C i t y of A t h e n s , " r u r a l " Limestone County* h a s a n income d i s t r i b u t i o n d e n o t i n g less a f f l u e n c e ( b y t h e s e major income groups.) See T a b l e 111-7 ) t h a n t h e statewide a v e r a g e ; and s e c o n d l y , from 1970 t o 1980, t h e a c t u a l 1

i n c r e a s e i n f a m i l i e s e a r n i n g m o r e t h a n $25,000 w a s l e s s t h a n t h e s t a t e w i d e a v e r -

a g e on b o t h a n a b s o l u t e and r e l a t i v e change p e r c e n t a g e b a s i s . T h i s r e f l e c t s t h e d e c r e a s e i n h i g h pay a e r o s p a c e jobs i n H u n t s v i l l e and a l a c k o f p r i v a t e s e c t o r 1 job growth a t comparable p a y l e v e l s i n Limestone County and t h e f l u c t u a t i n g s t a t u s of t h e GM w o r k f o r c e .

I INCOME TRENDS I n comparison w i t h t h e s t a t e w i d e a v e r a g e , Limestone C o u n t y ' s 1970 median f a m i l y income f i g u r e o f $ 6 , 8 2 0 r a n k e d 1 9 t h and w a s 9 3 . 9 p e r c e n t of t h e s t a t e I

median income. T h i s r e l a t i v e l y h i g h median f a m i l y income r e f l e c t e d t h e c o u n t y ' s dependence i n t h e H u n t s v i l l e SMSA which ranked h i g h e s t i n income i n t h e S t a t e ' s m e t r o p o l i t a n areas. I By 1980 t h e countywide median f a m i l y income had grown by 139.5 p e r c e n t t o

$ 1 6 , 3 0 3 , and r i s e n from 9 3 . 9 p e r c e n t o f t h e s t a t e median t o 99.7 p e r c e n t . The 1 3 9 . 5 p e r c e n t growth r a t e was s i g n i f i c a n t l y above b o t h t h e S t a t e and U.S.A. i n -

I creases of 1 2 5 . 1 and 1 0 7 . 6 p e r c e n t , r e s p e c t i v e l y .

A s i g n i f i c a n t measure o f t h i s f a m i l y income growth t o o k p l a c e i n " r u r a l "

1 Limestone County, a s c a n be n o t e d by t h e f a c t t h a t A t h e n s ' r e l a t i v e growth w a s o n l y 118.9 p e r c e n t and t h a t t h e C i t y a c t u a l l y l o s t p r o p o r t i o n a l ground a g a i n s t t h e S t a t e median f a m i l y income from 1970 when t h e y w e r e 111.6 p e r c e n t t o 1980 when t h e i r median w a s o n l y 1 0 8 . 5 p e r c e n t o f t h e s t a t e f i g u r e s .

I These s t a t i s t i c s a r e r e f l e c t i v e o f t h e f a c t t h a t t h e p r o p o r t i o n of 2 o r more f a m i l y m e m b e r s working i n Limestone County i s above t h e S t a t e a v e r a g e ,

I and h a s i n c r e a s e d d r a m a t i c a l l y s i n c e t h e 1970 Census; a n d , t h e f a c t t h a t even 1

• Limestone County minus t h e C i t y of Athens.

I 36 I

T A B L E 111-7 INCOME D I S T R I B U T I O N BY F A M I L Y , L I M E S T O N E COUNTY, TARCOG R E G I O N AND ALABAMA, 1979 I N C O M E / 1 9 8 0 C E N S U S R u ra1 LIMESTONE (TOTAL) Athens Limestone TARCOG Alabama No.  % Total No.  % Total No.  % Total No.  % Total No.  % Total Total Families 12 ,639 100.0 4 ,065 100.0 8 ,574 100.0 114,941 100.0 1,042,571 100.0 L e s s t h a n $2,500 426 3.4 117 2.9 309 3.6 4,063 3.5 46 ,342 4.4

$2,500 t o $4,999 954 7.5 291 7.2 663 7.7 7 ,551 6.6 72,708 7.0

$5,000 t o $7,499 1,014 8.0 356 8.8 658 7.7 9 ,610 8.4 90,327 8.7

$7,500 t o $9,999 1,044 8.3 303 7.5 741 8.6 9,473 8.2 89 ,322 8.6

$10,000 t o $12,499 1,178 9.3 310 7.6 868 10.1 10,576 9.2 95,018 9.1

$12,500 t o $14,999 1 ,141 9.0 367 9.0 774 9.0 9,170 8.0 80,568 7.7

$15,000 to $17,499 1 ,079 8.5 258 6.3 821 9.6 9 ,858 8.6 86 ,852 8.3

$17,500 to $19,999 981 7.8 305 7.5 676 7.9 8,426 7.3 75,833 7.3 w $20,000 t o $22,499 1,011 8.0 233 5.7 778 9.1 8 ,241 7.2 77 ,006 7.4 4

$22,500 t o $24,999 763 6.0 277 6.8 486 5.7 6,280 5.5 59 ,575 5.7

$25,000 t o $27,499 603 4.8 247 6.1 356 4.2 6 ,085 5.3 56 ,469 5.4

$27,500 t o $29,999 421 3.3 168 4.1 253 3.0 4,564 4.0 41 ,831 4.0

$30,000 to $34,999 731 5.8 279 6.9 452 5.3 6,992 6.1 62,908 6.0

$35,000 t o $39,999 406 3.2 137 3.4 269 3.1 4,864 4.2 38 ,361 3.7

$40,000 t o $49,999 474 3.8 240 5.9 234 2.7 5,111 4.4 35,659 3.4

$50,000 t o $74 999 311 2.5 145 3.6 166 1.9 3 ,149 2.7 22 ,928 2.2

$75,000 or m o r e 102 .8 32 .8 70 .8 928 .8 10,864 1.0 Median $16,303 - $17 ,750 - NA - $16,825 - $16,353 Mean $18,821 - $20 ,446 - NA - $19,800 - $19,249 . -

SOURCE: U.S. C e n s u s of P o p u l a t i o n and H o u s i n g , 1980. S u m m a r y Tape F i l e 3A, 1982.

c I

I TABLE 111-8 FAMILY INCOME-1970 LIMESTONE COUNTY, CITY OF ATHENS I Total Limestone Cty.

Number Percent Number City of Athens Percent "Rural Limestone" Number Percent I

All Familics Under $1,000

$1,000-52.999

$3,000-54.999 10,642 423 1,648 1,666 100.0 4.0 15.5 15.5 3,712 151 387 523 100.0 4.0 10.3 14.0 6,930 272 1,264 1,143 100.0 3.9 18.2 16.5 I

S5.000-56,999 1,748 16.5 563 15.2 1.185 11.1

$1,000-$9,999 510.000-514.999 S15,000-$24,999 525,000 +

2,157 2,088 714 218 20.3 19.5 6.7 2.0 658 884 185 161 17.1 23.8 10.4 4.3 1,449 1,204 329 57 21.6 17.4 4.7

.8 I

SOlJRCE: U.S. Census of Population, 1970.

~~ ~~~~~ ~ _ _

I I

FAMILY INCOME DISTRIBUTION LIMESTONE, RL4BAMA USA I

i PERCENTAGE DISTRIBUTION CHANGE BY INCOME RANGES, 1 9 7 0 AND 1980 Total 'I Rura 1 I' Limestone - Limestone Alabama -

USA 1910 Percent W/Incorne L e s s Than $5,000 35.0 10.9 28.3 10.1 38.6 11.3 32.6 11.4 19.1 7.0 I

1980 1910 1980 Percent W/Income Less lhan j10,OOO 71.8 21.2 61.2 26.4 17.3 21.6 68.2 20.7 50.9 20.6 I

1910 1980 Percent W/Income Less Than $15.000 91.3 45.5 85.0 43.0 94.7 46.1 88.1 45.5 77.1 36.2 I Percent W/Incomr Les5 Than $25,300 1970 1980 98.0 75.8 95.4 69.3 99.4 19.0 91.6 74.2 95.4 65.6 I SOURCE: U.S. Census, 1970 and 1980 I

I I

38 I

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I TABLE 111-10 I M E D I A N FAMILY INCOME 1970-1980 TARCOG, ALABAMA A N D THE U.S.A.

I 1970 1980 P e r c e n t of P e r c e n t of Dollar V a l u e I Dollar Value State Median Dollar Value State Median P e r c e n t Chang 1978-80 I

~~ ~ ~~~ ~ ~~

DeKalb $ 5,316 73.2 $13,901 85.0 161.5 Jackson $ 6,372 87.7 $15,706 96.0 146.5 I Limestone Madison Marshall

$ 6,820

$10 ,439

$ 6,596 93.9 143.7 90.8

$16,303

$19,350

$14,754 99.7 118.3 90.2 139.5 85.4 123.7 I TARCOG Alabama USA

$ 7,950

$ 7,266

$ 9,590 109.4 100.0 132.0

$16,825

$16 ,353

$19,908 102.9 100.0 121.7 111.6 125.1 107.6 1 SOURCE: U.S. C e n s u s of P o p u l a t i o n a n d H o u s i n g , 1 9 8 0 Summary T a p e F i l e 3A, 1 9 8 2 . a n d U.S. C e n s u s of P o p u l a t i o n a n d H o u s i n g ,

1 1970.

I 1

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I TARCOG I 39

I TABLE 111-11 TARCCG R E G I O N PER CAPITA INCOME, 1 9 7 2 , 1 9 7 4 , 1 9 7 5 , 1 9 1 1 , a n d 1 9 7 9 ( 1 9 8 0 C e n s u s )

i

- P e r C a p i t a Income

.1 9 7 2

- -1974 -1975 - 1917 (census 1980) 1979 1

ALABAMA OEKALB COUNTY

$2,974 2.320.

$3,629 2.842.

$3,899 3.021'

$4,712 3.761' S 5,908 5.294' 1 Ccllinsville 2.554' 3,072' 3.246' 3,871' 4.511.

Crossville F o r t Payne Fyffe Geraldine Hanumndville 2,590.

3,099 2,542' 3,039 2,335' 3,102' 3,794 3,184' 3,817 2,926' 3,330*

3,947 3.5479 3,908 3.101' 3.787' 4,786 4.456' 5,013 3,781' 4.403.

6,043 5,000*

5,626.

5,688.

1 1

Henager 2,415' 3.011' 3,173' 3.877' 5.096.

Ider 2,400' 3,007' 3,187' 3,886* 5,188' Lakeview 2.364' 2,961' 3.139' 3.827. 5,520.

Mentone 2,589. 3,007. 2,935' 3,724' 5,348.

Powell Crossroads 2,144' 2.675 2,820' 3.445. 8,310 Rainsville 2,513' 3.189' 3.433. 4,299. 5.502.

Shilo Sylvania V a l l e y Head 1,596' 2,195+

2.618' 2,000' 2,750' 3,271' 2,120' 2,856' 3,458' 2.584" 3,453' 4.221.

5,598' 5.003' 5.086.

1 JACKSON COUNTY $2,676' $3,358' $3,551 $4,489' S 5.452.

Bridgeport Dutton Hollywood 2,485' 2,751 2,248' 3.170.

3,806 3,029*

3.356' 3,901 3,341' 4.179.

4,601' 4,325' 5,148*

5.294.

5,059' 1

P a i n t Rock 2,365' 3,437' 3,553' 4,387' 4.558.

Pisqah scottsboro Section Stevenson Woodville 2,983 3.483 3,307 2,683*

3,529 3,837 4,305 3,641 3,602' 4,539 3,958 4,591 4,014 3.674' 4,693 4,886 5.859 4,908 4,632' 5,193 5,174*

6,697 4.982' 5,355' 5,719.

1 LIMESTONE COUNTY Ardmore Athens

$2.681' 2,666' 3.271

$3,263' 3.488' 4,008

$3,477+

3.735' 4,267

$4,300' 4,612*

5,307 5 5.645' 4,655' 6,397 1

Elkmcnt 3.832 3,984 4,111 5,087 5,154*

Lester Mooresville MADISON COUNTY 2,518' 3,496

$3,840 3,288' 4,565

$4,517 3.504' 4,866

$4,780 4,338' 5,023

$5,655 4,669' 13,617

$ 7,050 1

Gurley Huntsville Madison N e w Hope 2,887' 4,225 3,629 3,239 3,808 4,997 3,984 3,956 4,027 5,265 4,198 4,220 4,858 6,145 4,900 5,299 4,806.

7,661 7,630 5.461' 1

Owens Cross R o a d s 2,160' 2,849' 2,968' 3.758' 4,776' Trlana MARSHALL COUNTY 1,440'

$2.794' 1,,901*

$3,359' 3,008.

$3,598.1 2.423'

$4.392' 2,524'

$ 5.439' 1 Albertville 3,097 3,650 3.863' 4,721 5,652' 1

Arab 3,425 4.156 4.450 5,292 6,503 Boaz 2.702' 3.225' 3,434' 4,134' 5.262' Douglas __ -- __ -- 4.594.

Grant 3,021 3,654 3,897 4,728 6,926 Guntersville 3,262 3,912 4,253 5,040 5,899' Union Grove UNITES STATES 2,714'

$3,781 3,313' 3,533' 4,286*

4,406' 7,371 E-

'Below S t a t e Average 1 SOURCE: U.S. D e p a r t m e n t o f Commerce, B u r e a u of t h e C e n s u s , C u r r e n t P o p u l a t i o n R e p o r t s ,

" P o p u l a t i o n E s t i m a t e s a n d P r o j e c t i o n s " ( S e r i e s P-25) 1 9 7 7 , 1 9 7 9 , a n d 1980 a n d U.S. Census, 1'380. ( R e v i s e d , TARCOG 5 / 8 3 )

1 1

3-W n

0 0

1 40 1

I I i n 1980, almost 30 p e r c e n t of a l l p e r s o n a l wage and s a l a r y income and 38 p e r -

c e n t of a l l County r e s i d e n t s j o b s a r e d e r i v e d o u t s i d e Limestone County.

I INCOME LEVEL I Income l e v e l s i n both Limestone County and t h e TARCOG Region have t r a d i -

t i o n a l l y been below S t a t e and N a t i o n a l Averages. I n 1970 t h e p e r c a p i t a income i n Limestone County w a s 8 5 . 6 p e r c e n t of t h e S t a t e f i g u r e and 63.0 p e r c e n t of 1 t h e United S t a t e s ; however, by 1980 t h e p e r c e n t a g e had r i s e n o n l y t o 8 5 . 9 p e r c e n t of t h e s t a t e and 6 7 . 1 p e r c e n t of t h e n a t i o n a l f i g u r e . T h i s i n d i c a t e s t h a t t h e Limestone County growth r a t e of 157 p e r c e n t i n p e r c a p i t a income, w h i l e i t exceeded t h e n a t i o n a l a v e r a g e , w a s n o t s i g n i f i c a n t l y above t h e 1 Alabama a v e r a g e .

Most of t h e slow down i n growth income i n Limestone County o c c u r r e d from I 1979 through 1983. Only t h e 1979-80 p e r c a p i t a growth r a t e of 5 . 3 p e r c e n t w a s below t h e S t a t e o r n a t i o n a l a v e r a g e f o r t h e e n t i r e p e r i o d 1975-80.

I POVERTY STATUS According t o t h e 1970 Census, 2,300 o r 2 1 . 7 p e r c e n t of t h e f a m i l i e s i n 1 Limestone County had income l e s s t h a n t h e p o v e r t y l e v e l . " This figure w a s s l i g h t l y above t h e s t a t e a v e r a g e of 20.7 p e r c e n t and o v e r t w i c e t h e U . S . a v e r -

age of 10.7 p e r c e n t .

I By t h e 1980 Census, t h e Limestone f i g u r e had dropped t o 1 7 7 1 f a m i l i e s , or 1 4 . 0 1 p e r c e n t of a l l f a m i l i e s , j u s t below t h e s t a t e i n d e x of 14.8 p e r c e n t and 1 o n l y a b o u t 50 p e r c e n t above t h e U.S. a v e r a g e of 9.58 p e r c e n t of a l l f a m i l i e s below p o v e r t y l e v e l .

The 1980 d i s t r i b u t i o n of t o t a l p o v e r t y l e v e l p e r s o n s by age and r a c e i s I shown i n T a b l e s 111-12and 111-14. The county-wide p o v e r t y l e v e l of 31.77 p e r c e n t f o r Blacks w a s s i g n i f i c a n t l y below t h e s t a t e r a t e of 38.51 p e r c e n t , and o n l y s l i g h t l y above t h e n a t i o n a l a v e r a g e o f 29.84 p e r c e n t . When t h e C i t y of Athens I i s f a c t u r e d o u t of t h e county-wide f i g u r e s , a " r u r a l " below p o v e r t y r a t e of 28.62 p e r c e n t f o r Blacks i s r e v e a l e d , which w h i l e h i g h e r t h a n e i t h e r t h e c o u n t y ,

s t a t e o r n a t i o n a l p o v e r t y f i g u r e f o r t o t a l ( a l l r a c e s ) p e r s o n s , w a s below even I t h e n a t i o n a l poverty r a t e f o r Blacks.

On an age b a s i s , t h e p o v e r t y i n d i c a t o r s f o r Limestone County a r e a b o u t t h e same f o r b o t h Athens and t h e " r u r a l county" remainder. About 1 6 . 8 p e r c e n t of I a l l p e r s o n s i n t h e county have incomes "below p o v e r t y " w i t h t h e l a r g e s t propor-t i o n a l c o n c e n t r a t i o n (35.7 p e r c e n t ) b e i n g t h o s e 65 and o v e r . These f i g u r e s a r e below t h e s t a t e a v e r a g e o f 1 8 . 8 8 p e r c e n t o f t o t a l p e r s o n s , b u t above t h e s t a t e I age 65+ a v e r a g e of 28.38 p e r c e n t . T h i s i n d i c a t e s t h a t t h e " e l d e r l y / r e t i r e d "

p o p u l a t i o n i n Limestone County i s p a r t i a l l y " t r a p p e d " by f i x e d income t y p e f i n a n c e s I

• T h i s s t a t u s , based on Bureau of t h e Census d e f i n i t i o n o r i g i n a t e d by S o c i a l Security Administration, provides a range of p o v e r t y income c u t o f f s a d j u s t e d I by such f a c t o r s a s f a m i l y s i z e , s e x under 18 y e a r s of a g e , a n d farm and of t h e f a m i l y h e a d , number of c h i l d r e n non-farm r e s i d e n c e .

I 41

-I I

1 TABLE 111-12 I POVERTY INDICATORS, TOTAL HOUSEHOLDS TYPE, 1 9 8 0 CENSUS I BY I

Total Povertv Levels Households B e l o w 100% B e l o w 125%

I Households No.  % No.  %

k I

DeKalb 19,324 4,432 22.94 5,871 30.38 Jackson Limestone 17,560 15,328 3,276 2,954 18.66 19.27 4,542 3,942 25.87 25.72 I

Mad is on 67,450 9,254 13.72 12,614 18.70 Marshall TARCOG SMSA 23,591 143,253 106,369 4,668 24,584 16,876 19.79 17.16 15.87 6,443 33,412 22,999 27.31 23.27 21.62 I

Alabama

~~~~~ ~

1,342,369 1 Households = F a m i l i e s +

264,009 non-family householders 19.67 350,280 26.09 I

SOURCE: U. S . C e n s u s , 1 9 8 0 , C e n s u s of P o p u l a t i o n a n d H o u s i i q , I Summary T a p e F i l e 3A, p r o d u c e d by t h e c e n t e r for B u s i n e s s a n d Economic R e s e a r c h , The U n i v e r s i t y of A l a b a m a , 1982. I 1

B 2

1 I

1 42 I

1 TABLE 1 1 1 - 1 5 LIMESTONE COUNTY WORK FORCE 1960-1970-1980

% Change  % Change 1960 1970 1980 1960 - 70 1970 - 80 EmFloyed 11,281 14,653 17,679 +29.8 +20.7 Agriculture, Forestry, F i s h e r i e s and Mining 2 , 817 1,425 9 19 -49.4 -35.5 Construction 1, 116 1,322 1,280 +18.4 - 3.2 IP  !-fan u f ac t u r i n g 2,304 3,836 6,011 +66.5 +56.7 W

T r a n s p o r t a t i o n , Cormnunic

ions, and Public U t i l i t i e s 461 951 777 +106.3 -18.3 Wholesale and Retail Trade 1,784 2 ,5 2 2 3,032 + 43.2 +20.2 F i n a n c e , I n s u r a n c e a n d Real L:stnte Scrvlccs 2,027 3,221 3,579 + 56.4 t11.1

,c)vc1-nmcnt 4 34 1,037 1,622 +103.0 +56.4

- - -- __.. - - . ~~ __

NOTE: This data i s b y p l a c e cf r e s i d e n c e of w o r k e r s , - n o t b y jobs i n L i m e s t o n e County.

SOURCE: 1 9 6 0 , 1 9 7 0 a n d 1 9 8 0 U.S. C e n s u s o f P o p u l a t i o n

TABLE 111-13 TABLE 111-14 POVERTY STATUS 1979/80 BY AGE FOR PERSONS PERSONS BELOW POVERTY LEVEL BY RACE LIHESTONE COUNTY AND THE STATE OF ALABAMA

.~____ 1980 Limestone Limestone Athens Limestone TARCOG Alabama Age Total City "Rural" Limestone Athens Limestone Alabama

- _____ rota1 C i_ty "Ru r a 1

_ I' Istatel (TOTAL PERSONS')

T o t a l P e r s o n s (No) 45,514 14,167 31,341 3,813,014 Total 45,514 14,161 31,341 406,524 1,813,014 White 38.796 11,715 27,081 2,818,570 U n d e r 55 36.797 10,840 25,951 322,803 1,033,310 55 t h r u 59 2,038 834 1,204 19,460 188,791 Black 6,525 2,402 4,123 971,436 6 0 t h r u 64 1,980 614 1,306 16.296 169,033 421,880 Other 193 50 143 23,000 65 and o v e r 4.699 i.ai9 2,880 37,945

( P E E O N S BEMW WVERTY LEVEL) Total Persons Below 719,165 POVCKty LCVCl ( N O ) 7.719 2 , 3R6 5,333 719, 765 Total 1,672 2,386 5,286 63.352 Uridcr55 5,356 1,518 3,838 45.005 541.14B White 5,621 1,493 4.134 340,967 5q thKU 5 9 269 139 130 2,691 27,674 31,216 Black 2,073 89 3 1,180 374,098 6 0 t h r u 64 369 141 228 3,291 65 and over 1,678 588 1,090 ii ,685 119,717 Othcr 19 7 19 4,700 (PERCENTAGE OF PERSONS BELOW PGVERTY LEVEL) a of Pcrson5 B e l o w Total 16.86 16.84 16.86 15.58 IIl.OR Poverty LCVCl Under 55 14.56 14.00 14.79 1 3 . 13 17.04 Total 16.96 16.84 11.01 18.88 5 5 t h r u 59 13.20 16.61 10.80 13.83 14.66 6 0 t h r u 64 18.64 20.92 11.50 20.20 18.47 White 14.50 12.14 15.21 12.10 6 5 and o v c r 35.71 32.35 31.85 30.7') -28. 3 8 Black 31.11 17.18 28.62 38. 5 1 Othcr 9.84 0 13.29 20.43

__ ._ __ _____~.~___

T o t a l persons counted for income/poverty e v a l u a t i o n , not Ett persons.

SOUHCE: -

9.S. C e n s u s o f P o p u l a t ~ o na n d IiOUslng, 1 9 8 0 . Summary Tap? Vile 3 A . . 1982 SOURCE: U.S. CENSUS, 1980. Summary T a p e F i l e 3A.

which have not kept pace with the rising economy in the rest of the county in-come sectors. Nationally, Limestone County exceeds both the total persons poverty level rate of 12.40 percent and the age 65+ group rate of 14.83 percent, indicating the efforts of both low/moderate wage levels and retirement benefits from such industries.

EMPLOYMENT / WO R K F OR C E As with other areas in the Southeast, Limestone County's economy is still in a state of growth and transition. Long dependent on agriculture as its economic base, the county has moved from an agriculturally-oriented economy to one of manufacturing and services. Limestone County is not as well developed in this transition as is the Southeast as a whole, or many of its neighboring large urban areas; however, the shift is occurring and has significance in re-lation to the countyls future in terms of economic development.

Limestone County's economic growth has been both aided and deterred by many factors. On one hand the early 1960's aerospace/Eefense economic growth in nearby Huntsville, the location of the Brown's Ferry Nuclear Plant in the County in the 1 9 7 0 ' ~and

~ the selection of Limestone or a General Motors plant, all injected significant numbers of high paying jobs into the Lvea.

At the same time, however, the aerospace/defense development also retarded (and often precluded) significant wholesale, retail and financial sector growth in the county due to strong established competition in Huntsville and Decatur and the fact that these markets were able to &sorb immediate growth and had the established infrastructures and financial base to develop additional capacity quickly. By the same token, the Brown's Ferry comtruction impact was only tem-porary in nature, but the county was forced to absorb a significant cost in public services and facilities to serve the work force due to both local and federal errors in establishing proper mitigation cDst indexes to apply for federal (TVA) impact funds.

Current major industrial growth in the coanty has centered around either high-wage national/international market goods such as automotive parts and ae-cessories and machinery and metal parts, which have experienced severe employ-ment fluctuations due to market conditions and changes in consumer patterns.

The remaining growth areas of the Limestone County economy, agribusiness/services, food processing and textiles/apparel are traditiorally slow growth and low/moder-ate pay employment, which, while they aid grov:h in the long run, are normally not sufficient to allow for "catch-up" growth zo offset previous slow economic development.

The purpose of this section of the report is to look at the economy in de-tail, determine its strengths and weaknesses, and identify potentials for future growth. Various aspects of the economy which togekher have made the county's economy what it is will be analyzed, including manufacturing, retail and whole-sale trades, services, and agriculture. A l s o , included in this analysis will be general features of the economy and characteristics of the labor force.

44

TABLE 111-16 TOTAL CIVILIAN LABOR FORCE BY MAJOR SECTOR, ANNUAL AVERP.GES,1 1 9 7 0 - 1 9 7 5 LIMESTONE COUNTY, ALABAMA 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 TOTAL CIVILIAN LABOR FORCE^ 16,600 1 7 ,000 1 7 ,070 16,700 16,980 17,210 Total Unemployment 1,050 930 780 830 1, 060 1,400

( R a t e -% ) 6.3% 5.5% 4.6% 5.0% 6.3% 8.2%

Total mployment 15,550 16,070 16,290 15,870 15,320 1 5 ,810 NONAGRICULTURAL EMPLOYMENT Wage E, s a l a r y 3 8,400 8,800 9,300 9,400 9,400 9 ,300 IP o Manufacturing 1,5 0 0 1,700 2 ,100 2,200 2,300 2,100 m C u r a b l e Goods 4 00 500 7 00 600 600 600 F a b r i c a t e d Metals NA NA NA NA NA NA Machinery ( I n c . E l e c t . ) NA NA NA 100 100 100

" O t h e r " D u r a b l e Goods 4 00 5 00 7 00 500 500 500 N o n d u r a b l e Goods 1, 100 1,200 1. ,4 0 0 1,600 1,700 1,500 Food & K i n d r e d P r o d . 700 7 00 800 8 00 900 8 00 T e x t i l e s & Apparel 4 00 4 00 5 00 700 700 7 00 P a p e r , P r i n t . & Pub. -D- 100 100 100 100 0

" 0t h e r " O 0 0 0 0 0 o Nonmanufacturinq 6,900 7,100 7 ,200 7,200 7,130 7 ,2 0 0 Constructi o n 4 00 4 00 4 00 3 00 3 00 400 T r a n s . Comm. & Pub. U t i l . 100 100 100 100 100 100 Wholesale & Retail Trade 1,3 0 0 1 ,400 1,400 1,600 1,630 1,600 F i n . I n s . , and R e a l Es. 100 100 100 100 100 100

-4 service4 900 8 00 800 900 800 800 9 Governments 4,100 4 ,300 4,400 4 ,2 0 0 4 ,200 4 ,2 0 0

D n Federal 104 107 105 121 128 2,330 0 S t a t e & Local 3 ,9 9 6 4 ,1 9 3 4 ,295 4,079 4,072 1,870 c,

AGRICULTURAL EMPLOYMENT^ 1,800 1,700 1,500 1,400 1,400 1, 3 0 0

= = = m m m m = = m = = = m m ~ = ~

TABLE 111-17 TOTAL C I V I L I A N LABOR FORCE BY MAJOR SECTOR, ANNUAL AVERAGESt1 1976-1981 LIMESTONE COUNTY, ALABAMA f 1976 1977 1978 1979 198Q 1981 TOTAL CIVILIAN LABOR FORCE^ 17,740 18,480 19,710 20,510 20,890 21,440 T o t a l Unemployment 1,310 1,450 1,310 1,560 2 ,160 2,450 (Rate- % ) 7.4% 7.8% 6.6% 7.6% 10.3% 11.4%

T o t a l Employment 16,430 1 7 ,030 18,400 18 ,950 1 8 ,730 18,990 NONAGRICULTURAL EMPLOYMENT Wage S. s a l a r y 3 10,340 11,120 1 2 ,070 12,610 12,670 13,410 o Manufacturing 3,050 3,740 4,250 4 ,680 4,460 4,560 Durable Goods 1I 530 2 ,110 2,560 2 ,950 2,810 3,040 a F a b r i c a t e d Metals 250 290 -D- - D- - D- - D-4 Machinery ( I n . E l e c t ) 51 0 600 - D- -D- -D- - D-

"0t h e r " Durable Good s 770 1,220 -D- - D- -D- - D-Nondurable Goods 1,520 1,630 1,690 1,730 1,650 1, 520 Food & K i n d r e d P r o . 740 720 820 87 0 8 90 820 T e x t i l e s & Apparel 710 820 820 810 710 61 0 P a p e r , Print. & P u b . 40 40 -D- - D- -D- -D-

"0th e r 'I 30 100 50 60 180 90 o NonmaiiufdcLur 11% 7 ,2 30 7 ,3uo 7 ,[I20 ,

7 930 t1,210 0,05u C o n s t r u c t on 350 410 500 510 420 1110 T r a n s . Comm. & Pub. r l t i l . 80 z 00 100 120 140 130 Wholcsalc & Ilctaj 1 Trade 1,770 1,3 4 0 ,

1 930 1,940 1 ,3 0 0 2 ,0 0 0 F i n . Ins. , a n d Real E s . 180 190 220 220 220 220 Service 4 710 880 94 0 880 8 40 960

-l Governrnants 4,200 3,860 4,030 4 ,260 4,690 5,130 2,070 1,380 1 ,550 1,780 2 ,100 2 , 560 2,130 2,400 2,400 2,400 2 ,530 2 ,570 1,560 1,120 1,120 1,110 1 , 090 1,070

TABLE 111-18 TOTAL CIVILIAN LABOR FORCE BY MAJOR SECTOR (ANNUAL AVERAGES PERCENT CHANGE 1 9 7 0 , 1 9 7 5 , 1 9 8 0 , LIMESTONE COUNTY, ALABAMA Percentage Change 1970 1975 1980 1970-75 1975-80 TOTAL CIVILIAN LABOR FORCE 1 6 ,600 1 7 ,210 20 ,8 9 0 3.7 21.4 T o t a l Unemployment 1,050 1,400 2 ,1 6 0 33.3 54.3

( R a t e %) 6.3% 8.2% 10.3% - -

T o t a l Employment 1 5 ,550 15,810 18,730 1.7 18.5 NONAGFUCULTURAL EMPLOYMENT Wage & S a l a r y 8,400 9,300 1 2 I 670 10.7 36.2 o Manufacturing 1,500 2 100 4,460 40.0 112.4 D u r a b l e Goods 400 600 2 ,a10 50.0 368.3 F a b r i c a t e d Metals NA NA - D- - -

Machinery ( I n c . E l e c t . ) NA 100 -D- - -

" O t h e r " D u r a b l e Goods 400 500 -D- 25.0 -

N o n d u r a b l e Goods 1,100 1,500 1,560 36.4 10.0 Food & K i n d r e d P r o d . 7 00 800 890 14.3 11.3 T e x t i l e s & Apparel 400 700 71 0 42.9 1.4 P a p e r , P r i n t . & Pub. - D- 0 - D- - -

I' 0t h e r O 0 180 - -

o Nonmanufacturins 6 I 900 7 I 200 8 ,210 4.3 14.0 Construction 400 400 420 0 5.0 T r a n s . C o r n . & Pub. U t i l . 100 100 140 0 40.0 Wholesale & R e t a i l T r a d e 1,300 1,600 1,900 23.1 18.8 F i n . I n s . , and R e a l E s . 100 100 220 0 120.0 Service 900 800 840 -11.1 5.0 Government 4 I 100 4,200 4 ,690 2.4 11.7 Federal NA 2,330 2,100 NA -9.9 S t a t e & Local NA 1,870 2 ,590 NA 38.5 AG-=CULTURAL EMPLOYMENT 1,8 0 0 1,300 1,090 -27.8 -16.2

1

- , r ? P - P P . 2 N 7 0 ir E

0 Y

zO TABLE 111-20 TOTAL CIVILIAN LABOR FORCE BY C W O R SECTOR, iu;:JAL ALXFAV\GES. PERCENT CHANGE 1 9 8 0 - 8 2 LIMESTONE COUNTY, ALABFL"2. 1 9 8 0 - 6 2 Pc-rcenr 1980 !982 Chacoe TOTAL CIVILIAN LABOR FORCE' 20,890 Zi.750 8.3 T o t a l Unemployment 2,160 3.110 44.n (Rate-%) 10.3% 13.i T o t a l Employment 18.73C I?, 64C J . '3 NONAGRICUZTURAL EHPLOYHENT Wage 6 S a l a r y ' 12.67C I3,i3C 4.4 Manufacturing 4,460 4,540 1.8 D u r a b l e Goods 2,810 2,360 5.3 F a b r i c a t e d Metals -D- Machinery ( I n c . E l e c t . ) - D-

" O t h e r " D u r a b l e Goods -D- - D-N o n d u r a b l e Goods 1.650  :,sac -4.2 Food 6 K i n d r e d P r o d . 890 350 -4.5 T e x t i l e s 6 Apparel 710 700 -1.4 P a p e r , P r i n t . 6 Pub. -D- -D-

"Other" 180 30 -53.3 Nomanufacturing a,izo 5.090 5.E Construction 420 370 -11.9 T r a n s . Comm. 6 P u b . m i l . 140 I10 -7.1 w h o l e s a l e 6 Retail Trade 1,900 2,000 5.3 F i n . I n s . , and Real E s t . 220 220 0 service4 840 940 11.9 Government 5 4,690 5,.lr) 7.2 Federal 2.100 2,470 17.6 S t a t e 6 Local 2,590 AGRICULTURAL EEIPLOYMENT~ 1,090 , -'5%>

I 49

c One measure of t h e economic b a s e of an area i s t h e summation of a l l employ-ment o p p o r t u n i t i e s a v a i l a b l e t o t h e r e s i d e n t s of t h a t a r e a and t o commuters from nearby areas. The p o t e n t i a l of a n a r e a f o r economic growth i s l i m i t e d by i t s a b i l i t y t o c r e a t e employment o p p o r t u n i t i e s f o r i t s p e o p l e and t o a t t r a c t new p e o p l e .

Tables 111-15 t h r u 111-20 show t h e changes i n t o t a l employment by i n d u s t r y f o r t h e p e r i o d 1970-1980 by b o t h p l a c e of r e s i d e n c e and p l a c e of work d e f i n i t i o n .

During t h i s decade, t h e t o t a l c i v i l i a n workforce ( a l l t h o s e p e o p l e a b l e t o , and d e s i r i n g work) r o s e by 25.8 p e r c e n t , w h i l e t o t a l employment r o s e by 20.5 p e r c e n t .

T h i s f i g u r e r e f l e c t s a l l Limestone County r e s i d e n t s , no m a t t e r where t h e y a c t u a l l y worked." Table 111-18 shows t h a t manufacturing and government were t h e main growth areas of r e s i d e n t employment. The f a c t t h a t t h e t o t a l c i v i l i a n workforce r o s e a t a h i g h e r r a t e t h a n t o t a l emplo.yment i s i n d i c a t i v e of b o t h a d e c l i n e i n j o b a v a i l a b i l i t y and t h e f a c t t h a t p r o p o r t i o n a l l y more women and normally " r e t i r e d " e l d e r l y p e r s o n s w e r e f o r c e d i n t o t h e market due t o economic pressures.

I n t h e c o u n t y , from 1970-1980, t h e t o t a l nunber of j o b s (employment) c r e a t e d r o s e by 50.8 p e r c e n t w i t h m a n u f a c t u r i n g and wholesale and r e t a i l t r a d e s c r e a t i n g t h e l a r g e s t p r o p o r t i o n a l j o b impacts ( s e e t a b l e s 111-16 and 1 1 1 - 1 7 . ) I n 1970 54.0 p e r c e n t of a l l p e r s o n s l i v i n g i n Limestone Count;r could f i n d work ( i n t h e o r y )

i n Limestone County; t h a t i s , t h e r e w e r e enough t o t a l j o b s f o r 8 , 4 0 0 p e r s o n s of t h e 15,550 working employed p e r s o n s l i v i n g i n t h e county ( d i s c o u n t i n g t h e number of j o b s i n Limestone County which w e r e a c t u a l l y h e l d by r e s i d e n t s o f a r e a s out-s i d e t h e c o u n t y . ) T h i s " j o b gap" of 7,158 j o b s r e p r e s e n t e d t h e need f o r Limestone County r e s i d e n t s t o commute ( o r e v e n t u a l l y o u t - n i g r a t e ) t o f i n d work. By 1980, t h e r e were 67.6 p e r c e n t as many j o b s i n Limest0r.e County a s t h e r e w e r e r e s i d e n t s employed, i n d i c a t i n g s u b s t a n t i a l improvement i n l o c a l j o b o p p o r t u n i t y b u t s t i l l need f o r more j o b s t o s t a b i l i z e r e s i d e n t employrent based o u t - m i g r a t i o n t e n d e n c i e s .

T h i s work/job commuting need i s borne o u t by t h e f a c t t h a t i n 1980, accord-i n g t o t h e U.S. Census, 8 6 . 3 p e r c e n t of a l l j o b s i n Limestone County w e r e h e l d by Limestone County r e s i d e n t s , b u t 38 p e r c e n t of a l l Limestone County r e s i d e n t s work o u t s i d e Limestone County (Madison and M o r g a County a c c o u n t f o r a b o u t 80 p e r c e n t of a l l j o b out-commuting from Limestone County.)

WORKFORCE 'TRENDS The t o t a l number o f p e r s o n s l i v i n g i n Limeszone County i n c r e a s e d from 41,699 i n 1970 t o 46,005 i n 1980, t h i s w a s an i n c r e a s e o f 1 0 . 3 p e r c e n t . Major changes i n t h e p r o p o r t i o n s o f t h e s e p e r s o n s employed, ax6 t h e i r employment w i t h i n t h e major s e c t o r s of t h e economy have o c c u r r e d dur1T.q t h e l a s t decade. T a b l e s 111-18 t h r u 111-19 i n d i c a t e some o f t h e t r a n s i t i o n s mace d a r i n g t h i s decade.

• As defined a s "workforce" e l i g i b l e ( n o t i n c l u d i n g s t u d e n t s d i s a b l e d p e r s o n s and p e r s o n s n o t a c t i v e l y s e e k i n g work) 50

Recent advances i n t e c h n o l o g y have had a g r e a t impact on a g r i c u l t u r a l and manufacturing employment. These s e c t o r s of t h e economy have become more pro-d u c t i v e and a r e f u r n i s h i n g t h e n a t i o n ' s h i g h e r l e v e l s of p e r s o n a l income and i n c r e a s e d l e i s u r e t h a t i n t u r n have p l a c e d a h i g h e r demand t h r o u g h o u t t h e n a t i o n on a l l types of services r e s u l t i n g i n i n c r e a s e d employment and h i g h e r p r o p o r t i o n of employment i n t h e services s e c t o r of t h e economy.

LABOR ' F O R C E COMPOSITION The make up of b o t h t h e e x i s t i n g and p o t e n t i a l l a b o r f o r c e c a n be one cf t h e g r e a t e s t a s s e t s or l i a b i l i t i e s t h e community c a n p o s s e s s . The chracteris-t i c s of t h e p e o p l e who make up t h e l a b o r f o r c e and t h e s k i l l s which t h e y possess s i g n i f i c a n t l y a f f e c t any a r e a ' s p o t e n t i a l f o r i n d u s t r i a l development. More-o v e r , t h e labor f o r c e , p r i m a r i l y , d e t e r m i n e s t h e q u a l i t y o f i n d u s t r i e s which l o c a t e i n an area.

Employment S t a t u s of Population--Of t h e t o t a l p o p u l a t i o n 1 6 y e a r s o l d z?C o v e r , i n Limestone County 19,384 o r 58.0 p e r c e n t , were i n t h e l a b o r f o r c e i r ,

1980. Of t h e t o t a l female p o p u l a t i o n , approximately 56 p e r c e n t were worlcinc women. Among males, 73.2 p e r c e n t w e r e i n t h e l a b o r f o r c e .

T h i s r e p r e s e n t s a s i g n i f i c a n t t r a n s i t i o n from t h e 1970 p e r i o 6 when t o t a l l a b o r f o r c e p a r t i c i p a t i o n r a t e w a s 54.6 p e r c e n t w i t h under 33 p e r c e n t p a r t i c i -

p a t i o n by women and a p a r t i c i p a t i o n r a t e of o v e r 76 p e r c e n t f o r males. I t i n -

d i c a t e s a rise i n female o r i e n t e d employment i n t h e county combineci w i t h economic p r e s s u r e s t o c a u s e m o r e women t o e n t e r t h e l a b o r f o r c e and a small l o s s i n male labor f o r c e p a r t i c i p a t i o n .

On a s t a t e and n a t i o n a l comparison b a s i s , t h e 1980 t o t a l l a b o r f o r c e p t - r i -

c i p a t i o n r a t e o f 73.2 p e r c e n t w a s h i g h e r t h a n t h e A l a b a m a f i g u r e of 71.3 ~ e r z e n s and j u s t below t h e n a t i o n a l a v e r a g e o f 74.7 p e r c e n t . The female p a r t i c i p a r i c z r a t e o f 55.9 p e r c e n t w a s above b o t h t h e s t a t e and n a t i o n a l f i g u r e s ; however, t h e a c t u a l p e r c e n t o f f e m a l e s employed (39.7 p e r c e n t o f t h e t o t a l employment; w a s below b o t h t h e s t a t e and n a t i o n a l l e v e l s .

The p r o p o r t i o n o f f a m i l i e s w i t h 2 o r more workers i n Limestone County i-.

1980 w a s 52.6 p e r c e n t . T h i s w a s above t h e s t a t e f i g u r e of 50.9 p e r c e n t , but below t h e n a t i o n w i d e a v e r a g e of 5 4 . 2 p e r c e n t .

Age Composition--Generally, new i n d u s t r i e s a r e e a s i e r t o a t t r a c t t o a_?

a r e a which has a p r e d o m i n a n t l y young l a b o r f o r c e . The l a b o r f o r c e of Lixe-s t o n e County c o n t a i n s a r e l a t i v e l y h i g h p r o p o r t i o n of young workers. I n 1973, a p p r o x i m a t e l y 51 p e r c e n t o f t h e c o u n t y ' s workers w e r e between 1 4 and 34 y e i r s o f age compared t o t h e s t a t e p e r c e n t a g e o f 43. P r e s e n t l y , no 1980 c e n s u s Ea-T.

i s a v a i l a b l e t o c h a l l e n g e t h i s d a t a , b u t i n d i c a t o r s such as female l&or for=?

p a r t i c i p a t i o n and p r e s e n c e of c h i l d r e n ( d e t a i l e d below) would i n d i c a t e t h z r t h e work f o r c e h a s aged from 1970 j u s t based upon t h e i n j e c t i o n of o l d e r f e m l e workers a l o n e .

Sex Composition--In 1980, f e m a l e s accounted f o r 39.7 p e r c e n t o f t h e L i n e -

s t o n e County t o t a l c i v i l i a n l a b o r f o r c e as compared t o 3 3 . 7 p e r c e n t i n 1970.

51

c There i s s t r o n g e v i d e n c e of t h e f a c t t h a t most l o c a l f e m a l e s work t o supple-ment family income. I n 1970, 65.3 p e r c e n t of t h e c o u n t y ' s female l a b o r f o r c e were m a r r i e d , and 86 p e r c e n t had c h i l d r e n under 6 y e a r s of age. By 1980, t h e p e r c e n t a g e w i t h c h i l d r e n under 6 had dropped t o j u s t o v e r 15 p e r c e n t , i n d i c a t -

i n g s t r o n g l y t h a t t h e d e c i s i o n t o work w a s economically m o t i v a t e d i n f a m i l i e s a t t h e middle-age l e v e l a s w e l l a s f o r s i n g l e p a r e n t s and younq c o u p l e s j u s t s t a r t i n g out.

Working women a r e a common and b o t h n e c e s s a r y and d e s i r e d s i t u a t i o n i n o u r s o c i e t y and t h e t r e n d i s i n c r e a s i n g . However, long-term growth of t h e economy h i n g e s on t h e a b i l i t y of t h e a r e a t o p r o v i d e j o b s f o r men, o r z t l e a s t a t wage/

o c c u p a t i o n a l l e v e l s t r a d i t i o n a l l y a s s o c i a t e d w i t h m a l e employment. S e v e r a l o f Limestone County's i n d u s t r i e s p r o v i d e employment o p p o r t u n i t i e s p r i m a r i l y f o r women. I f t h e county i s t o h a l t m a l e o u t - m i g r a t i o n and raise wage l e v e l s , ad-d i t i o n a l i n d u s t r i e s must be a t t r a c t e d which p r o v i d e employment or s k i l l e d males a t adequate wage l e v e l s . T h i s i s i n p a r t due t o t h e f a c z t h a t o u r s o c i e t y i s s t i l l male j o b income o r i e n t e d and i n most f a m i l y s i t u a t i o n s m a l e j o b o p p o r t u n i t y s t i l l i s t h e primary f a c t o r ( u s u a l l y f o r economic r e a s o n s ) i n d e t e r m i n i n g m i g r a t i o n and j o b r e l a t e d r e l o c a t i o n s .

Race Composition--The p r o p o r t i o n of Blacks i n t h e labor f c r c e i n Limestone County was low. I n 1970, 1 3 . 8 p e r c e n t of t h e l a b o r f o r c e w a s comprised of B l a c k s , compared t o 17.2 p e r c e n t of t h e t o t a l p o p u l a t i o n . 9y 13.80, t h e Black p r o p o r t i o n of t h e c i v i l i a n l a b o r f o r c e had dropped t o 1 3 . 4 ? s c e n t , w h i l e t h e B l a c k p o p u l a t i o n had f a l l e n t o 1 4 . 2 p e r c e n t of t o t a l p o g u l a t i o r . Blacks made up 12.7 p e r c e n t of a l l p e r s o n s employed i n 1980 and had a t o t a l l a b o r f o r c e p a r t i c i p a t i o n r a t e of 5 8 . 8 p e r c e n t w i t h a m a l e r a t e of 63.3 p e r c e n c and a female r a t e of 54.7 p e r c e n t . The o v e r a l l Black l a b o r f o r c e p a r t i c i p a t i o n r a t e 58.8 p e r c e n t (due t o t h e f a c t t h a t 52 p e r c e n t o f a l l E l a c k e n p l o y e e s a r e f e m a l e )

i s a c t u a l l y . 8 p e r c e n t above t h e county-wide r a t e f o r a l l r a c e s , however, t h e

" p a r t i c i p a t i o n " i n unemployment (as a p a r t of t h e "labor f o r c e " ) w a s 1 3 . 7 p e r -

c e n t , compared w i t h a t o t a l r a t e o f 8 . 8 p e r c e n t unemployment cscqtywide.

Many of t h e s e p e r s o n s who a r e unemployed have been dis?,lzced from farms.

G e n e r a l l y , Blacks have fewer s k i l l s and a r e n o t a s well e d u c a t s i a s Whites.

B a s i c e d u c a t i o n and t r a i n i n g programs should be i n s t i t u t e d co c o r r e c t t h i s situation.

Worker Mobility--As w a s d i s c u s s e d p r e v i o u s l y i n t h i s s~cl;., a s i g n i f i c a n t number of r e s i d e n t s a r e l e a v i n g t h e area because of t h e lack of e q l o y m e n t op-p o r t u n i t i e s . Other p e o p l e though u n a b l e t o s e c u r e employment l o c a l l y choose t o remain i n t h e county s i n c e t h e y a r e a b l e t o f i n d e n p l o y n e n t i n n e i g h b o r i n g c o u n t i e s p r i n c i p a l l y , Madison and Morgan.

I n 1970, 5 , 4 8 1 workers o r 37.6 p e r c e n t of t h e t o t a l 1 4 , 6 5 3 r e s i d i n g i n Limestone County worked i n n e i g h b o r i n g c o u n t i e s . I n c l u d e d i n d-hFlis f i g u r e were 1 , 6 2 8 Athens' r e s i d e n t s o r 33.3 p e r c e n t of t h a t c i t y ' s work force.

By 1980, t h i s f i g u r e was s t i l l a b o u t 40 p e r c e n t countywice and r e p r e s e n t e d a b o u t 6 , 4 0 0 r e s i d e n t s working o u t s i d e Limestone County. Madison County w a s 52

I I s t i l l t h e l e a d i n g m a r k e t w i t h a b o u t 2,750 of t h e j o b s , and Morgan County a c l o s e second a t 2 , 5 5 0 j o b s .

I COMPONENTS OF T H E ECNOMY I The economy of Limestone County i s comprised of s e v e r a l economic a c t i v i t i e s ,

each a f f e c t i n g t o t a l economic change. The p u r p o s e of t h i s s F c t i o n o f t h e r e p o r t i s t o a n a l y z e past t r e n d s i n t h e v a r i o u s s e c t o r s of Limestone C o u n t y ' s economy, I p o i n t o u t s t r e n g t h s a n d w e a k n e s s e s , and e v a l u a t e t h e i r p o t e n t i a l f o r f u t u r e growth and development.

I AGRICULTURE A g r i c u l t u r e , u n t i l t h e mid 1 9 7 0 ' s had l o n g b e e n a p r i n c i p a l s o u r c e o f i n c o x e I and basic employment f o r Limestone County. As p r e v i o u s l y shown, up u n t i l 1 9 5 0 ,

Limestone County h a s c o n s i s t e n t l y had a h i g h e r p r o p o r t i o n o f i t s l a b o r f o r c e er.-

gaged i n a g r i c u l t u r e t h a n any o t h e r o c c u p a t i o n . However, from t h e mid 1950 t h r o u g h 1965 t h e c o u n t y e x p e r i e n c e d a g r a d u a l change, away, from a p r e d o m i n a n t l y I a g r i c u l t u r a l economy t o a more d i v e r s i f i e d one w i t h m a n u f a c t u r i n g now assuming t h e m o s t i m p o r t a n t r o l e o f p r i v a t e s e c t o r employment growth.

I The t r e n d i n a g r i c u l t u r e i n Limestone County seems t o be a u n i v e r s a l one t h r o u g h o u t t h e S o u t h . While t h e number of farms i s d e c r e a s i n c , t h e number o f acres p e r farm i s i n c r e a s i n g . The g r o s s number o f a c r e s i n v o l v e & i n f a r m i n g a c t i v i t y i s d e c r e a s i n g , however, a g r i c u l t u r e i s s t i l l a m a j o r i n d u s t r y i n te-l;ns I of v a l u e and income i n Limestone County.

The number o f f a r m s i n Limestone County d e c l i n e d from 4 , 3 9 9 i n 1949 t o I 4 , 1 7 6 i n 1959 t o 2,025 i n 1 9 7 1 , and 1 , 4 3 6 i n 1974 and 1 , 2 2 0 i n t h e most r e c e n t (1978) Census o f A g r i c u l t u r e . Most of t h i s d e c l i n e came i n t h e p e r i o d between 1952 and 1959. T h e r e w a s a c o n c u r r e n t i n c r e a s e i n t h e a v e r a g e s i z e of farms I i n t h i s p e r i o d . The a v e r a g e s i z e farm i n c r e a s e d from 110.4 a c r e s i n 1959 t o 150.0 acres i n 1971 and 200 acres i n 1978.

I n r e l a t i o n t o t h e i n c r e a s e d a c r e a g e p e r f a r m , t h e a v e r a g e v a l u e p e r fa-m I h a s i n c r e a s e d p r o p o r t i o n a t e l y . The a v e r a g e v a l u e p e r farm* has r i s e n from

$15,979 i n 1959, $30,514 i n 1964 t o $89,630 i n 1974 and $ 1 9 2 , 1 1 3 i n 1978. The s i z e and v a l u e i n c r e a s e t r e n d i s r e v e a l e d c l e a r l y by t h e f a c t t h a t from 1974-I 1978, t h e a v e r a g e v a l u e per a c r e

• of a farm i n Limestone Counz-J r o s e by 6 9 . 7 p e r c e n t from $532 t o $903. A t t h e s t a t e l e v e l , a v e r a g e v a l u e _=era c r e i n c r e a s e 5 by 75 p e r c e n t f o r t h e same p e r i o d , b u t t h e s t a t e w i d e a v e r a g e Yialue p e r a c r e i n 1 1978 was o n l y $637, or j u s t over 70 p e r c e n t o f t h e Limestone Zounty a v e r a g e v a l . i e p e r acre.

One of t h e m a j o r c h a n g e s t h a t h a s t a k e n p l a c e i n Limestone C o u n t y ' s a g r i -

I c u l t u r a l i n d u s t r y d u r i n g t h e p a s t t w o d e c a d e s , w a s t h e tremendous p e r c e n t a g e i n c r e a s e of l i v e s t o c k p r o d u c t i o n . L i v e s t o c k p r o d u c t i o n made up, i n 1939, abour one f i f t h of t h e v a l u e o f a l l f a r m p r o d u c t s . By 1964, t h i s seqment made up I

• t o t a l v a l u e l a n d and b u i l d i n g s 1

53 I

TeBLE 111-21 I

LIMESTONE COUNTY CENSUS OF AGRICULTURE SELECTED ITEMS AND DEFINITIONAL EQUIVELANCIZS 1974 AND 1978 I All farms 1078 1974 I

Farms and land In farms:

FWS .........................................................................

Land In farms................................................................

Average dze of farm................................................

number.

aues.

aues.

-. 1220 244 04.9 m

143 241 KX 162 I

Value of land and buildings: I Average per farm ............................................

Average per acre........................

192 113 903 89 6x 532 I FYZ%Bin40acres ............................................... number.

I 89 67 10 10 49 acres ....................................................... number., 355 491 50 lo 179 acres ..................................................... number.. 458 9 1 180 10 499 acres ................................................... number.. 180 200 500 lo 998 aaea ................................................... number.. 83 64 1,OOo to 1.990 acres ............................................. number.. 36 35 2.000 acms 01 more .............................................. number..

Aoricuhal produas sold and farm related Income:

Mame1 value of producls sold ................................

Average per farm................................................

Sl.Oo0..

dollan..

10 28 840 n 639 23 915 16 654 8

I crops ....................................................................... $1,000.. 21 384 17 297 Liveslock and liveslock products............

Poultry and poultry products ....................

Farms by value of sales:

(Dl (0

4888 1575 I

Sales of 520,000 or more..................................... number.. 24 1 221

$100,OOOor more ..............................................

S40,OOO to $99,999 ...........................................

$20,000 to 539,999 ...........................................

sales of lear than 52o.OOo ..................................

$10,000 (0 $19,9 90 ...............................................

number..

number..

number..

number..

76 71 94 979 150 1215 69 0

e.

73 14.9 I

f5,OOo to $8,999 ............................................... lwmber.. 212 m F T&

52,500to $4,999.............................................

Lsss thsn ~ 5 0....0 woforgantzatkn:

of tamity

......................-...................number..

nwnber..

.....tlufrku..

265 352 1094 p2 627 W)

I Pafbmhtp................................................................ mmber.. 108 (NA)

I Corpotation number.. 15 (HA)

Famify held ............................................................. nwnber.. 15 W)

Other than farnity held .......................................... number.. - w Other-axperattvea, &tea or bunts, Instltutbnal. etc .................................................... number.. 3 W)

Operator charaderlatks:

Tenure of operator.

Full owner .................................................................

Pad owner ...............................................................

farms..

f m .

717 360 m

351 I

Tenant ....................................................................... farma. 134 119 I

Appendix. Effect of Definition Change for Selected Items: 1978 and 1974 7 I All farms ................................................................... nomber..

1978 1220 1874 1436 1978 1 3 n 1974 1 !378 7 5 1974 149 B

Farms with sales bss than $2.500 ....................... number.. 352 627 509 1 5 149 I

Land In farms .............................................................. aaes.. 244 048 241 833 247 957 2 U 712 3sc9 2 879 1 703 1202 Total uopland ............................................................ auea.. 172 475 184 465 174 178 1Es 667 385 218 Harvested aopland................................................ 848s.. 128 981 110 528 129 368 110 746 38 45 Value of agrlarthJral products d d......................... $1.000.. 28 840 23 815 28 878 P s a 12 19 crops ..................................................................... $1.000.. 21 364 17 307 21 396 17 418 I

Liveslock. poultry. and (he(r prodocts ................ $1,000.. 7 458 6 463 7 4.92 5488 25 25 28 833 33 454 319 305 Cattle and calves Inventory ................................... number.. 28 314 39 140 3 n H o g s and plgs Invenlory......................................... number.. 10 801 7 187 10 925 7254 Chikens 3 months old or older Inventory ...........number.. (D) 150 654 (D) 1% 837 34 9 183 source: U.S. Census of Agriculture, 1978 i 54 I

I I o v e r JO p e r c e n t of t h e t o t a l s a l e s , i n 1974 t h e f i g u r e r e t u r n e d t o a b o u t 2 0 p e r c e n t of t o t a l s a l e s , a n d i n 1 9 7 8 t h e o w n e r s h i p had c o n c e n t r a t e d t o s u c h a I d e g r e e t h a t s a l e s f i g u r e s were w i t h h e l d f o r c e n s u s d i s c l o s u r e r e a s o n s .

By 1 9 7 8 , c r o p s a l e s a c c o u n t e d f o r 7 4 p e r c e n t o f a l l f a r m r e c e i p t s i n L i m e s t o n e C o u n t y , u p s l i g h t l y f r o m 7 2 p e r c e n t i n 1 9 7 2 . The t o t a l v a l u e o f f a r m I p r o d u c t s s o l d i n c r e a s e d b y 20.6 p e r c e n t o v e r t h e same p e r i o d a n d l i v e s t o c k s a l e s d a t a w a s n o t a v a i l a b l e . The p r o d u c t i o n o f crops a n d t h e i r s a l e s v a l e con-t i n u e d t o i n c r e a s e over t h e l a s t s e v e r a l y e a r s , a n d t h e p r o d u c t i o n and s a l e o f I l i v e s t o c k has decreased relative to t h a t o f crops.

D e s p i t e t h e d e c l i n e i n t h e number o f f a r m s , f a r m o p e r a t o r s , a n d a c r e a g e I i n f a r m s , p r o g r e s s i n a g r i c u l t u r a l t e c h n o l o g y h a s made p o s s i b l e a n i n c r e a s e i n t h e d o l l a r v a l u e o f a l l f a r m p r o d u c t s s o l d i n t h e c o u n t y . From 1974 t o 1 9 7 8 a l o n e , t h e v a l u e of a l l p r o d u c t s s o l d i n c r e a s e d b y a p p r o x i m a t e l y 2 1 per-c e n t i n L i m e s t o n e C o u n t y , compared w i t h t h e s t a t e , h o w e v e r , t h i s r a t e was o n l y I o n e h a l f t h e Alabama i n c r e a s e of 4 1 . 3 p e r c e n t .

T h e r e e x i s t s , h o w e v e r a u n i q u e r e l a t i o n s h i p b e t w e e n f a r m i n g , farm v a l u e s I of crops s o l d , a n d f a r m employment i n c o m e s a n d wages. W h i l e t h e above i n -

creases o c c u r r e d from 1974-78 i n c r o p and f a r m v a l u e s , when c o s t s o f p r o d u c t i o n and o t h e r i t e m s a r e related t o a c t u a l income, a d i f f e r e n t growth t r e n d a p p e a r s .

I From 1975-1980 t o t a l p r o p r i a t o r s ( f a r m ) income d r o p p e d from $ 8 , 7 1 2 , 0 0 0 t o

$71789,00O--a loss o f 4 5 p e r c e n t . A d d i t i o n a l l y , i n terms of wages a n s s a l a r i e s P a i d , f a r m g e n e r a t e d income a l s o f e l l from $ 1 0 , 6 1 9 , 0 0 0 t o $ 7 , 8 0 2 , 0 0 0 ( a l o s s o f I 2 6 . 5 p e r c e n t ) f o r t h e same p e r i o d . I n o t h e r words, t h e c o s t s of f a r m i n g h a v e reduced p r o p r i e t o r s i n c o m e s a n d a t t h e same t i m e , s c a l e a n d m e c h a n i z a t i o n h a v e r e d u c e d t h e number of w o r k e r s needed--and t h e i r associated t o t a l income. T h i s t r e n d w h i l e n o t as severe as i n L i m e s t o n e C o u n t y , i s p r e s e n t a t b o t h t h e s t a t e I a n d U.S. l e v e l .

I n terms o f employment, a g r i c u l t u r e i s r a p i d l y d e c r e a s i n g as a major in-I dustry. I n 1 9 6 0 , a p p r o x i m a t e l y 2 5 p e r c e n t o f t h e employed p e r s o n s i n L i m e -

s t o n e County w e r e f a r m w o r k e r s . By 1 9 7 0 , o n e L i m e s t o n e C o u n t y w o r k e r i n t e n w a s e n g a g e d i n f a r m i n g , w i t h t h e number of f a r m e r s a n d f a r m w o r k e r s d e c l i n i n g by o v e r 1 , 3 9 0 d u r i n g t h e 1960 t o 1 9 7 0 period. From 1 9 7 0 - 1 9 8 0 , a n a d d i t i o n a l I 700 j o b s w e r e l o s t i n t h e a g r i c u l t u r a l sector ( a 3 9 p e r c e n t d e c l i n e ) l e a v i n g a g r i c u l t u r e a s a b o u t 6 p e r c e n t o f t o t a l employment f o r L i m e s t o n e C o u n t y r e s i -

dents :

1 The s i n g l e m o s t i m p o r t a n t r a m i f i c a t i o n r e s u l t i n g from t h e r a p i d l y - c h a n g i n g s t a t u s o f a g r i c u l t u r e i s t h e n e e d t o r e t a i n a n d provide employment f o r t h e i p e o p l e d i s p l a c e d from t h e f a r m s . F a i l u r e t o d o so i n t h e p a s t w a s o n e , i f n o t t h e , major f a c t o r r e s p o n s i b l e f o r t h e l a r g e o u t m i g r a t i o n f r o m t h e c o u n t y .

r e c e n t y e a r s , much h a s b e e n a c c o m p l i s h e d a l o n g t h e s e l i n e s ; i n d u s t r i a l a n d In t e c h n i c a l e d u c a t i o n h a s b e e n a c c e l e r a t e d a n d e x p a n d e d , a n d new employment op-I p o r t u n i t i e s h a v e b e e n c r e a t e d , ho--:.e\'er t h e r e i s s t i l l room f o r improvement.

I I

I 55

c I

I MANUFACTURING Limestone County's t o t a l 1982 manufacturing employment w a s 4,528 and t o t a l wages and s a l a r i e s d e r i v e d from manufacturing were $87,934,700. T h i s r e p r e s e n t s I

t h e smallest t o t a l m a n u f a c t u r i n g employment of a l l TARCOG C o u n t i e s , b u t t h e f o u r t h l a r g e s t g r o s s wage and s a l a r y payment. I n p e r c a p i t a barker) terms, t h e f i g u r e comes t o $19,420, which e x c e e d s t h e s t a t e - w i d e a v e r a g e by o v e r $3,125. This w a s I

t h e h i g h e s t average wage and s a l a r y i n t h e e n t i r e TARCOG r e g i o n f o r manufacturing employment, exceeding even t h e Madison County a v e r a g e of$18,285. The General Motors employment a t t h e i r Saginaw S t e e r i n g f a c i l i t y i s p r i m a r i l y r e s p o n s i b l e f o r I t h i s abnormal average wage and s a l a r y impact a s most o t h e r manufacturing enqloy-ment i s a t o r b e l o w s t a t e - w i d e wage a v e r a g e s .

Between 1970 and 1980, m a n u f a c t u r i n g r e p l a c e d a g r i c u l t u r e a s t h e dominate I

employment and income f a c t o r i n t h e Limestone County economy. The m o s t d r w t i c t r a n s i t i o n took p l a c e i n t h e second h a l f o r t h e decade from 1975-80.

p e r i o d manufacturing employment r o s e 1 1 2 . 4 p e r c e n t , w i t h a b o u t 90 p e r c e n t of this During this I

growth i n t h e d u r a b l e goods s e c t o r . Corresponding by t o t a l i n the manufacvlring wages and s a l a r i e s r o s e by 432 p e r c e n t , from 19.5 p e r c e n t of t o t a l p e r s o n a l wages and s a l a r y income i n 1975, t o 37.6 p e r c e n t i n 1980. I Major Trends -- S i g n i f i c a n t changes f i r s t began t a k i n g .place i n Limescone County a f t e r 1966. I n t h a t y e a r , o n l y a b o u t 800 o f t h e c o u n t y ' s j o b s were in t h e manufacturing s e c t o r . During t h r e e o f t h e n e x t f o u r y e a r s , manufacturing I

employment i n c r e a s e d by a t l e a s t 25 p e r c e n t p e r y e a r . A f t e r a d e c l i n e bet.een 1968 and 1969, t h e 1969-1970 p e r i o d r e g i s t e r e d a 50 p e r c e n t i n c r e a s e ,

t h e l a s t h a l f o f t h e 1 9 6 0 ' s (when H u n t s v i l l e and Madison County w e r e l o s i n q Durin5 I

a e r o s p a c e j o b s and w e r e less a b l e t o o f f e r employment t o r e s i d e n t s o f Limescorie County), a v a r i e t y of new i n d u s t r i e s moved t o Limestone County w h i l e a t t h e szxe t i m e many o t h e r i n d u s t r i e s , though p r i m a r i l y t e x t i l e and a p p a r e l firms, e q a n E e d t h e i r employment. Between 1964 and 1970, i n c l u s i v e , some 2,000 mre j o b s i n n e w I

o r expanded i n d u s t r y were announced b u t t h e a c t u a l i n c r e a s e i n m a n u f a c t u r i c g en-ployment d u r i n g t h e p e r i o d w a s o n l y a b o u t 1 , 0 0 0 j o b s . I The General Motors P l a n t i n 1973 (and subsequent e x p a n s i o n s ) and t h e S t e e l -

c a s e o f f i c e f u r n i t u r e f a c i l i t y i n 1979 were t h e major employers and income *acts of t h e decade f o r 1970-80. The t o t a l 1982 workforce estimate f o r t h e t w o f z c i l i t i e s I

i s a b o u t 2,125, o r a b o u t 47 p e r c e n t o f t h e c o u n t i e s t o t a l m a n u f a c t u r i n g e q l o y m e n t (70 p e r c e n t of a l l d u r a b l e goods m a n u f a c t u r i n g . ) I t i s f u r t h e r e s t i m a t e d ';?at due t o t h e pay scales of t h e s e f a c i l i t i e s t h e y c o n t r i b u t e a b o u t 70 p e r c e n t of 211 wages and s a l a r i e s p a i d i n m a n u f a c t u r i n g i n t h e county and a b o u t 25 p e r c e n t o f all non-I governmental ( s t a t e / l o c a l and f e d e r a l ) wages and s a l a r y income i n t h e county..

From 1975-1982 t h e t o t a l non-durable goods m a n u f a c t u r i n g s e c t o r h a s only t

gained 80 j o b s , o r a n i n c r e a s e of 5 . 3 p e r c e n t . ( i e . food and k i n d e r e d p r o d c c t s and t e x t i l e s and r e l a t e d p r o d u c t s . )

I Indexes of C o n c e n t r a t i o n . Indexes of c o n c e n t r a t i o n ( I C ' s ) a r e a u s e f c l s t a t i s t i c a l t o o l measuring an a r e a ' s s p e c i a l i z a t i o n w i t h i n t h e m a n u f a c t u r i - c s e c t o r . An I C of g r e a t e r t h a n 100 i n d i c a t e s t h a t t h e i n d u s t r y exceeds t h e I 56 I

I

TMLE 111-22 I N D E X OF EHPU)YHP(T AND PAYROLL CONCENTRATION, ALABAMA ('fWlPARISON, LIMES'I'ONL. COIINTY, 1970-1980 T o t a l , A l l Reported Units' 100.0 100.0 LOO. 0 io0.o 1no 100 100 1OLI Agriculture, Forestry, c f i s h e r i e s 320.0 366.6 383.3 175.0 480 214 129 __

Contract Construction 139.4 135:2 96.0 1no.o 55 46 48 34 mufacturing 76.4 71.5 87.1 RO.R 159 153 165 182 Food c K i n d r e d P r o d u c t s 386-t __

Apparel 6 Other T e x t i l e Products 221.3 305.5 215 292 180 125 E l e c t r i c a l Equipment 6 S u p p l i e s 646.1 706.2 539 496 209 116

" O t h e r " a n d -D- Items2 NAP NAP NAP N A I' __ __

Transportation 6 O t h e r P u b l i c U t i l i t i e s 30.1 30.4 25.4 24.4 15 13 20 12 Wholesale Trade 53.8 61.5 57.8 59.1 51 13 62 41 R e t a i l Trade 159.68 LOH , 8 151 . 6 2113.0 109 129 I OH 107 F i n a n c e , I n s u r a n c e , L Real E s t a t e 12.7 79.6 60.0 75.4 45 49 fi3 54 65 63 Services u n c l a s s i f l e d E s tab1i s timen ts 115.1 r7.v 162.3 100.0 124.6 II 5 . 7 149. 5 125.11 71 ?0 52 15 _5 _2 1 F i g u r e s r e p r e s e n t employment c o v e r e d b y the F e d e r a l I n s u r a n c e C o n t r i b u t i o n s A c t (FICA) o n l y . htd for t h e f o l l o w i n g W p e s of employment, c o v e r e d i n w h o l e , o r i n p a r t by t h e S o c l a l S e c u r i t y Program, are e x c l u d e d f r o m the b a s i c t a b u l a t i o n s o f this table - Government e m p l o y e e s , s e l f - e m p l o y e d p e r s o n s , farm w o r k e r s . a n d d o m e s t i c service w o r k e r s r e p o r t e d s e p a r a t e l y . A l s o . R a i l r o a d employment s u b j e c t t o t h e R a i l r o a d R e t i r e m e n t A C ~a r e n o t included.

I n c l u d e s a l l i t e m s n o t s p e c i f i c a l l y e n u m e r a t e d a n d n o t e n u m e r a t e d b e c a u s e of D i s c l o s u r e r u l e s . C a t e g o r y i s n o t c o m p a r a b l e or t h e U . S . and C o u n t i e s i n some c a s e s b e c a u s e o f o v e r a l l d i f f e r e n c e s i n employment d i s t r i b u t i o n p a t t e r n s a t t h e t w o l e v e l s .

' ICE E I n d e x o f Employment C o n c e n t r a t i o n ICE = \ T o t a l Employment L i m e s t o n e

\ T o t a l Employment V.S.A.

100

' ICP = I n d e x o f P a y r o l l C o n c e n t r a t i o n Icp I \

\

o f T o t a l P a y r o l l s Limestone o f T o t a l P a y r o l l s U.S.A.

x 100 0 = F i g u r e s n o t a v a i l a b l e d u e to d i s c l o s u r e of i n d i v i d u a l s t a t i s t i c s .

N A P

• C a t e g o r y ilot a p p l i c a b l e to c a l c u l a t l o n s .

SOUFCCE: 0.S. n u r c a u o f t h e C e n s u s , County B u s i n e s s P a t t e r n s , 1 9 7 0 . l c 1 7 3 , 1 9 7 7 and 1980 U.S. Government P r i n t i n g O f f i c e , W a s h i n g t o n , D . C . , 1 9 7 1 , 1 ' ) l . l . lw'l, l~ltl.'

TABLE 111-23 INDEX OF W L O Y - M D PAYROLL. CQICDTrXATIrX, USA COWPARISON, LIHESTOHE CWNTY, 1970-1980 1970 1973 1977 1980 1 3 I d T 3 I n 4 Ta ICP6 = h3 *CP4 CE CP CE Ibt.1, A l l Reported U n i t s 100.0 100 100 100 100 A g r i c u l t u r e , ?orestry, L Fisheries 100.0 533.3 100.0 550.0 100.0 575.0 750.0 584 288 159 -

Contract Conrtruction 164.2 141.1 118.0 108.2 75 58 60 40 103.1 91.6 180 170 202 207 KMUf A C t U rood L Nndred P r o d u c t s 88.1 79.9

- - 459 --

A p p a r e l C Other T e x t i l e P r o d u c t s 543.5 687.5 731 7 34 553 466 Llactrical Z q u i p e n t L Supplies 254.5 289.7 - 264 135 100 Other a n d -& Iters2 - NAP NAP NAP NAP 295 h w p o r t a t i o n L Other P u b l i c u t i l i t i e s 28.3 29.2 22.7 23.0 14 12 20 13 V h o l e s a l a Trade 50.0 55.1 53.6 54.1 37 45 60 37 kbil T r a d e 149.7 203.9 142.6 204.6 102 131 100 98 cn 64.8 31 41 50 42 co ~irunca,I n a u r a n a , L Peal Est.ta 60.9 70.1 48.5 128.4 99.5 113.2 50 48 40 33 Services mclassified Ist.bliahmenta 109.2 87.5 100.0 100.0 125.0 92 88 83 --

1 F i g u r e s r e p r e s e n t uplo-t c o v e r a d by the rederr1 I n a u r a n c e C o n U i b u t i o r u A c t (FICA) o n l y . bta for t h a f o l l w i r q t r p . s of r p l v n t , anud In w h o l * , or i n part by t h e S o c i a l S e c u r i t y Program, ara e x c l u d e d f r a t h e b s l c t r h r l a t i o n s of this t a b l a - ma-nt rp1-e.. salf-aplqd psrmons, farm uorkers, a n d d m s t i c service workers r e p o r t a d s e p a r a t e l y . A l s o , m i l r o d a p l o y a n t subject to t h a lullrod htirrunt A c t a r m aot Included.

in -

I n c l u d e s a 1 1 1- n o t s p z c i f l u l l y e n r a e r a t e d and not e n r r e r a t e d k a u s a of D i . c l o n r r e rule..

U s e s b e c a u s e o f o v e r a l l d i f f e r e n c e s I n e q l o y w n t d i s t r L b u t $ o n p t t e m s a t t h e tvo level..

Category is not oolplrable f o r t h a O.S. and Carntia CP - I n d e x of P a y r o l l C o n c e n t r a t i o n 1- t of T o t a l P a y r p l l s L h e s t o n e t O f r0t.l P a y r o l l s U . S . A .

,00 D

N W

-- r i g u r e s n o t a v a i l a b l e due to d i s c l o s u r e of I n d i v i d u a l st.tistlcs.

C a t w o r y not a p p l l c a b l e t~ U l c u l a t i o M . 1 SOUICE: U.S. Bureau o f t h e C e n a u s , County BumInesa P l t t e r n s , 1970, 1 9 7 4 , 1 9 7 7 , and 1980 U.S. C o v e r w e n t P r l n t i n g O f f i c e , Y a a h l n q t o n , D.C., 1911, 1 9 7 4 , 1979, 1982

I I national average in employment, or payroll, an IC of less than 100 indicates the industry to be underdeveloped relative to the industry's position relative I to the state or national economy.

Limestone County's specialization (within the non-durable manufacturing I category) in the food, textile, and apparel groups is firmly established by using Location Quotients. The food and kindred group, made up primarily of poultry producers, had an IC (employment/U.S. based) of 459 in 1980, down slightly from its index of 493 in 1970, showing that Limestone County, during I that ten-year period, was decreasing its food and kindred employment in rela-tion to the nation's employment in this category. However, employment depen-dence/concentration in this sector is still four times the national average I and the state index of 386.

The combined textiles and apparels groups showed an overall steady trend over the decade, starting with an index of 544 in 1970, peaking at an index of I 737 in 1977 and being back at about 550 by 1980. This was reflective of both nationwide trends and relative advances in durable goods manufacturing employ-ment. With a workforce level of about 700, textiles/apparels are still a major I economic factor in the Limestone County economy.

Due to disclosure rules and the limited size of the manufacturing sector I in Limestone County, no other indexes can be compared. The index for total manufacturing, however, which reflects strongly the impacts of General Motors, Steelcase and Brown Stoveworks shows an enormous growth trend from 88 in 1970 to over double the national average at 202 in 1980.

I Income from Manufacturing--In 1970, the typical annual earnings of a manu-facturing employee in Limestone County was $3,979, the lowest for any of the five I counties in the region. While data on most of the industries represented in the county were withheld because their small numbers present a disclosure pro-blem, it was apparent that the industry mix was comprised heavily of low-wage I low-skill types.

By 1976, the average manufacturing wage and salary earnings had risen to

$6,972, and by 1982, due to the high wage industries outlined previously, the I level was $19,420, almost 15 percent above the statewide average, and exceeding all counties in the TARCOG region. Estimates of manufacturing income excluding the GM and Steelcase facilities, however, show a manufacturing wage level about I 20 percent below the statewide average. For instance, in 1980 the per capita wage in the combined apparel and textiles sector was $6,630 in Limestone County and averaged $9,111 statewide. Electrical equipment and supplies averaged 1 $10,458 in wages and salaries in Limestone and $12,963 statewide.

Problems and Opportunities--The employment mix of an over-dependence on high-wage, highly volatile/fluctuating employment industries and low-wage manu-1 facturing creates many problems for the county. Limestone may be considered to be a county with a moderate-sized manufacturing base, most industries (excluding GM) are still predominantly low wage in nature and do not promote in the work I force or discourage out-commuting for moderate wage employment.

I 59 I

TABLE 111-24 LIMESTONE COUNTY, 1975 and 1980 PERSONAL INCOME BY MAJOR SOURCES, AMOUNTS AND CHANGES (All figures in $1,000'~)

Percent Percent Change Distribution Item 1975 1980 1975-1980 1975 1980 TOTAL Labor and Proprietors Income by Place of Work 1/

84,811 234,236 176.1 100.0 100.0 BY Type Wage and Salary Disbursements 63 ,433 193 ,834 205.5 74.7 82.7 Other Labor Income 4,246 23 ,460 452.5 5.0 10.0 Proprietors Income 2/ 17 ,132 16,942 -1.1 20.2 7.2 Farm 8,712 4,789 -45.0 10.2 2.0 Nonfarm 2/ 8,420 12 ,153 44.3 9.9 5.1 0

0-l By Industry 84,811 234,236 176.1 100.0 100.0 Farm 10,619 7,802 -26.5 12.5 3.3 Nonfarm 74 ,192 226 ,434 205.2 87.4 96.6 Private 46,945 137,067 191.9 55.3 58.5 Ag. and Other 3/ 284 1 ,488 423.9 .3 .6 Mining 0 0 .o .o .o Construction 5 ,207 6,694 28.5 6.1 2.8 Manufacturing 16,587 08,212 431.8 19.5 31.6 Non-Durable Goods 10,586 15 ,778 49.0 12.4 6.7 Durable Goods 6,001 72,434 107 .0 1-, 7.0 30.9 Transportation and Public Utilities 1,270 2 ,493 96.2 1.4 1.0 Wholesale Trade 3,211 5,934 84.8 3.7 2.5 Retail Trade 10,750 15,833 47.2 12.6 6.7 Finance, Insurance, and Real Estate 1,392 3,741 168.7 1.6 1.5 Services 8,244 12,672 53.7 9.7 5.4 Government and Government Enterprises 27 ,247 89,367 227.9 32.1 38.1 Federal, Civilian 11,551 60,509 423.8 13.6 25.8 Federal, Military 679 868 27.8 .8 .3 I

State and Local 15,017 27 ,990 86.3 17.7 11.9 1

I I

TABLE 111-25 I PERSONAL INCOME BY MAJOR SOURCES OF EMPLOYMENT SECTOR PERCENT OF TOTAL PERSONAL WAGE AND SALARY INCOME AND PERCENT CHANGE I 1975-1980, LIMESTONE COUNTY, ALABAMA, AND THE USA I 1975-80 1 9 75 1980 I Manufacturing L i m estone 431.8 19.5 37.6 I

Alabama 80.4 26.9 28.7 USA 72.9 25.2 25.9 Wholesale Trade I Limestone Alabama USA 84.8 69.3 73.9 3.7 6.1 6.6 2.5 6.2 6.9 I Retail Trade L i m e stone 47.2 12.6 6.7 Alabama 58.2 9.7 9.1 I USA 59.0 10.2 9.6 Services I L i m e s tone Alabama USA 53.7 76.4 82.8 9.7 12.8 16.2 5.4 13.4 17.6 1 Federal G o v t .

Limestone 423.8 13.6 25.8 Alabama 48.6 7.2 6.3 I USA 44.9 4.3 3.7 S t a t e and L o c a l

-I Government L i m e stone Alabama 86.3 79.8 17.7 11.2 11.9 11.9 1 USA A q r i c u lt u re 55.1 11.9 10.9 L i m e st o n e -26.5 12.5 3.3 I Alabama USA

-21.8

-3.3 3.5 3.1 1.6 1.8 I NOTE: A l l f i g u r e s r e f e r t o t o t a l income by p l a c e of work i n L i m e s t o n e C o u n t y I

SOURCE: U.S. B u r e a u of E c o n o m i c A n a l y s i s , 1 9 6 2 .

61 1

TABLE 111-26 LIMESTONE COUNTY RNU Tllk; STATE; O F A I A B A M A COVEI(El> EMPLOYMENT

__- A N D WAGES' BY INDUSTRY DIVISION, 19?6->-?

(1, lilll 7 , .1 $1'J 5;Ni 1;. 721 7,5(111 9 , 1. I 1 7,394 cJ ,74 L

__ ___ ______~ - ______

• T o t a l number o f ' w o r k e r s a n d w a g e s p a i d tc w o r k e r s 111 firms c o v c r c d by t h e Unemploymellt c o m p c n s a t i o r l a w (E.G.--establishments e m p l o y i n g 4 o r more workers)

• I n c l u d e s A g r i c u l t u r e . F o r e s t r y a n d F l s h e r l c s and m i n l n q a n d ~ , l u n r r y l n q ( X ) f i r J u r c s n o t l i s t e d t o a v o i d d i s l o s u r e .

X F i g u r e s i n c l u d e d i n " A l l o t h e r " t o avold . i i s r - l u s u r i 7 .

SOURCE: Alabama i ) ~ p a r t m e n to f I n d u s t r i a l ~ ~ I J L ~R eOs e a~r c~h , ~ a n~ d , S t a t i s t i c s Division, 1 9 7 7 - 1 9 8 3 .

I I TABLE 111-27 I LIMESTONE COUNTY AND THE STATE OF ALABAMA ANNUAL AVERAGE PAYROLL*

PER WORKER As A PERCENTAGE OF THE U.S . ANNUAL AVERAGE PAYROLL PER WORKER, 1967, 1970, 1973, 1 9 7 4 , AND 1976 I

1967* 1970* 1973* 1976* 1980 I

LIMESTONE I Total, A l l U n i t s Contract Construction Manufacturing 54.4 69.6 41.4 57.0 48.5 51.7 56.5 51.6 50.1 62.3 55.1 55.5 86.5 58.5 89.3 I T r a n s . & Pub. U t i l .

Wholesale T r a d e R e t a i l Trade 63.1 60.4 75.1 59.4 63.6 78.0 57.1 56.4 81.0 67.6 54.2 91.1 55.2 54.3 85.3 Fin. , Ins. & R e a l E s t 71.8 66.9 74.6 77.0 74.2 I Services 67.9 67.1 64.3 56.3 70.8 ALABAMA I Total, A l l Units Contract Construction Manufacturing 83.3 93.9 82.2 83.8 74.5 81.1 84.2 74.1 80.5 87.0 78.6 81.0 87.3 80.9 81.4 I T r a n s . & Pub. U t i l .

Wholesale Trade Retail Trade 83.2 82.3 84.8 85.1 81.2 87.7 87.8 82.0 89.9 89.6 82.3 93.2 90.6 82.0 90.4 Fin., Ins. & R e a l Est. 90.2 89.4 89.6 88.8 87.6 I Services 77.1 81.7 79.9 86.0 86.8 I *Based upon 1st q u a r t e r m u l t i p l e p a y r o l l , n o t t o t a l p a y r o l l s .

I SOURCE: D e r i v e d from: U.S. Bureau o f t h e Census, County B u s i n e s s P a t t e r n s , 1 9 6 7 , 1 9 7 0 ,

1 9 7 3 , 1974, 1 9 7 6 a n d 1980. Alabama, CBP 67-2, - 70-2, - 73-2 and 80-2. Government P r i n t i n g O f f i c e , Washington, D.C., 1968, 1 9 7 1 1 9 7 4 , 1 9 7 7 , 1 9 7 8 , a n d 1 9 8 2 1 TARCOG 8/83 1

I I

I 63 I

I The international nature of the automotive and petro-fuels trade makes local prediction and economic planning for down" cycles difficult, if not impossible.

I Therefore, it is paramount that the county concentrate its efforts on attracting additional moderate skill/payroll industry to the area to stabilize growth and revenue. The county is presently experiencing an economic growth "slump" in the 1 manufacturing sector.

The unemployment rate in Limestone County has reflected nationwide and statewide trends, although the diversity of employment opportunities resulting I

from previous aggressive industrial development program have somewhat insulated the community from rapid upturns and downturns in the unemployment rate. Due to the fact that Limestone County was included in the Huntsville SMSA by 1970, esti-I mates of the county unemployment rates are contrasted to SMSA rate since 1970.

The county unemployment rate in 1970 was 6.0% in contrast to the SMSA's rate of 4.4%. This rate increased in 1975 (mid-decade) following a steady 1970-1974 re- I duction. The national recession affected Limestone to a greater extent that it did the SMSA. The county's 1975 unemployment rate increased to almost lo%, and the SMSA's increased to 7.9%. In 1977 the unemployment rate decreased to 9.1%

and the SMSA decreased to 7.6%. During the 1970-1977 period, the employed labor I

force increased through industrial and commercial expansion, thereby somewhat lessening the impact of nationwide recessionary and unemployment trends. Athens has become the undisputed commercial and industrial center in Limestone County.

I By February of 1983, however, the SMSA rate had risen to 12.9 percent, Limestone County had a rate of 15.8 percent and Athens (the major employment I center) was estimated to have a rate of just over 15 percent. This is reflective of the severe slow-down in the automotive industry and general manufacturing downturns. i In Limestone County, from 1981 to 1982, based upon annual average figures, there was a net county-wide loss of 220 jobs. Manufacturing employment declined by 40 jobs (net) with, the bulk of the nonmanufacturing loss being in the "govern-1 ment" sector (140 jobs lost). These unemployment figures would be more severe if it were not for the fact that an estimated 25 percent of the Limestone County work force commutes to Huntsville (Madison County) and Decatur (Morgan County) which have a more solid manufacturing growth rate.

I It is significant to note, that no new industry has located in Limestone County for the past two years, and that less than 100 jobs have been officially 1

announced from expanding industries for the same 2-year period.

The promising recent developments in manufacturing and the trend toward I

diversification that is most noticeable in the variety of new industries. The fabricated metals and electrical machinery industries were among the new types of industries with relatively high growth rates and at least moderate wage rates that have joined the county's roll of industries in the past few years. Chemi-1 cal, primary metal and instrument manufacturing firms were among the other, though smaller, new acquisitions. While the location of a General Motors plant in south Limestone County is evidence of the trend toward industrial expansion I

in this area, the plant is still to employ 6,000 by the year 2000.

I 64 I

I

While o v e r a l l , despite t h e c u r r e n t r e c e s s i o n , t h e county appears t o be mov-i n g toward a s t r o n g e r and more d i v e r s i f i e d manufacturing b a s e , and i t s e x c e l l e n t t r a n s p o r t a t i o n access, i t s l a r g e number of i n d u s t r i a l s i t e s , t h e abundance of p o w e r and o t h e r r e q u i r e d u t i l i t i e s and t h e l a b o r f o r c e p o t e n t i a l o f f e r advantages few o t h e r areas i n Alabama can p r o v i d e , t h e r e are still problems which can b e attacked locally.

I The l o c a t i o n of t h e S t e e l c a s e f a c i l i t y i n the site ready b u i l d i n g p r e p a r e d by a p r e v i o u s u n s u c c e s s f u l l o c a t i o n e f f o r t p o i n t o u t t h e v a l u e of a s i t e ready s h e l l s t r u c t u r e as an a t t r a c t i n g f o r c e f o r employnent growth. I n a d d i t i o n , t h e c o n c e n t r a t i o n of some e f f o r t on upgrading t h e l o c a l i n d u s t r i a l p a r k s d e s i g n ;

l a n d r e s e r v e s and planned development image would pzobably b e of g r e a t b e n e f i t i n a t t r a c t i n g new i n d u s t r i e s .

Year m.; :oymerr Change From Previous Year I 97c 1,500 + 25.G 1971 1.700 + 13.3 1972 2,100 + 23.5 IY73 2.:oc + 4.8 1974 2.100 + 4,s 1975 2.:00 - 8.7 1976 I , 350 + 45.2 1977 1.-40 + La.4 1978 4.250 + 13.E 1979 4,iSO + 10.1 1980 4.46C - 4.i 1981 4.560 + 2.2 1982 4, 540 - .4 l"AL CHANGE 1970-1982 - 202.7\

SOURCE: A l a b a m a Employment Service, 1983 65

NON-MANUFACTURING Non-manufacturing is that segment of the economy generally referred to as the service/trades sector. Traditionally, growth in the non-manufacturing sector is dependent upon both the growth and development of the manufacturing segment of the economy, and the proximity to other large regional trade centers.

Duriing the 1970-1980 period, non-manufacturing employment in Limestone County increased by 1,310 workers, or about 14 percent. Nationally, relative to the manufacturing sector, the non-manufacturing sector is growing at a faster rate in terms of.employment and wages, and has a larger proportion of non-supervisory and production workers. In terms of sensitivity to cyclical fluctuations of the national business cycle, only the construction component is markedly sensi-tive, and none are highly sensitive. Most are either highly or markedly insen-sitive, indicating that an economy heavy in non-manufacturing is one which is better able to weather the ups and downs of the nation. In Limestone County, the growth of manufacturing employment and regional market patterns have caused non-manufacturing employment to be somewhat retarded in growth and lag both state and national averages as to both employment and payrolls/wages and salary levels.

Construction--Generally, the growth of the construction industry is closely but not completely tied to the growth of the area in which it is located.

Employment in the non government related construction industry remained al-most constant at a level of about 400 workers from 1970 ;o 1980. As a percent of total non-manufacturing employment in the county, it Seclined from 7.8 percent in 1970 to 5.1 percent in 1980.

Per capita worker wages and salaries in construction in Limestone County in 1982 averaged $11,051; this was about 35 percent below t h e state-wide aver-age construction wage of $16,966.

Transportation, Communication, and Utilities--Employnent in the transporta-tion, communications and utility industry has also chanqed ve?? little during the 1970-1980 period. A s a percent of total non-manufacturing employment, it increased slightly from 1.5 percent in 1970 to 1.7 percent in 1980, but the actual worker increase was only 40 persons as with the o c h e r non-manufacturing sectors, average wages were lower than the state-wide average of $21,019 by almost $7,10O--or almost 34 percent. Part of this dLszresanc:~ can be accounted for by the fact that the high pay scale government e x ~ 1 c in ~ ~utilities

~ ~ ~ t at Brown's Ferry is not averaged into this sector.

Government--The various combined levels of governnlrn~--f2deral, state, and local--are still (1980) the largest sector employers in lineszone County, em-ploying over 37 percent of the total civilian work force. 3uring the 1975 to 1982 period, approximately 830 workers were added to t ? ? e cotal government pay-rolls in Limestone County. Of these, 690 (83 percent) were state and local em-ployees.

The major reason for the large fluctuations in Cavernment employment over the 1970-82 period was the construction and subsequent modification and update 66

I c I of the nuclear power plant at Brown's Ferry by the Tennessee Valley Authority.

Included in the 4,200 employees in 1970 were approximately 3,100 workers at the I Brown's Ferry site. Although the majority of these workers were construction workers, they are paid by the Federal government; therefore, they were classi-fied as government rather than construction workers. Presently, there are still about 2,000 workers employed at Brown's Ferry (1982) and t h e number may fluctuate I by 300-400 at any given time w i a project requirements.

The state and local average "government" payroll in Limestone County in 1982 I was $12,204, compared with a statewide average of 513,043. For Federal government civilian employment in 1981, the average Limestone County payroll was about .

$24,000, compared with a statewide average of just under $22,000. Ths federal I payroll figure for Limestone County reflected the high construction scale wages at Brown's Ferry, rather than the predominance of General Schedule (GS) wages statewide.

1 Finance, Insurance, and Real Estate (FIRE)--The finance, insurance, and real estate industry normally accounts for a very small portion of the total enployment in any locality. This is especially true in Limestone County where both the rural I nature of the county and the proximity to both regional markets (Huntsville a d Decatur) and national markets (Nashville) have kept employment in this sector low.

I While total employment in the FIRE sector has increased by 120 percent between 1970 and 1980; this only represented an actual job increase of 120 jobs over the decade. Much of this increase can be traced to the overall transition 1 in the banking and finance industry statewide and the opening of new BANKCOLD Branch offices in the Athens area to vie f o r the high salary deposits from tke General Motors Plant.

1 Average wages in the Limestone County FIRE sector were $12,871 in 1982, about 16 percent below the statewide average of $15,403.

I TRADE The trade sector of the economy is comprised of two major activities--whole-P sale and retail. The level of trade and service activity in Athens and Limestone County is influenced by several factors, two of the most important still bein?

a low per capita income and strong competition from Huntsville and Decatur, which 1 draw many dollars of trade away from Athens.

Retail Trade--Retail trade in Limestone County is still "shadowed" by tlie 1 proximity of both Huntsville and Decatur as major regional marketing centers.

The growth rate for retail sales in Limestone has shown significant effort at "catch-up" growth during the past six years.

I Table 111-29 shows the total retail sales bv major sector in Limestone Councy from 1976 through 1982. The growth rate for total sales from 1976-71 was 35.5 percent which was significantly above the state average rate of 25.2 percent.

I 1 67 R

TABLE 111-29 TOTAL RETAIL SALES, LIMESTONE COUNTY 1976-82

( F i g u r e s i n $1,000'~)

DESCRIPTION 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 Food 22 ,783 24 ,007 27,066 28,071 31,423 32 ,3 4 1 36,812 G e n ' l S t o r e s w/Food and Gas 2 ,945 3,147 3,436 4 ,372 3,064 3,922 4 ,799 Gen'l Merchandise 6,940 5 ,985 4 ,970 4 ,786 5 ,1 3 8 5 ,243 5,066 Apparel 2,519 2,820 3,082 3 ,8 6 7 3,751 4 ,533 5 ,076 F u r n i t u r e , F u r n i s h i n g s , etc. 1,907 2,257 2 ,6 3 8 2,664 2 ,579 2,870 2 ,8 6 6 Automotive 19,746 21,481 25 ,518 22 ,574 1 8 ,6 7 0 2 1 ,097 23,692 G a s o l i n e Service S t a t i o n s 6,648 7,682 9 ,1 0 1 1 4 ,455 1 8 ,930 18,455 14,455 Lumber a n d B u i l d i n g M a t ' s 2,179 2,909 5 ,1 0 8 4 ,318 7 ,563 9,992 8,674 Hardware a n d Farm Impl's 5,588 7,921 9,051 11,5 3 0 8 ,014 4 ,363 4 ,074 E a t i n g Places 4,388 4 ,782 5,657 5 ,915 5,493 4,617 4,204 Drug S t o r e s 1,603 1,983 2,805 3 ,095 3,413 3 ,695 4 ,1 4 6 A l l Other Retail 1 2 ,1 8 3 10,845 12 ,9 7 9 1 4 ,683 13,007 13,447 11,083 Total Sales a t R e t a i l 89 ,428 95 ,819 111,4 1 1 120,330 1 2 1,045 124 I 576 1 2 4 ,947 N o n r e t a i l and U n c l a s s i f i e d 1 2 ,3 0 1 1 5 ,889 1 7 ,538 1 7 ,5 5 1 20,270 22,416 22 ,8 5 0 Total A l l Sales a t Retail 1 0 1 ,7 3 0 111,708 120,949 137,881 1 4 1,315 1 4 6 ,992 147,797

• SOURCE: C e n t e r for B u s i n e s s a n d Economic R e s e a r c h , The U n i v e r s i t y of Alabama, 1977-84

From 1979-82, however, even though total sales increased an additional 7.2 per-cent retail growth fell behind significantly behind the statewide averaqe in-crease of 13.5 percent.

U.S. Census retail sales growth trends, while comparable at the county level for some indexes such as total sales, payrolls and employment force growth are not a representative measure for Limestone County-for two reasons: (1) the last census data for retail trade published is 1977 (1982 is not in print) which does not reflect recent slow-down trends in the county; (2) t3e national "market" average figures do not reflect the actual Alabama market conditions in which Limestone County is located in terms of both competing spheres of influence and prevailing wage and consumption patterns. For this reason, all data in this section will be based primarily upon statewide averages rather than any national indexes.

Athens, the county seat, is the dominant retail force in Limestone County.

With a 1980 population of 14,558 it is the only community with more t h a n 1,000 people and is centrally located within the county. In 1977 two out of 2ve-q three retail establishments were located in Athens and it accounted for greater than 80 percent of the county's retail sales and almost 90 percent of izs ie-tail payroll.

Table 111-30 which shows the per capita retail sales in Lirneszane C O U I I ' L ~ ,

TARCOG, and Alabama points out the significance of regional rnaricets ir. develos-ing retail trade. The Limestone total 1981 per capita sales f i g u r e oi 53,195 was only 59.9 percent of the statewide average of $5,333; however, ~ V C -Yadiscn County (a strong regional market) with per capita total sales of SF,245 could only come up to 79.6 percent of the state average. This points ouz z:?e fact that both potential market size and development of a sales infrastrJcZzre are important to a retail trade market*.

Total county employment in retail trade and wholesale trade cm3ir.edI ros2 by 600 persons from 1,300 in 1970, to 1,900 in 1980. This 46.2 _cercer.rqrowt:?

was slightly above the state average by 1982 an additional 100 wor:cers -4ere ez.-

ployed in the trades bringing the total to 2,000 workers.

In payrolls and related income characteristics, however, retail trade in Limestone County lags the state (and national) figures significLQtly. The 1952 average wage and salary paid in the combined wholesale and recail zraCss was

$9,627, only about 87 percent of the statewide average of $ l l , c ) 8 C . Ir. relazir-e income terms, total wages and salaries from retail trade grew Cy 4 ; - 2 _=.ercer.t in Limestone County from 1975-1980, compared with growth rates of 5 2 z . E 53 ~ s r -

cents respectively at the state and national level. While retail ;srxrsted waqe income averaged about 9.3 percent of total income state and i-.atio::cc~, it or.l>-

contributed 6.7 percent of total income countywide in Limestone C o : x z y i n 1383.

This fact reflects both the below average wages and the stronq in_cacz zf n a n u -

facturing on the overall income structure.

• Based upon 1980 Census population figures.

69

TABLE 111-30 TOTAL RETAIL SALES, SALES DISTRIBUTION AND PER CAPITIA SALES, LIMESTONE COUNTY TARCOG, AND A L A B N W , 1 9 0 1 (TOTAL SALES FIGURES IN $1.000'9)

DESCRIPTION LIMESTONE TARCOG ALABAt4A SALES I TOTAL PER CAPITA SALES  % TOTAL PER CAPITA SALES 8 TOTAL PER CAPITA 5 s $

Food 12,341 22.0 $ 703 315,478 20.0 S 763 3,562,106 17.2 5 916 Gen'l Stores w/Food and Gas 3,922 2.7 85 30,799 2.0 14 319,357 1.5 82 Gen'l Merchandise 5,243 3.6 114 58,409 3.7 141 2,188,441 10.5 563 Apparel 4,533 3.1 98 38,423 2.4 93 485,420 2.3 125 1 Furniture, Furnishings, etc. 2,870 2.0 62 45,950 2.9 111 526,266 2.5 135 Automotive 21,097 14.4 459 268,424 17.0 649 2,591,610 12.5 666 Gasoline Service Stations 18,455 12.6 401 85,129 5.4 206 1,181,287 6.7 355 L u m b e r and Euildinq Mat's 9,992 6.8 217 77,898 4.9 188 843,908 4.1 2P 7 I

. llardware and Farm Impl's 4,363 3.0 95 41,241 2.6 100 384,012 1.9 99 0 Eating Places 4,617 3.1 100 98,993 6.3 239 1,035,630 5.0 266 Druq Stores 3,695 2.5 80 26,399 1.7 64 454.906 2.2 117 A11 Other Retail 13,441 9.1 292 232,054 14.7 561 2,442,527 11.8 628

'Total Sales at Retail 124.576 84.H 1708 1,319,273 83.6 3189 16,215,533 78.2 4,168 Nonretail and Unclassified 22,416 15.2 487 259,407 16.4 627 453.047 21.8 116

'Total All Sales at Retail - 146,992 100.0 S3,195 1,578,680 100.0 $3,816 20,746,000 100.0 $5,333 k r cap1 t,) Figut~csl i . ~ s w i11p011 19110 Cctisris I Y ~ Nl a ~ i w r

~ ____..~__~ .~

'!,(~IL CC: ~'CIIII . lot-

~ r u ~ B I I l ~ l ~.rnd

,h ~:wt~cmtr 1k~c.irc11, ' 1 % ~ !htvcrsi t y of Aliil~.iiilrl, 19H?

LIMESTONE COUNTY RETAIL TRADE SALES, PAYROLLS, AND EMPLOYEES, 1963, 1967, 1972 a n d 1977 I

S a l e s 1 ( I n s~,ooo's) 1 1963 1967 1972 1977 B u i l d i n g M a t e r i a l s , Hardware, Garden S u p p l y ,

Farm, Mobile Home Dealers 4 ,746 3,232 6,635 7,679 General M e r c h a n d i s e Group S t o r e s 3 ,085 3,324 5 ,275 D Food S t o r e s 8 ,273 9,112 13,926 26 ,500 A u t o m o t i v e Dealers 8 ,082 9 ,728 13 ,652 21 ,060 Gasoline Service S t a t i o n s 3 ,033 3,447 5,579 8,479 Apparel & Accessory S t o r e s 1 ,663 1,962 3 ,375 5 ,224 F u r n i t u r e , Home F u r n i s h i n g $ a n d Equipment S t o r e s 1,922 1 ,506 2 ,800 4,130 E a t i n g and D r i n k i n g P l a c e s 1 ,238 1 ,119 3,008 D

- 1 1

Drug S t o r e s and P r o p r i e t a r y S t o r e s 890 1 ,231 (D) 3,342 P Miscellaneous Retail S t o r e s 3 ,093 3,162 0 7,436 R e t a i l Trade, T o t a l 37 ,140 38,442 60 ,521 95,457 2 ,998 j ,241 5,423 9,022 Payroll2 ($1,000'~) - Total 1 ,022 1 ,013 1 i 180 1,454 P a i d Qnployees3 1

T o t a l , All E s t a b l i s h m e n t s

• For those Establishments with P a y r o l l 3

F o r E s t a b l i s h m e n t s w i t h P a y r o l l , Week of March 12 f o r 1967, 1972 a n d 1977, a n d t h e week of Nov. 1 5 , 1963 D Withheld t o Avoid D i s c l o s u r e of I n d i v i d u a l F i g u r e s NA = Data n o t a v a i l a b l e SOURCE: U . S . C e n s u s , C e n s u s of R e t a i l T r a d e , Alabama, 1963, 1967, 1972 a n d 1977.

TABLE 111-32 I

RETAIL TRADE AND SELECTED SERVICES DATA LIMESTONE COUNTY AND ALABAMA I

1967, 1972 and 1977 1967 1971 1977 I

9.

Number Index Number Index LIMESTONE COUNTY Number Index I

Retail Trade Retail Sales ($ooo's)

No. of Establishments 38,442 316 100 100 60,521 384 157 122 95,457 360 248 114 I Sales Per Estab. ( $ 0 0 0 ' ~ ) 122 100 158 130 265 218 Sales: Income Ratio ( % )

Selected Services 50.7 50.4 47.9 I

2 ,487 4,664 188 7,093 285 I

Total Receipts ( $ O O o ' S ) 100 No. of Establishments 154 100 223 145 201 131 Receipts/Estab. ( $ o o o ' S ) 16 100 21 130 35 219 Receipts: Income Ratio ( % ) 3.3 3..9 3.6 ALABAMA I Retail Trade Total Sales ( $ 0 0 0 ' ~ )

No. of Establishments 4,120,340 28 ,752 100 100 6,583,615 32,401 160 113 10,704,902 31,582 260 110 I

Sales Per Estab. ( $ 0 0 0 ' ~ ) 143 100 203 142 339 237 Sales: Income Ratio ( % I 53.1 54.5 51.4 I

Selected Services Total Receipts ( $ 0 0 0 ' ~ )

No. of Establishments Receipts/Estab. ( $ 0 0 0 ' ~ )

573,796 14,782 39 100 100 100 1,119,812 20,380 55 195 138 142 1 695,790 21 ,878 78 296 148 200 I

Receipts: Income Ratio ( % ) 7.4 9.3 8.1 I

NOTE: The following indices, using 1967 as the base year indicate changes in prices nationally:

I 1967 1972 1977 All Consumer Commodities Services Less Rent 100 100 121 136 175 202 I

SOURCES: U.S. Bureau of the Census, Census of Business, 1967:

I Census of Retail Trade, 1972, 1977; Census of Selected Services, 1972, 1977.

U.S. Bureau of the Census, Statistical Abstract of the United States I U . S . Bureau of Economic Analysis, Unpublished Data from the Regional Economics Information System.

I 72 I

I

TABLE 111-33 PER CAPITA WHOLESALE SALES FOR TARCOG COUNTIES THE DISTRICT, THE.STATE, AND THE USA 1958, 1967, 1972, and 1977 PERCENTAGE INCREASE County 1958 1967 1972 1977 1958- 1967 1967-1972 1972-1977 D e K a lb $ 235 $ 425 .$1,043 $1 ,586 +81 +145 +5 2 Jackson 278 440 842 950 +5 8 + 91 +13 L i m e s tone 188 202 591 990 + ? +19 3 +68 4 Madison 494 824 1,273 2,601 +6 7 + 54 +104 W

Marshall 1 ,063 1,768 2,326 3 ,285 +66 + 32 +41 Region 482 812 1 ,277 2,198 +6 8 + 57 +72 Alabama 885 1,305 2 ,141 3,844 +47 + 64 +80 US A 1,902 2,328 3,283 5,772 +2 2 + 41 +76 Source: C e n s u s of D u s i n c s s , 1 3 5 8 , 13GI, 1 3 7 2 , a n d 1977. Who1cs;ilc T r a d e : AIabama, U . S . A . Summary.

I Wholesale Trade--Limestone County's total wholesale sales were the lowest among the five TARCOG counties in both 1972 and 1977. The strong influence of I

large nearby cities (Birmingham and Nashville) 90 to 100 miles away, is felt in this trade activity just as it is in retailing. It should be noted that while Limestone's wholesale trade total sales from 1972 to 1977 rose by 74.7 percent, I

this figure was significantly below both the statewide average of 88.2 percent and the national figure of 84.1 percent. From 1972 to 1977, the actual number of establishments listed as wholesalers dropped from 46 to 44 in the county.

I Relative growth due to income from the wholesale sector has been above average in Limestone County. From 1975-80, total wages and salaries rose by 84.8 percent significantly above both the state and national figures of 69.3 I

and 73.9 percent respectively.

As would be expected from the retail discussion previously, per capita I

wages in wholesaling are below both the state and national averages. In 1980, the Limestone County figure was just over 54 percent of the national average and 67 percent of the statewide figure. In relative terms since 1967, the per I capita worker wage and salary in wholesale trade has gone down (as a percentage of the U.S. average) every year since 1970 (see table 111-33).

Limestone County's position with respect to water, rail, air, and highway I

transportation routes offers an excellent opportunity to tap the large north Alabama wholesale market. This sector of the county's economy should be among the most promising over the other areas in terms of these competitive advantages I

and should be a leading potential source of new jobs over the next several de-cades.

I Service--The service activities of the nonmanufacturing sector of the economy are perhaps the most diversified and include business and repair ser-vices, personal services, amusement, entertainment, recreation services, and hotel, motel, and tourist courts.

I The per capita wage and salary in the services sector is also below the state average in Limestone County. In 1982, county service workers averaged I

$9,402, which was $3,390 or 26.5 percent below the statewide average service wage of $12,792.

The growth of services sector employment from 1970 to 1980 was eratic in I

Limestone County due in part to the reduction of aerospace/defense employment and employees and some service related government contracts. From 19'10-75, service employment actually reduced from 900 to 800 workers, with only a rise I

back to 840 employees by 1980 and 940 by 1982.

The total wages and salaries paid out in the services sector from 1975-80 I

rose by only 53.7 percent in Limestone County, compared with 76.4 percent in Alabama and 82.8 percent nationwide.

EMPLOYMENT PROJECTIONS I

Limestone County, as a part of the Huntsville metropolitan area, is expected to share in its growth. Total employment is expected to rise from 13,800 in 1980 I

to 17,662 in 1990 and then increase to over 21,000 by the year 2000.

I 74 I

I t

I TABLE 111-34 1 PROJECTED EMPLOYMENT FOR LIMESTONE COUNTY 1990-2000 I - 1980 1990 2000 I TOTAL EMPLOYMENT 1 3 ,800 17,662 2 1 ,0 5 4 Manufacturing 4,460 6,759 7,959 1 Durable Goods Lumber Products & F u n .

Primary Metals 2,810 NA NA 3,823 104 84 4 ,540 111 98 I Fabricated Metals & Ord.

Machinery, including Elect.

Transportation Equipment NA 1,500 NA 775 2,195 151 779 2,767 163 Other Durable Goods NA 514 622 I Non-Durable Goods Food & Kindred Products 1,650 900 2,936 1,238 3,419 1,476 Textile & Apparel 7 10 824 878 I Paper, Printing & Pub.

Chemical & Allied Prod.

Petroleum Refining NA NA NA 244 158 NA 312 206 NA 547 I Other Non-Durable Goods Non-Manufacturing NA 8 ,240 47 2 10,314 1 2 ,5 6 0 Construction 420 612 68 3 1 Trans., Corn. & Public Util.

Wholesale & Retail Trade 140 1,900 277 2 ,047 366 2,236 460 Finance, Ins. & Real Est. 220 3 57 1 Service (except H'holds)

Government ,

840 4 690 1,379 5 ,642 2 ,7 8 4 6,031

- Other Non-Agricultural I All Agricultural 1,100 589 53 5 I SOURCE: Industrial Land Potential Study (for DeKalb, Jackson, Li3estoner Madison, and Marshall Counties) TARCOG, June, 1 9 7 6 ( R e v i c e , 1 9 8 3 . )

1 1

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I As Limestone County continues to become more urban in nature, the type of employment should reflect this change. The proportion of agricultural workers I

will continue to decrease while the percentage of blue and white collar workers will increase. (See Table 111-34)

I POLICIES The future do%s not always conform to the trends of the past, and there is good evidence that the growth trend will increase in Limestone County. The two I

basic policy questions facing the county are: How much growth should be pro-vided for, and where should it take place? An additional question that is in-evitably involved in an attempt to answer these questions is: To what extent I can Limestone County chart its own course in the area of future population growth.

The question of population growth in Limestone County relates far more to I

I human values associated with quality of life than to the physical availability of space. Less than 10 percent of Limestone County's land area is developed at the present time. If the entire land area of the county were developed at a density comparable to the average density of the developed portions of the City of Athens, the County would contain more than 1,750,000 people. However, there would be no agricultural lands, no wetlands or wooded wildlife areas, and I relatively little open space recreational use. The effects of such development on water quality, air quality, social organization, etc. are impossible to quantify at this point in time, although parallels could be drawn with urban areas that currently contain more than 1,750,000people. Growth policy for Limestone County I

relates to how much growth is considered desirable by residents and to popula-tion pressures placed upon the county by migration and internal expansion, not to the amount of space that is immediately available.

I The following policies have been adopted by the Limestone County Rural De-velopment Committee: I

1. Provide for moderate population growth at a steady level somewhat above the growth rate of the 1970's. I Current population projections for Limestone County in the year 2000 pro-ject a population of 65,000. It is suggesteci that Limestone County use this projection as a guide for long-range 2lmning and that estimates of I

current population be made in order to monitor population growth per-2.

formance .

Encourage a greater proportion of future population growth to occur in the I

3.

cities and towns of the county.

Assist the smaller cities and towns in assessing their growth potential and I

attracting additional population and development.

4. Permit local variation in growth policy based upon local potential and pre- I ferences where such variations would support major county objectives and promote inclusiveness.

I I

76 I

I I 5. Prevent the institution of policies or practices within the county that exclude people from living or working in any community on the basis of I race, sex, national origin, income level or religious affiliation.

6. Utilize the physical distribution and arrangement of land uses as one 1 -

method for overcoming and preventing the spatial segregation of various population groups.

I 1

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I I 77 I

I CHAPTER -4 .: I

. HOUSING I I

The Congress o f t h e United S t a t e s e s t a b l i s h e d a n a t i o n a l g o a l i n t h e Hous-i n g A c t of 1949 c a l l i n g f o r "a d e c e n t house and s u i t a b l e l i v i n g environment f o r I

e v e r y American f a m i l y . " T h i s g o a l w a s reaffirmed by t h e Housing A c t s of 1954, 1968, and 1970. The Housing and Community Development A c t of 1977 h a s been t h e l a t e s t r e a f f i r m a t i o n o f t h i s 30-year o l d C o n g r e s s i o n a l g o a l .

I Limestone County a n d , i n p a r t i c u l a r , t h e r u r a l a r e a s of Limestone County p r e s e n t housing c o n d i t i o n s t h a t do n o t i n d i c a t e s a t i s f a c t o r y p r o g r e s s towards meeting t h i s n a t i o n a l g o a l . Seventeen p e r c e n t of u n i n c o r p o r a t e d Limestone I

County's r e s i d e n t i a l s t r u c t u r e s e x h i b i t e i t h e r needs f o r c o s t l y major r e p a i r s o r a r e d i l a p i d a t e d beyond r e p a i r . T h i s p e r c e n t a g e f a r exceeds t h e N a t i o n a l p e r c e n t a g e of under t e n p e r c e n t . I n o r d e r f o r Limestone Coaqty t o d e v e l o p a I

program w i t h t h e p u r p o s e o f implementing t h e n a t i o n a l housinq g o a l and improv-i n g l o c a l housing c o n d i t i o n s , t h e f o l l o w i n g housing element was p r e p a r e d .

I T h i s element w i l l a n a l y z e t h e p r e s e n t and p r o j e c t e d h o u s i n g demand f o r Limestone County, p a r t i c u l a r l y f o r t h e u n i n c o r p o r a t e d zrea of Limestone County.

I n a d d i t i o n , t h e p r e s e n t c o n d i t i o n of h o u s i n g , t h e c u r r e n t p r o b l e n s a s s o c i a t e d w i t h h o u s i n g , t h e o b s t a c l e s t o t h e s o l u t i o n of t h e s e p r o b l e n s , e f f o r t s p r e v i o u s l y I

undertaken t o promote improved housing c o n d i t i o n s , and a p r o s o s e d housing pro-gram f o r t h e meeting of c u r r e n t and f u t u r e housing needs i n Limestone County w i l l be p r e s e n t e d .

I THE. B A C K G R O U N D TO HOUSING I Housing i s a complex s u b j e c t which depends on t h e i n t e - T l a y of many f a c t o r s .

To a l a r g e e x t e n t , t h e housing s i t u a t i o n i s dependent upon t h e o v e r a l l growth and economic c o n d i t i o n s o f t h e County. Among t h e i m p o r t a n t f a c t s t o be con-1 s i d e r e d are a c o n t i n u i n g growth r a t e , expanding cnployment, income d i s p a r i t y between urban and r u r a l areas of t h e c o u n t y , t h e s p o r a d i c n a t u r e of housing con-s t r u c t i o n , a g r a d u a l b u t d i s c e r n a b l e s h i f t f r o m s i n g l e - f a m i l y towards m u l t i -

I f a m i l y c o n s t r u c t i o n p a r t i c u l a r l y i n t h e immediate Athens a r e a , c o n t i n u i n g home ownership t r e n d s i n s i n g l e - f a m i l y h o u s i n g , and i n c r e a s i n g l y r a p i d l a n d u s e change i n developing areas t h a t w e r e predominantly r u r a l i n n a t u r e . I POPULATION G R O W T H Limestone County h a s w i t n e s s e d a moderate, b u t s t e a d y i n c r e a s e i n popula-I t i o n growth s i n c e 1960. The 1960 p o p u l a t i o n of 3 6 , 5 1 3 i n c r e a s e d 5,186 p e o p l e t o 41,699 i n 1970, and t h i s p o p u l a t i o n i n c r e a s e d 4 , 3 0 6 p e o p l e t o 46,005 i n 1980, t h e most r e c e n t d e c e n n i a l census c o u n t . iz i s p r o j e c t e d t h a t Limestone I

I 78 I

County w i l l i n c r e a s e by 4,395 p e o p l e by 1990, and have a 1990 p o p u l a t i o n of 50,400. T h i s growth i n p o p u l a t i o n o v e r t h e n e x t t e n y e a r s i s c o n s i d e r e d t o b e a c o n t i n u a t i o n of t h e c u r r e n t moderate, a l b e i t s t e a d y growth e x h i b i t e d o v e r t h e p r e v i o u s twenty y e a r s . Between 1990 and t h e y e a r 2000, p o p u l a t i o n growth is e x p e c t e d t o a c c e l e r a t e , and t h e p o p u l a t i o n w i l l i n c r e a s e by 1 4 , 6 0 0 t o 65,000.

Limestone Countys a c q u i s i t i o n o f new i n d u s t r i a l development ( i n c l u d i n g l i m i t e d high-technology development i n e a s t e r n / s o u t h e a s t e r n Limestone County) i s pro-j e c t e d t o assist t h i s t r e n d i n a c c e l e r a t e d p o p u l a t i o n growth.

The i m p l i c a t i o n s f o r housing a r e clear. I n t o t a l , Limestone County must prepare f o r a housing u n i t i n c r e a s e a d e q u a t e t o support a n a l m o s t 50 p e r c e n t i n c r e a s e i n t h e number of p e r s o n s r e s i d i n g i n t h e c o u n t y i n 1980. I n t h e un-i n c o r p o r a t e d area, Limestone County must prepare f o r t h e p r o v i s i o n o f a d e q u a t e s h e l t e r o r a s i m i l a r 50 p e r c e n t i n c r e a s e i n p o p u l a t i o n . F a i l u r e t o d o so w i l l simply compound t h e p r e s e n t d i f f i c u l t i e s i n r e l i e v i n g t h e b a c k l o g of i n a d e q u a t e housing a l r e a d y p r e s e n t i n u n i n c o r p o r a t e d Limestone County; t h i s h o u s i n g con-s i s t s of s e v e n t e e n of a l l e x i s t i n g r e s i d e n t i a l s t r u c t u r e s .

HOUSING RESOURCES I n o r d e r t o b e t t e r u n d e r s t a n d t h e n a t u r e of t h e Limestone County housing s i t u a t i o n , p a r t i c u l a r l y i n rural Limestone County, f a c t o r s s u c h as housing con-d i t i o n , housing a g e , vacancy i n f o r m a t i o n , h o u s i n g v a l u e , and t h e demand f o r a d d i t i o n a l housing are n e c e s s a r y t o t a k e i n t o a c c o u n t .

HOUSING CONDITION Housing c o n d i t i o n i n f o r m a t i o n p r o v i d e s i n s i g h t i n t o how w e l l e x i s t i n g resi-d e n t i a l s t r u c t u r e s are s e r v i n g as a d e q u a t e s h e l t e r f o r t h e i r i n h a b i t a n t s . T h i s i n f o r m a t i o n can b e s t b e i n v e n t o r i e d through a n exterior s u r v e y of a l l r e s i d e n -

t i a l s t r u c t u r e s i n t h e p l a n n i n g area ( u n i n c o r p o r a t e d Limestone C o u n t y ) . I n ac-cordance w i t h t h i s need, t h e Top of A l a b a m a R e g i o n a l C o u n c i l of Governments (TARCOG) conducted an e x t e r i o r s u r v e y i n t h e summer of 1982. T a b l e E l p r e s e n t s t h e housing c o n d i t i o n s d a t a f o r u n i n c o r p o r a t e d Limestone County. I TABLE I V - 1 HOUSING STRUCTURAL CONDITIONS I

LIMESTONE COUNTY UNINCORPORATED AREA Classification Number P e r c e n t of Total ( C o n v e n t i o n a l S t r u c t u r e s )

I Sound .

I 9,188 66.1 I

Minor Repair 2,362 16.9 Major Repair Dilapidated 1,497 854 10.7 6.3 I

Total 13,901 100.0 (96.9 p e r c e n t o f t o t a l s t r u c t u r e s )

Mobile Homes Total 438 14,339 3.1 100.0 (percent o f t o t a l s t r u c t u r e s )

I SOURCE: TARCOG SlZructural C o n d i t i o n s F i e l d S u r v e y , Summer, 1982. I 79

I TABLE IV-2 I

LIMESTONE COUNTY, CHANGE I N DWELLING UNITS, 1 9 6 0 - 1 9 7 0 - 1 9 8 0 Numerical 1970-1980 Percentage 1970-1980 Numerical Percentage I

Structure 1960 1970 1980 Change Change change a q e One Units 9,737 11,243 13,569 +1,506 +15.4 2,326 +20.7 1

T b v or more M o b i l e Homes 625 145 734 700 1,263 1,521

+

+

109 555 _

+17.4

+382.8 -

529 821

+72.1

+117.3 I

Total 10,507 12.677 16,353 +2,170 + 20.7 3,676 +29.0 SOURCE: U.S. C e n s u s of Housing, 1 9 6 0 , 1 9 7 0 , 1 9 8 0 I

I TABLE Iv-3 I

TARCOC HOUSING TRENDS, TOTAL UNITS 1 9 7 0 - 1 9 8 0 CENSUS I

AREA 1970 1980 CHRNGE 1970-80 NUMBER PE3EXI I DeKalb C o u n t y J a c k s o n County Limestone County 14,729 12,966 12,677 20,888 19,620 16.497 6,159 6.654 3,820 41.8 51.3 30.1 I

Ardmore 287 402 115 40.1 Athens Elkmont Lester 4,563 135 25 5,598 171 40 1,035 36 15 22.7 25.7 60.0 I

Mooresville R u r a l Area' Madison County 7,636 56,826 31 28 10.258 71,123

-3 2,622 14,297

-9.7 34.3 i5.2 1

M a r s h a l l County 18,555 26,669 8,114 43.7 TARCCG R e g i o n Alabama U.S.A.

115,753 1,120,239 68,704,320 154,797 1,462,738 88,277,345 39,044 342,499 19,573,025 33.7 30.9 28.5 I

• U n i n c o r p o r a t e d p o r t l o n of c o u n t y .

SOURCE: U.S. CENSUS, 1 9 7 0 , 1 9 8 0 .

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TABLE IV-4 HOUSING

SUMMARY

1 9 8 0 TARCOC REGION LIMESTONE Total "RUrdl" DeKdlb Jackson Limestone Athens Limestone Mddison Marshall TARCM; Aldbdm Families 15,471 14,616 12,690 4,043 8.647 52,620 18,902 114,299 1 , 0 3 8 . aai Persons 53,658 51,407 46,005 14,558 31,447 196,966 65,622 413.658 3.8%. 888 liouseholds 19,241 17,689 15,858 5,287 10,571 67,082 23.489 142,865 1,341,856 Total Units 20,888 19,620 16,497 5,598 10,899 71,123 26,669 154,797 1,467,374 Y e a r Round 20,620 19,320 16,358 5,597 10.761 71,040 25,716 153,049 1,450,011 Occupied U n i t s 19,247 17,689 15,358 5,287 10,071 67.082 23,489 142,865 1,341,856 hmer TOtd1 15,010 13,200 11,321 3,406 7,915 4 4 , 800 17,604 101,935 941,219 i Occupied 78.0 74.6 73. I) 65.4 78.6 66.8 74.9 71.4 70.1 Renter T o t a l 4.23? 4.489 4,087 1.881 2,156 22,282 5,885 40,930 400,637 1 Occupied 22.0 25.4 26. 3 34.6 21.4 33.2 25.1 28.6 29.9

- S . Census Of POpuldCiOn a n d H o u s i n g . 1980 - Summary T a p e F i l e 3A 1 9 8 2 TABLE IV-5 POPULATION HOUSING UNITS AND PERSONS PER HOUSEHOLD, 1 9 7 0 - 1 9 8 0 1970-1980 Per: it Chanqe P e r s o n s P e r Household -

T o t a l Housing Number Change 1970-80 Total Population Units 1970 1980 No. Percent kKdlb 27.8 41.8 3.1095 2.7879 -.3216 -10.34t Jackson 31.1 51. 3 3.2630 2.9061 -. 3 5 6 9 -10.34%

Limestone 10.3 30.1 3.4634 2.9955 -.4679 -13.51\

Xadison 5.5 25.2 3.5150 2.9362 -.5 7 8 8 -16.47%

Yarshdll 21.0 43.7 3.1682 2.7937 -.3745 -11.82%

TARCOG 13.8 33.7 3.3752 2,8954 -.4798 -14.221 A 1abdmd 12.9 30.9 3.2526 2.9008 -. 352 -10.816 SOURCE: U.S. C e n s u s , 1 9 7 0 , 1980.

81

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TABLE IV-6 OCCUPIED HOUSING UNITS BY NUMBER AND PERCENTAGE DISTRIBUTION BY TENURE BY JURISDICTION, 1980 I

~~

Tctal

~~

Limestone I' R u r a 1"

~~ ~

I DeKalb Jackson Limestone Athens Llmestone Madison Marshall TARCOG Alasa-n NUMBER

- I

?eta! ilnits 19,247 17,689 15.350 5.287 10,071 67,082 23,489 142.865 i.241.856 I

?"',,.?r i5,oio 13,200 11,321 3,406 7,915 44,800 17,604 101.935 34 1,219

?.enter 4,237 4,489 4,037 1.881 2,156 22,282 5,885 40,930 43C.637 PERCENTAGE Total 100.0 100.0 1on.o 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 ion. o 1

120.3 Wner 78.0 74.6 73.7 65.4 78.6 66.8 74.9 71.4 io.1

?.enter 22.0 25.4 26. 3 34.6 21.4 33.2 25.1 28.6 29.9 T o t a l s may n o t a d d d u e t o r o u n d i n g .

53URCE: U.S. C e n s u s o f P o p u l a t i o n a n d H o u s i n g , 1980. Summary T a p e F i l e 1 A . . 1982 I

I i

I TABLE IV-7 I

TARCOG REGION HOUSEHOLD DISTRIBUTION BY RACE AND TENURE, 1980 I

1 LIMESTONE Total "Rural" DeKalb Jackson Limestone Athens Limestone Madison Marshal? ?XR@X X13;a=a kiouseholds T o t a l 19,247 17,689 15,358 5,287 10,571 67,082 23,489 142, E65 1,3;?.556 0 White 3'2ner Renter

?!inorirL' 18,893 14,801 4,092 3 54 16,933 12,697 4,236 756 13,504 10,067 3,437 1,854 4,547 2,923 1,624 74 0 8,957 7,144 1,813 1,114 55,384 38,859 16,525 11,698 23,135 17,414 5,721 354 127,849 93.838 34,011 15.016

1. :<C, 247 771.<62 ZE2.579 l21.509 I

h e r 209 503 1,254 483 771 5,941 190 8.C97 L5?.Y5?

?.enter 145 253 600 257 34 3 5,757 164 6.919 II.l.756 Black p l u s a l l o t h e r m i n o r i t y g r o u p s sO!;RCE: U. S . C e n s u s o f P o p u l a t i o n a n d H o u s i n g , 1980 Summary T a p e F i l e 3 A . 1982. 1 I

82 I

i

TABLE I V - 8 LIMESTONE COUNTY: OCCUPIED HOUSING UNITS CONDITIOIU'S Ei' AGE, P!,CE, AND FAMILY S I Z E S'i'ATUS, 1900 CENSUS Total U n i t s Percentage Distribution by C a t e g o r y Total Renter: Total 4 , G37 1 0 0 - 00 26.3 Elderly I, 007 24.9 6.6 Negro 560 1 3 -87 3.6 Gwner: Total 11,321 1 0 0 . GO 73.7 Elderly 2,903 25.6 18.9 Negro 1,525 11.06 8.2 Total: Total 15,358 LGO. 00 100.0 Elderly 3,910 25.5 25.5 Negro 1,el2 11.83 11.6 Renter: T o t a l H 'h o l d s 4,037 100.00 2G. 3 1-4 pers H ' h o l d s 3,375 8 2 . GO 22.0 5+ pers H ' h o l d s 661 15.43 4.3 Owner: Total H'holds 11.321 1oil.00 73.7 1-4 p e r s H ' h o l d s 9.634 85-10 62.7 5+ pers H ' h o l d s 1,687 14.90 11.0 Total: T o t a l H'holds 15,358 100.00 100.0 1-4 p e r s H ' h o l d s 13,009 84.71 84.7 5+ p e r s H ' h o l d s 2,349 15.29 15.3 T o t a l s May N o t A d d Due t o Rounding SOURCE: U.S. C e n s u s 1 9 8 0 and TARCOG S t a f f C a l c u l a t i o n s , 1982 83

The classifications of condition as utilized in the field survey are pre-sently as follows:

1. Sound - housing obviously needing only present maintenance in order to maintain a high standard of livability.

2. Minor Repair - housing needing conservation, i.e., some new shingling, electrical work, and other minor repairs to maintain quality livability.

3. Major Repair - housing needing rehabilitation, i.e., re-roofing (as opposed to single repairs) and new plumbing systems, joists, tuck pointing, and electrical systems in order to remove substandard features.

4. Dilapidated - housing obviously too deteriorated to be worthy of rehabili-tation costs. This situation exists where the cost of a new home would probably be below the cost of extensive rehabilitation efforts.

Note: Mobile homes, due to their factory-site manufacturing characteris-tics were not rated but were counted in the survey.

The unincorporated area of Limestone County in 1982 comprised 14,339 resi-dential structures. Of the 14,339 structures, 438 were mobile homes (3.1 per-cent of total structures) and the remaining 13,901 structures were conventionally built (comprising 9 6 . 9 percent of the total). The percentage of mobile homes in unincorporated Limestone County is indicative of the lower median family in-comes prevalent in rural areas in Alabama. Of the 13,901 structures analyzed by condition, 2,351 structures or 17.0 percent were classified as currently substandard (needing major repairs or dilapidated). The remaining 11,550 struc-tures or 83.0 percent were classified as being of standard condition (sound or needing minor repairs only). The substandard structures are fairly evenly scattered throughout the unincorporated area with very few true "concentrations" or clusters of substandard housing. Concentrations exist. in the Burgreen Gin area, Salem area, Pine Ridge-Hampton area.

Concentrations exist in the latter six areas primarily due to the fact that these areas consist of developed but unincorporated communities with larger concentrations of housing in all four classifications.

Throughout rural Limestone County, numerous abandoned former sharecropper homes and abandoned farmsteads exhibit dilapidated housing conditions; such abandoned structures are testimony to changing agricultural technology and the resultant consolidation of numerous farmer family owned farming units. These abandoned structures have for the most part been "written off" the local housing market by realtors and owners due to their poor structural conditions.

These concentrations, however, are extremely scattered, and do not lend themselves to a housing rehabilitation program, using "concentrations" as a base for rehabilitation. A countywide housing effort should correct this issue, though.

Renter-Occupied Housing Lacking One or More Plumbing Facilities According to the 1980 Census of Housing, a house lacking one more plumb-ing facilities does not have one or more of the following: private flush 84

TABLE I V - 9 REGIONAL HOUSING UNITS BY TENURE, OCCUPANCY AND PLUMBING FACILITIES, 1 9 8 0 LIMESTONE DeKalb Jackson Limestone Athens Limes t o n e Madison Mars h a 1 1 TARCOG Total City "Rural "

Total Units* 20,888 18,620 16,497 5 ,598 10,899 7 1 ,040 25 ,716 153,761 U n i t s Lacking** 1,293 1,250 1,068 155 9 13 1,344 937 5,893 Occupied U n i t s 19,247 17,689 1 5 ,358 5 ,287 10,071 6 7 ,082 23,489 142,865 m

cn U n i t s Lacking 893 905 809 120 689 1,023 563 4,192 Owner 15 ,0 1 0 13,200 11,3 2 1 3,406 7 ,9 1 5 44 ,8 0 0 1 7 ,604 1 0 1 ,935 Units Lacking 4 31 410 331 46 285 375 269 1,816 Renter 4 ,237 4,489 4,037 1,881 2 ,1 5 6 2 2 ,282 5 ,8 8 5 40,930 U n i t s Lacking 462 4 95 478 74 404 64 8 2 94 2,377 Vacant U n i t s

• 1,641 1,9 3 1 1,1 3 9 310 829 3,958 2,227 10,896 U n i t s Lacking 400 34 5 260 35 225 321 374 1,701 Year Round U n i t s

• • L a c k i n g o n e o r more p l u m b i n g f a c i l i t i e s .

SOURCE: U.S. C e n s u s of P o p u l a t i o n a n d H o u s i n g , 1 9 8 0 . Summary Tape F i l e l A . , 1982.

TABLE I T 3 REGIONAL HOUSING UNITS LACKING PLUMBING FACILITIES PERCENTAGE DISTRIBUTION BY OCCUPANCY AND TENURE B Y JURISDICTION, 1 9 8 0 LIMESTONE Totdl "Rural "

Deklb Jackson Limestone Athens Limestone Madison Marshall TARCCG

-n:nl Units* 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0

.-cupled Units 69.1 72.4 75.7 77.4 75.5 76.1 60.1 71.1

.*Tier 33.3 32.8 31.0 29.7 31.2 27.9 28.7 30.8

?.enter 35.8 39.6 44.7 47.7 44.3 48.2 31.4 40.3

':dCdn t Unl tS ' 30.9 27.6 24.3 22.6 24.5 23.9 39.9 28.9

• Y e a r Found U n i t s N o t e - t o t a l s May N o t Add Due t o R o u n d i n g SOVRCE: U.S. C e n s u s of P o p u l a t i o n a n d H o u s i n g , 1 9 8 0 S u m r y Tape F i l e l a . , 1982.

TABLE Iv-11 PERCENTAGE OF FZGIONAL HOUSING UNITS LACKING PLUMBING FACILITIE BY TENURE AND OCCUPANCY BY JURISDICTION - 1 9 8 0 LIMESTONE ,.Rural,.

Total DeKalb Jackson Limestone Athens Llnestone Madison Hdrshall Alabama 6.37 6.48 2.80 8.40 1.89 3.64 3.83 5.17 Total Units* 6.19 Xcupied Units 4.64 5.12 5.27 2. 30 6.80 1.52 2.40 2.93 4.20 h e r 2.87 3.11 2.92 1.40 3.6C 0.84 1.53 1.78 2.91 Renter 10.90 11.03 11.84 3.90 18.70 2.91 5.00 5.81 7.72 VdCdnt UnlCS* 24.38 17.87 22.83 11.30 27.10 e . 11 16.79 15.61 17.30

• Year Round U n i t s *

• L a c k i n g o n e or more p l u m b i n g f a c i l i t i e s .

Uoce: T o t a l s May N o t Add Due t o R o u n d l n g SOURCE: U.S. C e n s u s of P o p u l a t i o n a n d H o u s i n q . 1980 Summary T a p e F i l e 1 A . 1982 86

TABLE I V - 1 2 "SUBSTANDARD/CROWDED" HOUSING UNITS BY TENURE, NUMBER AND PERCENTAGE DISTRIBUTION BY JURISDICTION AND REGION LIMESTONE Total 'I Rura 1 D e Kalb Jackson Limes t o n e Athens Limestone Madison Marshall TARCOG Alabama Total Units* 19,247 17,689 15,358 5,287 10,071 67,082 2 3 ,4 8 9 142,865 1,341,856 Owner 15,010 13,200 11,321 3,406 7,915 44,800 17,604 101,935 941,219 Renter 4,237 4,489 4,037 1,881 2,156 22,282 5 ,8 8 5 40 ,9 3 0 400,637 1 . 0 1 o r more p e r s o n s 03 P e r Room I

. Total Units* 775 723 826 180 64 6 2,621 854 5,929 72,668 Owner 4 94 523 457 84 373 1,119 489 3 ,082 37 ,345 Renter 281 200 369 96 273 I,502 365 2,847 35,323 PERCENTAGE Total Units* 4.03 4.09 5.38 3.40 6.41 3.91 3.64 4.15 5.42 0 Owner 3.29 3.96 4.04 2.47 4.71 2.50 2.78 3.02 3.97 Renter 6.63 4.46 9.14 5.10 12.66 6.74 6.20 6.96 8.82

• Occupied U n i t s SOURCE: U.S. C e n s u s of P o p u l a t i o n a n d H o u s i n g , 1 9 8 0 Summary T a p e F i l e l a . , 1 9 8 2

t o i l e t , h o t p i p e d w a t e r , and p r i v a t e b a t h . Within t h e TARCOG r e g i o n , a h i g h p r o p o r t i o n of h o u s i n g l a c k e d one o r more of t h e s e e s s e n t i a l plumbing f a c i l i t i e s .

Among t h e r e n t e r - o c c u p i e d u n i t s , t h o s e occupied by B l a c k s had a s i g n i f i c a n t l y h i g h e r p e r c e n t a g e w i t h o u t one o r more plumbing f a c i l i t i e s . According t o t h e 1980 Census of Housing, 35 p e r c e n t of a l l r e n t a l u n i t s o c c u p i e d by Blacks i n Limestone County l a c k e d one o r more plumbing f a c i l i t i e s . While t h e t o t a l popu-l a t i o n f a r e d somewhat b e t t e r , a h i g h p e r c e n t a g e o f a l l o c c u p i e d housing l a c k e d one o r more plumbing f a c i l i t i e s . The p e r c e n t a g e o f t o t a l occupied r e n t a l u n i t s l a c k i n g one o r more plumbing f a c i l i t i e s i n Limestone County w a s 8.8 p e r c e n t com-pared t o 35.9 f o r B l a c k s . I t can be assumed t h a t a l m o s t a l l housing u n i t s t h a t l a c k a p r i v a t e t o i l e t , h o t p i p e d water, o r p r i v a t e b a t h s h o u l d be c o n s i d e r e d t o be s u b s t a n d a r d .

Owner-Occupied Housing U n i t s Lacking One o r More Plumbing F a c i l i t i e s I n e v e r y TARCOG c o u n t y , a much s m a l l e r p e r c e n t a g e o f owner-occupied h o u s i n g u n i t s l a c k e d one o r m o r e plumbing f a c i l i t i e s t h a n w a s t h e case w i t h r e n t e r - o c -

cupied u n i t s . More t h a n f o u r t i m e s t h e p e r c e n t a g e o f Black owner-occupied u n i t s lacked on o r more plumbing f a c i l i t i e s t h a n w a s t h e case w i t h t o t a l occupied u n i t s . The gap between t h e Black p o p u l a t i o n and t h e t o t a l county p o p u l a t i o n i n t h i s r e s p e c t w a s g e n e r a l l y g r e a t e r f o r owner-occupied u n i t s t h a n f o r r e n t e r -

occupied u n i t s . The p e r c e n t a g e of t o t a l owner-occupied h o u s i n g u n i t s l a c k i n g one o r more plumbing f a c i l i t i e s i n Limestone County w a s 3 . 0 p e r c e n t compared t o 14.0 percent f o r Blacks.

Limestone C o u n t y ' s g r e a t e r s h a r e of u n i t s w i t h o u t i n d o o r plumbing can be a t t r i b u t e d t o t h e e x i s t e n c e o f a l a r g e p r o p o r t i o n o f r u r a l housing n o t y e t s e r v e d by r u r a l o r community water systems. The expansion of u t i l i t i e s i n t h i s county should p r o v i d e more o p p o r t u n i t i e s f o r t h e p r o v i s i o n of more i n d o o r plumbing f a -

cilities.

Overcrowding A s a g e n e r a l g u i d e , h o u s i n g u n i t s w i t h more t h a n one p e r s o n p e r room a r e c o n s i d e r e d overcrowded. Within t h e TARCOG Region, overcrowding i n Black occupied housing u n i t s w a s f a r i n excess of t h a t found i n a l l h o u s i n g u n i t s . The p e r -

c e n t a g e of overcrowding f o r a l l u n i t s i n Limestone County w a s 5.4 compared to 4 . 2 p e r c e n t f o r t h e Region and 16.7 p e r c e n t f o r Black h o u s i n g .

HOUSINGl NEEDS I n o r d e r t o a c c u r a t e l y a s c e r t a i n t h e p r e s e n t and f u t u r e need f o r housing t h r o u g h o u t Limestone County, a n a n a l y s i s of t h e e x i s t i n g housing s t o c k and p o p u l a t i o n needing h o u s i n g h a s been made. These f a c t o r s w i l l be reviewed i n t h e following paragraphs.

Growth o f t h e economic b a s e , n o t o n l y i n Limestone County i t s e l f b u t i n neighboring H u n t s v i l l e and D e c a t u r , should p r o p e l t h e c o u n t y ' s p o p u l a t i o n l e v e l from 46,005 i n 1980 t o 50,400 i n 1990. The number of p e o p l e l i v i n g i n group q u a r t e r s i s h i g h h e r e p r i m a r i l y because of t h e s e v e r a l hundred d o r m i t o r y r e s i d e n t s a t Athens C o l l e g e . Households i n 1990 should r e a c h 2 0 , 7 0 0 . By t h e 88

c year 2000, t h e c o u n t y ' s p o p u l a t i o n and households w i l l t o t a l 65,000 and 24,074, respectively.

Household s i z e i n Limestone County has dropped from 3.26 p e r s o n s i n 1970 t o 2.99 i n 1980. I t i s a n t i c i p a t e d t o drop t o 2.70 by 1990, and t o remain a t t h i s l e v e l through t h e y e a r 2000. The number of households i n 1990 is p r o j e c t e d t o be 20,070 ( p o p u l a t i o n i n households, d i v i d e d by p e r s o n s per h o u s e h o l d ) .

Eight'hundred and twenty-nine v a c a n t houses, a l so a p a r t of t h e housing s t o c k ,

r a i s e s t h e t o t a l housing i n v e n t o r y i n 1990 t o approximately 20,899. The y e a r 1990 should w i t n e s s a t o t a l housing i n v e n t o r y of 20,899 houses; and by t h e y e a r 2000, Limestone County's t o t a l housing i n v e n t o r y should approximate 24,974 units.

HOUSING PROBLEMS The b a s i c f a c t t o be acknowledged concerning housing i n Limestone County i s t h a t t h e n a t i o n a l g o a l of a "decent home i n a s u i t a b l e l i v i n g environment" has n o t been f u l f i l l e d f o r a l l f a m i l i e s . There a r e , and have been, i n s u f f i c i e n t o p p o r t u n i t i e s f o r t h i s i d e a l t o be accomplished a t p r i c e s many people can a f -

ford.

The m a j o r i t y of t h e county r e s i d e n t s l i v e i n well-maintained housing u n i t s of ample s i z e i n sound c o n d i t i o n . A t t h e same t i m e , t h e r e have been and s t i l l a r e s e v e r e housing problems f o r c e r t a i n groups of p e o p l e . These i n c l u d e r a c i a l m i n o r i t i e s , w e l f a r e r e c i p i e n t s , and o t h e r poor people--the young, t h e e l d e r l y ,

and t h e l a r g e family of l o w o r moderate income.

C u r r e n t f o r e c a s t s i n d i c a t e t h a t by t h e year 2000 t h e r e w i l l be 65,000 people l i v i n g i n t h e county needing a t o t a l of approximately 24,900 dwelling u n i t s . I n a d d i t i o n t o a m e l i o r a t i n g e x i s t i n g housing problems, a major c h a l l e n g e t o t h e county i s t h e manner i n which housing and i t s r e l a t e d environment i s t o be provided f o r t h e f u t u r e p o p u l a t i o n .

For t h e convenience of d e s c r i p t i o n , t h e primary problems a r e l a b e l e d :

Economic--An i n s u f f i c i e n t supply of housing f o r low- and moderate-income households.

Social--Poverty and d i s c r i m h n a t i o n .

Physical--The needs of an i n c r e a s i n g p o p u l a t i o n .

ECONOMIC PROBLEMS: AN INSUFFICIENT SUPPLY OF HOUSING FOR LOW- AND MODERATE-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS Housina P r i c e The p r i c e s f o r housing are normally s e t i n t h e c o n t e x t of a market with p r i c e s p a i d f o r new housing e s t a b l i s h i n g l e v e l s f o r p r i c e s of used housing.

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Developers produce h o u s i n g f o r consumer m a r k e t s where t h e y d e t e c t a demand t o which t h e y r e s p o n d , a s a r e s u l t of such demand, development of a r e s i d e n t i a l I

n a t u r e w i l l p r o b a b l y o c c u r e a s t w a r d from Athens toward w e s t - c e n t r a l H u n t s v i l l e and toward t h e Huntsville/Madison County J e t p l e x . During t h e c u r r e n t decade, an a d d i t i o n a l 5,300 u n i t s w i l l comprise t h e demand f o r new housing i n Limestone 1

County, and t h e decade 1990-2000 w i l l w i t n e s s y e t a n a d d i t i o n a l demand f o r 4,350 new u n i t s on a countywide basis. T h i s p r o j e c t e d demand t a k e s i n t o con-s i d e r a t i o n expected l o s s e s i n county housing s t o c k , due t o d e t e r i o r a t i o n ,

n a t u r a l d i s a s t e r , and o t h e r e x p e c t e d b u t u n f o r e s e e n o c c u r r e n c e s .

DEMAND: BY: TENANCY '

The s h i f t toward g r e a t e r home ownership i s q u i t e s t r o n g i n Limestone County.

Using p a s t t r e n d s , it h a s been p r o j e c t e d t h a t t h e p r o p o r t i o n of f a m i l i e s owning t h e i r own homes shows t h i s e x p e c t e d change i n tenancy.

During t h e decade 1980-1990, t h e p e r c e n t a g e of homeowners t o t o t a l r e s i -

d e n t s w i l l r i s e t o a p p r o x i m a t e l y 8 0 p e r c e n t , and t h i s t r e n d s h o u l d s t a b i l i z e t h r o u g h o u t t h e n e x t d e c a d e . Between 1980 and 1990, new h o u s i n g u n i t s should be s u d d i v i d e d between owner and r e n t a l u n i t s a s f o l l o w s : 3 , 9 0 0 and 1 , 4 0 0 . The market f o r t h e decade 1990-2000 i s p r o j e c t e d t o i n c l u d e a p p r o x i m a t e l y 3,480 owner-occupied u n i t s ( i n c l u d i n g mobile homes) and 870 r e n t a l u n i t s .

DEMAND: BY PRICE RANGE Median f a m i l y income i n Limestone County i s $16,252 p e r y e a r , s l i g h t l y above t h e m a x i m u m income l e v e l f o r admission i n t o p u b l i c h o u s i n g f o r a f a m i l y of s i x . I n a d d i t i o n , t h e m i n o r i t y p o p u l a t i o n i s quite l a r g e , and s i n c e most of t h e Black f a m i l i e s have v e r y low incomes, a s u b s t a n t i a l p r o p o r t i o n of t h e c o u n t y ' s housing demand i s t h e low-cost housing f i e l d . Limestone County's median f a m i l y income compares u n f a v o r a b l y w i t h t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s median ( $ 1 9 , 9 2 8 ) ,

Alabama median ($16,353) and t h e TARCOG r e g i o n median ( $ 1 6 , 8 2 5 ) .

During t h e decade 1980 t o 1990, s u b s t a n t i a l new economic development, such as t h e General Motors P l a n t , should a s s i s t i n s u b s t a n t i a l l y lowering t h e p r o p o r t i o n of t h e low-income h o u s i n g market i n t h e c o u n t y . However, t h i s m a r -

k e t w i l l , n e v e r t h e l e s s , remain a n i n t e g r a l and i m p o r t a n t p a r t of t h e Limestone County housing m a r k e t . The moderate income market would s t a b i l i z e and t h e middle-income and higher-income m a r k e t s would r i s e somewhat. These t r e n d s should a l l s t a b i l i z e through t h e n e x t d e c a d e , 1990 t o 2000.

PHYSICAL PROBLEMS: AN I N C m A S I N G POPULATION AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT ARE PRESENT-I N G PROBLEMS I N AFFORDING AN ADEQUATE L I V I N G ENVIRONMENT FOR NEW HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS.

Growth G e n e r a t i o n Limestone C o u n t y ' s growth p a t t e r n has t r a d i t i o n a l l y w i t n e s s e d urban awth i n and around Athens a n d , t o a lesser e x t e n t , i n t h e r e m a i n i n g m u n i c i p a l i t i e s i n t h e county. However, various p u b l i c and p r i v a t e i n v e s t m e n t s have now d i r e c t e d I

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TABLE IV-13 POPULATION, HOUSING UNIT ESTIMATES, 1 9 8 5 , 1 9 9 0 Population Population Population 1985 1990 1985 1990 1985 1990 DeKalb 60,000 56 , 000 2.6679 2.5479 22,490 25,511 Jackson 56 ,000 6 1 ,000 2.7634 2.6434 20 ,265 23,076 Limestone 5 0 ,000 56 ,000 2.8455 2.7055 1 7 ,572 2,070 Madison 213,500 230,000 2.7362 2.5350 78 ,028 90,730 Marshal1 70,000 75 ,000 2.7000 2.5825 25,926 ' 29,014 TARCOG 449,500 4 8 4 I 500 2.7362 2.5757 1 6 4 ,2 8 1 188 ,1 0 6 SOURCE: TARCOG P r o j e c t i o n s b a s e d on U . S . C e n s u s 1 9 7 0 a n d 1 9 8 0 a n d S t a t e o f Alabama, D e p a r t m e n t of P u b l i c H e a l t h , B i r t h , D e a t h a n d F e r t i l i t y t a b l e s , 1980.

new urban growth i n t o t h e 1-65/U.S. 3 1 c o r r i d o r and encouraged new r e s i d e n t i a l growth i n a n o r t h - s o u t h p a t t e r n from Pryor n o r t h t o Elkmont. Second, t h e f o u r -

l a n i n g of U.S. 72 ( H u n t s v i l l e - A t h e n s ) and A l a b a m a 20 ( H u n t s v i l l e - D e c a t u r ) have b o t h i n i t i a t e d an east-west and n o r t h e a s t - s o u t h w e s t r e s i d e n t i a l growth p a t t e r n i n t h e s o u t h e a s t e r n q u a d r a n t of t h e county. The combination of t h e above t h r e e p a t t e r n s , o r c o r r i d o r s of growth form a t r i a n g u l a r p a t t e r n i n Limestone and 9.

w e s t e r n Madison C o u n t i e s , e n c l o s e d by U.S. 3 1 , U.S. 72, and A l a b a m a 20. Im-proved access a l o n g A l a b a m a r o u t e s 53 and 251 have caused y e t a n o t h e r exurban r e s i d e n t i a l growth p a t t e r n i n t h e n o r t h e a s t e r n p a r t of t h e county. I n e a c h o f t h e s e cases, new r e s i d e n t i a l development h a s o c c u r r e d w i t h o u t t h e b e n e f i t of a d e q u a t e water and s e w e r service. During t h e l a s t f o u r y e a r s (1979-19831, Lime-s t o n e County h a s h e a v i l y i n v e s t e d i n r u r a l w a t e r systems d e s i g n e d t o serve t h e s e h i g h growth p o t e n t i a l areas.

However, t h e p r o v i s i o n o f a d e q u a t e housing w i l l c o n t i n u e t o be d i f f i c u l t w i t h o u t t h e p r o v i s i o n of n e c e s s a r y p u b l i c s e r v i c e s u p p o r t f a c i l i t i e s i n t h e form o f w a t e r , sewer, f i r e p r o t e c t i o n , and s o l i d waste d i s p o s a l . V i r t u a l l y e v e r y one of t h e s e s u p p o r t services are i n a d e q u a t e i n u n i n c o r p o r a t e d a r e a s ,

and t h e s e services w i l l need t o be s t r e n g t h e n e d i n o r d e r f o r new housing t o d e v e l o p i n an environment conducive t o sound housing development.

The proposed new communities n e a r Elkmont r e p r e s e n t f u t u r e growth poten-t i a l i n n o r t h - c e n t r a l Limestone County. The county w i l l need t o d r a s t i c a l l y upgrade s e r v i c e s i n t h i s area b e f o r e t h i s growth p o t e n t i a l c a n t a k e p l a c e .

Substandard Housing There a r e 10,071 h o u s i n g u n i t s i n Limestone County o u t s i d e t h e C i t y of Athens. Of t h e s e 1 0 , 0 7 1 u n i t s , 854 u n i t s , o r 8.5 p e r c e n t , a r e d i l a p i d a t e d .

There a r e 3,859 u n i t s , o r 38.3 p e r c e n t , i n some s t a g e o f d e t e r i o r a t i n g condi-tion. The remaining 5,358 u n i t s , o r 53.2 p e r c e n t , are i n sound c o n d i t i o n . I t i s obvious t h a t a s u b s t a n t i a l number of u n i t s i n Limestone County a r e s u b s t a n -

d a r d t o some degree---46.8 p e r c e n t . T h i s p e r c e n t a g e of s u b s t a n d a r d u n i t s com-p a r e d u n f a v o r a b l y w i t h r e g i o n a l , s t a t e , and n a t i o n w i d e s t a t i s t i c s . T h i s l a r g e p e r c e n t a g e of s u b s t a n d a r d housing r e p r e s e n t s a p o t e n t i a l m a s s i v e r e h a b i l i t a t i o n and c l e a r a n c e e f f o r t needed b e f o r e s u b s t a n t i a l p r o g r e s s can be made i n improving housing c o n d i t i o n s i n Limestone County.

HOUSING -OBSTACLES S o l u t i o n s t o t h e h o u s i n g problems i n Limestone County w i l l be found a s prob-

& e m s are f a c e d . The s u p p l y of h o u s i n g f o r t h e e l d e r l y and low-income house-h o l d s must be i n c r e a s e d , t h e burden of p o v e r t y needs t o be r e l i e v e d , t h e r a n g e of housing c h o i c e expanded t o a l l p e r s o n s , and p r i v a t e and p u b l i c e f f o r t s need t o be m o b i l i z e d and d i r e c t e d . Some s o l u t i o n s t o t h e s e problems may be e f f e c t i v e l y pursued by r e s o u r c e s w i t h i n t h e County of Limestone, w h i l e o t h e r s a r e more s i g n i f i c a n t l y a f f e c t e d a t r e g i o n a l , s t a t e , and n a t i o n a l l e v e l s . I t should a l s o be acknowledged t h a t s o l u t i o n s t o t h e housing and h o u s i n g - r e l a t e d problems of p o v e r t y are found i n t h e t r e a t m e n t of symptoms r a t h e r t h a n c u r e o r p r e v e n t i o n .

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1. There a r e t w o major areas of economic o b s t a c l e s . M o s t i m p o r t a n t i s t h e r i s i n g c o s t of h o u s i n g . The c u r r e n t h i g h i n t e r e s t r a t e s and t h e r i s i n g c o s t of l a n d and c o n s t r u c t i o n v i r t u a l l y e l i m i n a t e s t h e p o s s i b i l i t y of a low- o r moderate-income f a m i l y b e i n g able t o a f f o r d a home. I n a d d i t i o n ,

p r e s e n t s t a t e u s u r y l a w s do n o t a l l o w i n t e r e s t r a t e s t o be s e t a t com-p e t i t i v e l e v e l s f o r c o n v e n t i o n a l mortgages. The second major economic o b s t a c l e i s t h e p r e s e n t s h o r t a g e of f e d e r a l f u n d s . The A l a b a m a Housing Finance A u t h o r i t y i s making headway i n p r o v i d i n g below-market i n t e r e s t r a t e f i n a n c i n g f o r areas meeting c h r o n i c economic d i s t r e s s s t a n d a r d s .

S u b s t a n t i a l areas o f r u r a l Limestone County do m e e t t h e s e s t a n d a r d s .

2. I n a d e q u a t e f a m i l y income i s a major o b s t a c l e t o s e c u r i n g s t a n d a r d housing n o t o n l y i n Limestone County, b u t i n most c o u n t i e s i n t h e United S t a t e s .

According t o t h e 1980 U.S. Census o f Housing, 2,224 f a m i l i e s o r 1 7 . 2 p e r -

c e n t of t h e t o t a l i n t h e county had a n n u a l incomes under t h e f e d e r a l l y d e s i g n e d p o v e r t y l e v e l . An a d d i t i o n a l 6,318 f a m i l i e s o r 48.4 p e r c e n t had a n n u a l incomes under $16,000. Many of t h e s e f a m i l i e s a r e e l d e r l y ,

l i v i n g where t h e h e a d s of households a r e u n a b l e t o f i n d a d e q u a t e employ-ment b e c a u s e of l o w e d u c a t i o n a l l e v e l s .

3. There i s a c u r r e n t s h o r t a g e of l o c a l mortgage f i n a n c i n g s o u r c e s s e r i o u s l y r e s t r i c t i n g l o c a l developments. The Alabama Housing F i n a n c e A u t h o r i t y i s m i t i g a t i n g t h i s s i t u a t i o n , t o a degree.

4. L o c a l , s t a t e , and f e d e r a l f u n d s f o r comprehensive p l a n n i n g and implemen-t a t i o n a r e i n a d e q u a t e t o p e r m i t t h e county and t h e r e g i o n t o f o r m u l a t e a d e q u a t e programs. T h i s i s t r u e , n o t o n l y w i t h r e s p e c t t o c o n t r o l l i n g s t a n d a r d s of new development, b u t a l s o w i t h r e s p e c t t o e l i m i n a t i n g sub-s t a n d a r d l i v i n g c o n d i t i o n s and p r o v i d i n g s t a n d a r d d w e l l i n g u n i t s .

5. P r e s e n t s t a t e l e g i s l a t i o n d o e s n o t p r o v i d e p e r m i s s i v e a u t h o r i t y t o coun-t i e s such a s Limestone t o f o r m a l l y u n d e r t a k e t h e f o l l o w i n g endeavors:

county p l a n n i n g ( v i a a P l a n n i n g Commission), l a n d u s e c o n t r o l s , and b u i l d i n g and h o u s i n g codes. Each one o f t h e s e endeavors can a s s i s t i n promoting b o t h h i g h q u a l i t y new housing, and i n p r o t e c t i n g e x i s t i n g h i g h q u a l i t y r e s i d e n t i a l areas. Limestone County government i s d e n i e d t h e u s e of t h e s e programs s i m p l y because c o u n t i e s do n o t have p e r m i s s i v e l e g i s l a t i o n a u t h o r i z i n g t h e i r u s e f o r u n i n c o r p o r a t e d areas. The S t a t e ,

however, d o e s now a l l o w c o u n t i e s t o e n a c t s u b d i v i s i o n c o n t r o l s and f l o o d -

prone areas l a n d u s e c o n t r o l s .

6. P u b l i c s e r v i c e s f o r growth areas i n Limestone County a r e s u b s t a n d a r d c o n t r a s t e d t o t h e r a t e of new growth o c c u r r i n g i n t h e s e a r e a s .

7. The a p p e a r a n c e o f s u b s t a n d a r d housing t h r o u g h o u t Limestone County r e p r e -

s e n t s b o t h a v i s u a l and p s y c h o l o g i c a l n e g a t i v e d e t e r r a n t t o new i n v e s t m e n t s i n s t a n d a r d h o u s i n g . P r o p e r t y v a l u e s have t r a d i t i o n a l l y been d e p r e s s e d i n t h e s e a r e a s - - a n o t h e r o b s t a c l e t o t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n o r improvement o f housing i n Limestone County.

8. There is no c o n t i n u a l l y m a i n t a i n e d i n f o r m a t i o n c e n t e r i n Limestone County on o p p o r t u n i t i e s f o r low- and moderate-income h o u s i n g r e s o u r c e s . D e s p i t e 93

the demand for such housing, as stated in this housing element, the low incomes of such residents preclude them from utilizing the conventional owner or rental market.

Developers, realtors, and financial institutions have particularly criti-cal needs for up-to-date information. Consumers are important users of housin-q information. There is an urgent need to improve the quality and quantity of useful housing information reaching low income households on available housing, housing programs, and financial aids which are avail-able -

OBJECTIVES The first step in solving the housing problem in Limestone County is the establishment of objectives followed by the formulation of some means of achieving the desired objectives. The county's planning program is concerned with the future of the county-its environment, its economy, and above all, the welfare of its people. The objectives selected or the County Housing Element provide the basic framework for the solution of the county's housing problems.

The county's primary objective in housing is the provision of decent, safe, and sanitary housing for all its residents. While this objective is understand-ably a long-range goal, the specific objectives used to arrive at the overall goal are discussed below:

1. Upgrade the capacity of Limestone County residents to improve their own housing through an increased standard of living. It is necessary that a program for improving the income level in Limestone County be expanded.

Improving local employment opportunities and increasing the educational level are essential if any housing programs are to have a permanent effect.

2. Expand the choice in housing. Encourage local developers to construct ad-ditional single family housing units, particularly three and four bedroom units.

3. Eliminate further deterioration of the county's existing housing supply.

Enact a housing code and use possible special revenue sharing funds for housing and community development. Local implementation of this measure will first take legislative action, via either a statewide or local bill.

4. Increase the number of low-cost housing units. Encourage local developers to build low cost housing.

5. Make available public utilities and services to all growth areas of the county. In order that available housing sites in Limestone County are utilized to their greatest potential, adequate public facilities and services must be provided. These services should be emphasized, parti-cularly, in the new communities area near Ellanont.

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8 6. Eliminate all dilapidated dwelling units in the county. Greater emphasis should be placed on the removal of all dilapidated dwelling units. First I priority should be given to vacant units.

7. Increase mortgage sources for all income levels in Limestone County.

I Needed mortgage monies are presently in scarce supply countywide. New manufacturing companies such as Gmeral Motors could provide a revolving fund for its employees in local lending institutions. This activity could I significantly supplement the state mortgage bond program.

STATEMENT 'OF 'PLANNING 'ACTIVITIES I PREVIOUS PLANNING A C T I V I T I E S Although Limestone County has not previously engaged in comprehensive 1 planning before FY 1974, 1975, the county had prepared an areawide water and sewer plan through funding provided by the Fanners Home Administration. This activity was undertaken in the late 1960's. In addition, Limestone County has I been an active member of the Top of Alabama Regional Council of Governments since TARCOG's inception in 1969; and as a result, the county has been incllrEe5 in the regional planning program.

I CURRENT PLANNING A C T I V I T I E S I The Limestone County Commission is presently in the process of develosing a planning program with technical assistance provided by the Top of Alabami?

Regional Council of Governments. Planning activities currently underway ir,clude 1 the Comprehensive Plan. This Plan, amends, and refines the 1976 Comprehensive Plan.

1 FUTURE PLANNING ACTIVITIES In the near future, as indicated by the dates provided, the followinc I planning activities of interest to housing are to be undertaken:

Activity Year Estimated Cost I Economic Development Plan 1984-1985 $16 ,OCO Continue Housing Program 1985-1986 4,000 i Land Use Controls Subdivision Regulations Continue Housing Program 1986-1987 1986-1987 1986-1987 10,000 6 ,0 0 0 4 ,000 i

I I

I

c I n t h e p r e c e d i n g y e a r s , t h e following a c t i o n s have been undertaken i n Limestone County t o p r o v i d e a d d i t i o n a l housing and a l l e v i a t e housing problems.

1. Constructed rural-water systems t o s e r v e r u r a l r e s i d e n t i a l areas; E a s t Limestone, Tanner, B e l l e Mina, F o r t Hampton, and North Limestone.

2. Constructed 53 d w e l l i n g u n i t s for low income and e l d e r l y r e s i d e n t s (Top of Alabama Regional Housing A u t h o r i t y ) .

3. Constructed community f i r e departments (Clements, South Limestone, Plea-s a n t Grove, Elkmont, Owens, and E a s t Limestone a r e a s f o r r u r a l r e s i d e n -

t i a l areas).

FUTURE IMPLEMENTING ACTIONS /

Future a c t i o n s a r e n e c e s s a r y t o meet t h e o b j e c t i v e s of t h i s sCudy and a r e designed t o a l l e v i a t e housing problems and overcome- o b s t a c l e s t o t h e s o l u t i o n of t h e s e problems.

I I

I CHAPTER 5 I COMMUNITY FAGILlTlES I

As an integral part of the Comprehensive Plan, the Cornmunib] Facilities I Plan has as its objective the programming of the capital-level public se-vices to serve the resident population of the county through the planning seriod.

Since the County Commission is the only available source of public service at the local level in unincorporated areas, the Community Facilities P l a will I emphasize the need or county-level services to such areas. However, tie Plan will also recognize the need for countywide involvement by the Count:J Govern-ment regarding policies directed at guiding countywide growth, develo?nent, ane I environmental protection.

Services provided countywide by County government include t3.e fsilowing:

I 1.

2.

County County administration Sheriff (civil papers and court administration)

3. County Tax Collection and Assessment I 4.

5.

County Health Courts and Social Services I Services provided primarily to residents in the unincorporazed a r e s s in-clude :

1 1.

2.

3.

Water Service Sewer Service Fire Protection

4. County Sheriff (road patrols; includes Mooresville and Lesrsr)

I 5.

6.

Library Service County Highways

7. County Schools I 8. Parks (in conjunction with municipal parks)

The Community Facilities Plan will analyze the needs of cocnzy 2 7 . k l i ~

I services for two time periods, short-range (1982-1990) and long-range (1991-2000). These two periods comprise the total planning period for the Ccm2re-hensive Plan. Each function is analyzed as follows:

I COUNTY 'ADMINISTRATION I The County of Limestone administers county services from t k e e najor fa-cilities both located in the county seat, Athens. The Courthousi E . : L l < h q on I

97 1

Courthouse Square i n downtown Athens i s t h e o r i g i n a l county a d m i n i s t r a t i v e f a -

c i l i t y . T h i s s t r u c t u r e w a s c o n s t r u c t e d i n 1918 and r e f u r b i s h e d i n 1939 and 1978. C o n s t i t u t i o n a l and some s t a t u t o r y o f f i c e s ( e x c e p t i n g t h e County Commis-sion) a r e administered herein. This f a c i l i t y , being r e c e n t l y renovated, i s i n adequate c o n d i t i o n , and s h o u l d remain so f o r t h e f o r e s e e a b l e f u t u r e . However, t h e r e i s no o f f - s t r e e t p a r k i n g s p a c e a v a i l a b l e a t t h i s f a c i l i t y .

The second a d m i n i s t r a t i v e s t r u c t u r e used by t h e county is t h e Limestone County Courthouse Annex. T h i s f a c i l i t y w a s b u i l t i n 1966 t o r e l i e v e a c u t e overcrowding of o f f i c e s i n t h e o l d Courthouse. The new b u i l d i n g i s l o c a t e d a t J e f f e r s o n and Green S t r e e t s . T h i s b u i l d i n g houses t h e S h e r i f f ' s 2nd C i v i l Defense Department (and j a i l ) , and t h e w a t e r and e d u c a t i o n b o a r d s a s w e l l a s s e v e r a l smaller, n o n - c o n s t i t u t i o n a l a g e n c i e s . O f f - s t r e e t p a r k i n g , and building conditions i s adequate f o r t h e foreseeable f u t u r e .

The t h i r d a d m i n i s t r a t i v e s t r u c t u r e u t i l i z e d by t h e county i s t h e Washington S t r e e t annex, l o c a t e d on t h e n o r t h s i d e of Washington S t r e e t , w e s t of J e f f e r s o n S t r e e t . T h i s b u i l d i n g , r e n o v a t e d i n 1981 from i t s p r i o r u s e a s t;?e Athens main p o s t o f f i c e , houses t h e County Commission o f f i c e , county e n g i n e e r i n g o f f i c e , and d a t a p r o c e s s i n g f u n c t i o n s , a s w e l l as d a t a s t o r a g e . T h i s r e c e n t l y - r e n o v a t e d s t r u c t u r e i s a d e q u a t e f o r t h e f o r e s e e a b l e f u t u r e , and a l s o h a s adequate o f f -

s t r e e t parking space.

P l e a s e r e f e r t o t h e c h a r t d e p i c t i n g county government o r g a n i z a t i o n f o r l o c a t i o n of a g e n c i e s r e l a t i v e t o t h e County Commission.

RECOMMENDATIONS ( 1982-1990

1. O f f - s t r e e t p a r k i n g f o r t h e County Courthouse ( t h e o r i g i n a l s s a t of Lime-s t o n e County Government) should be provided; however, t h i s should be ac-complished i n c o o p e r a t i o n w i t h t h e c i t y and downtown p r o p e r t y owners, i n c o n j u n c t i o n w i t h long-range p l a n s f o r t h e C i t y of Athens Dor-town Area R e v i t a l i z a t i o n Program (Athens C i t y P l a n n e r ) .

2. Maintain c u r r e n t q u a l i t y f a c i l i t i e s v i a r e p a i r s , a s n e c e s s z r - .

RECOMMENDATIONS ( 1991-2000 S i n c e a d e q u a t e room f o r b u i l d i n g expansion e x i s t s a t t h e Anr.r,u number two s i t e , t h i s s i t e s h o u l d be used f o r any b u i l d i n g a d d i t i o n s t o t h e county ad-m i n i s t r a t i v e f a c i l i t i e s d u r i n g t h i s segment of t h e p l a n n i n g p e r i c c . A d d i t i o n a l p a r k i n g f a c i l i t i e s s h o u l d be a c q u i r e d a t t h e t i m e of any proposec a d d i t i o n s .

POLICIES

1. A l l County a d m i n i s t r a t i v e f a c i l i t i e s should be m a i n t a i n e d i n c e n t r a l Athens s i n c e such f a c i l i t i e s should be r e a d i l y a v a i l a b l e t o t h e p u b l i c i n a central location.

I I 2. Additional county departments should be organized directly under the County Commission rather than through quasi-independent boards. This policy should I be followed where such a policy is not contrary to state legislation.

COUNTY SHRIFF'S DEPARTMENT I -

The direct patrolling duties of the unincorporated areas of the county and I the Towns of Mooresville and Lester is the responsibility of the Limestone County Sheriff's Department. The department's headquarters are located at the Court-house Annex. Manpower, including deputies and investigators, totals 37 personnel.

Estimates of need calculate an additional need for 6 deputies. Patrol cars total I 9, and estimates place the need for patrol cars at 6 vehicles. The State Public Safety Department places 5 state troopers on intermittent duty in Limestone County. These troopers are permanently stationed in Decatur. Jail facilities I are considered adequate by local and state officials; however, one additional jailer is deemed needed locally. Booking space is also needed at the jail.

Limestone County Sheriff's vehicles and Athens City Police vehicles all have radio I communication with their respective headquarters and with each other. In addition, the Sheriff's Department has radio communications with the State Patrol at Decatur .

I STANDARDS

1. One deputy per 2,000 population (inclusive of total county population.)

I 2. One vehicle (radio equipped) per two deputies at a minimum, per one deputy preferred.

I 3. Offices maintained in a central county location.

I RECOMMENDATIONS ( 1 9 8 2 - 1 9 9 0

1. Employ an additional two deputies.

I 2. Acquire an additional two radio-equipped vehicles.

3. Reallocate office space in Sheriff's Department for additional booking I space at the jail.

RECOMMENDATIONS ( 1 9 9 1 - 2 0 0 0 )

I 1. Any long-range approach to improving law enforcement in Limestone County I would probably involve a separation of civil and criminal duties, either by establishing separate sections of the Sheriff's Department or by l i m i t -

ing the Sheriff's Department to civil duties and establishing a separate county-wide police department. The latter approach is becoming more 1 popular in urbanizing counties. The police department would be responsi-ble only for criminal law enforcement. There are two basic alternatives:

I 1 99

a. Expand t h e s h e r i f f ' s department t o two w e l l - d e f i n e d d i v i s i o n s ; t h a t o f c i v i l d u t i e s and t h a t of l a w enforcement.

b. L i m i t t h e s h e r i f f ' s department t o c i v i l d u t i e s , and e s t a b l i s h a county-wide p o l i c e d e p a r t m e n t t o be r e s p o n s i b l e o r p o l i c e p r o t e c t i o n t h r o u g h o u t t h e county. T h i s agency should be w e l l p a i d and w e l l t r a i n e d .

2. Employ a d d i t i o n a l p e r s o n n e l and a c q u i r e a d d i t i o n a l v e h i c l e s i n accordance with t h e following table:

TABLE V-1 LIMESTONE COUNTY SHERIFF ' S DEPARTMENT PERSONNEL AND VEHICULAR NEEDS, 1985-2000 A d d i t i o n a l P o l i c e Needed A d d i t i o n a l V e h i c l e s Needed 1985 1990 1995 2000 POLICIES The f o l l o w i n g p o l i c i e s a r e d e s i g n e d t o promote a d e q u z t e p o l i c e p r o t e c t i c n i n t h e planning a r e a :

1. P o l i c e h e a d q u a r t e r s should be l o c a t e d i n t h e c e n t e r of t h e i r s e y r i c e a r e a i n order t o enable rapid response.

2. T r a i n i n g programs could be i n s t i t u t e d which would i n c l u d e Athens, EYaorc, Ardmore, and t h e Limestone County S h e r i f f ' s O f f i c e with a County CoorcZi-nator .

3. Replace a l l v e h i c l e s a t 50,000 m i l e s .

FIRE 'PROTECTION F i r e p r o t e c t i o n t h r o u g h o u t Limestone County d o e s n o t comprise t o t a l COVE-age. Municipal f i r e d e p a r t m e n t s s e r v i c e t h e c i t i e s and towns of Athens, >z&ore, and Elkmont i n a d d i t i o n t o nearby r u r a l o r suburban a r e a s . Limestone County m a i n t a i n s two t r u c k s f o r r u r a l f i r e p r o t e c t i o n . The r e m a i n i n g r u r a l f i r e prc-t e c t i o n o f f e r e d Limestone County are t h e six r u r a l v o l u n t e e r f i r e depzr'aents, e s t a b l i s h e d w i t h t h e a s s i s t a n c e of t h e Alabama F o r e s t r y Commission and t h e C i v i l Defense Program.

T h e r e f o r e , a p p r o x i m a t e l y 65 p e r c e n t of t h e u n i n c o r s o r a t e d a r e a s o f L h e -

s t o n e County have no f i r e p r b t e c t i o n .

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I I STANDARDS 1 SOURCE: American I n s u r a n c e A s s o c i a t i o n , F i r e Department Standards D i s t r i b u -

t i o n of Company Response t o Alarms--Changes e f f e c t i v e J a n u a r y , 1962 S p e c i a l I n t e r e s t B u l l e t i n No. 315; 85 John S t r e e t , New York, New I York, J a n u a r y , 1963.

I STATION FACILITIES

1. New f i r e s t a t i o n s should be designed with a minimum of two bays and should p r o v i d e a l l n e c e s s a r y f a c i l i t i e s which would make it u s e a b l e a s a f u l l -

I t i m e manned s t a t i o n . For one-story b u i l d i n g , t h e minimum a r e a of t h e l o t and f l o o r should be:

I a. One company s t a t i o n - - 1 0 0 f e e t of f l o o r a r e a ) .

f e e t by 120 f e e t (approximately 3,660 square I b. Two company s t a t i o n s - - 1 2 5 f e e t of f l o o r a r e a ) .

f e e t by 125 f e e t (approximately 4,750 square

c. Three company s t a t i o n - - 1 8 0 f e e t by 125 f e e t ( c a l c u l a t e f l o o r a r e a from I a c t u a l requirements) .

d. The a r e a n e c e s s a r y t o handle one pumper i s roughly 15 by 30 f e e t ; 15 by 1 55-60 f e e t f o r a n a e r i a l ladder t r u c k and u n i t ; and 15 by 45 f e e t f o r a Quad.

I 2.

3.

H i l l s i d e l o c a t i o n s o r s i t e s l o c a t e d on a s t e e p s l o p e should be avoided.

The s t r e e t s o n t o which f i r e equipment a r e moved o u t should l e a d n a t u r a l l y a c r o s s t h e community o r s e r v i c e a r e a connecting t h e f i r e t r u c k l a n e with I a r t e r i e s and s t r e e t s going t o a l l d i r e c t i o n s of t h e s e r v i c e a r e a covered by t h e f i r e s t a t i o n .

I 4. The immediate v i c i n i t y of a f i r e s t a t i o n should be c l e a r of land uses which make i t d i f f i c u l t o r dangerous f o r quick use of f i r e equipment (e.g., a u t o parking i n c l o s e proximity t o f i r e s t a t i o n s heavily t r a v e l e d , inaccessible one-way s t r e e t s , e t c . )

I 5. Entrances o n t o a major thoroughfare f o r f i r e equipment should be provided with adequate s i g n a l i z a t i o n t o s t o p a l l t r a f f i c approaching t h e s t a t i o n ,

I 6.

i n s u r i n g adequate response of f i r e equipment.

An a r e a d i v i d e d by n a t u r a l o r man-made b a r r i e r s ( e . g . , r i v e r s , b l u f f s , a t -

I grade r a i l l i n e s , e t c . ) which p r e s e n t t h e p o s s i b i l i t y of d e l a y might r e q u i r e a d d i t i o n a l s t a t i o n s t o p r o v i d e adequate p r o t e c t i o n .

7. F i r e s t a t i o n s should be designed so t h a t both ends of t h e b u i l d i n g permit I e n t r a n c e and e x i t f o r f i r e apparatus. P r e f e r a b l y t h e s t a t i o n s should be l o c a t e d near a major i n t e r s e c t i o n of a r t e r i a l r o u t e s , t h u s providing f o r quick response t o any p o i n t w i t h i n t h e s e r v i c e a r e a covered by t h e f i r e I station.

I i 101

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8. F i r e s t a t i o n s s h o u l d be d e s i g n e d so t h a t a s e p a r a t e bay i s p r o v i d e d f o r ambulance o r l i f e squad equipment where needed.

TABLE V-2 FIRE FLOW (GPM) NUMBER OF COMPANIES R E Q U I R E D 2 , 0 0 0 GPM o r under* One company w i t h i n l-% m i l e s and 2 pumper companies pumper companies w i t h i n f o u r m i l e s Ladder companies One company w i t h i n two m i l e s

~ ~~

RECOMMENDATIONS ( 1982-1990 )

1. Based upon p r e s e n t urban growth p a t t e r n s i n Limestone County, pumper com-p a n i e s ( 2 e a c h ) s h o u l d be l o c a t e d i n t h e f o l l o w i n g communities i n t h e county:

a. Lester-Salem

b. Brown's F e r r y

c. Greenbrier

d. Hays M i l l

e. B e l l e Mina/North

2. I t i s recommended t h a t a p a i d , f u l l t i m e f i r e m a r s h a l l be a p p o i n t e d f o r Limestone County. The f i r e m a r s h a l l would c o o r d i n a t e a l l f i r e f i g h t i n g and f i r e p r e v e n t i o n a c t i v i t i e s w i t h i n t h e c o u n t y . S p e c i f i c d u t i e s would include :

a. Aid i n t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n and development of r u r a l f i r e d i s t r i c t s .

b. Make p e r i o d i c i n s p e c t i o n s of a l l r u r a l d e p a r t m e n t s .

c. Implement t h e S t a t e Enabling L e g i s l a t i o n o r Limestone County.

d. A c t as t r a i n i n g o f f i c e r f o r r u r a l d e p a r t m e n t s .

e. I n s p e c t p u b l i c s c h o o l s and o t h e r p l a c e s of p u b l i c g a t h e r i n g s .

3. C o n s i d e r a t i o n s h o u l d be g i v e n t o t h e p r o v i s i o n of formal f i r e p r o t e c t i o n d i s t r i c t s based upon t h e areas denoted i n the'Recommendation N o . 1. The d i s t r i c t could p r o v i d e t a x f u n d s f o r t h e d e s i r e d f a c i l i t i e s , m a t e r i a l s ,

p e r s o n n e l , and s e r v i c e s , such a s t r a i n i n g , f i r e alarm and p r e v e n t i o n .

T h e r e f o r e , t h e s e d i s t r i c t s would be i n a p o s i t i o n t o seek a 9 o r 8 American Insurance Association r a t i n g .

4. A countywide f i r e a s s o c i a t i o n should be o r g a n i z e d t o a c t a s a p o l i c y -

making body.

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RECOMMENDATIONS ( 1 9 9 1 - 2 0 0 0

1. A s growth c o n t i n u e s i n Limestone County, a d d i t i o n a l s t a t i o n s comprising two companies e a c h s h o u l d be l o c a t e d i n t h e f o l l o w i n g communities:

a. Thatch

b. Johnson School c, Carey

2. By 1990, a countywide a l e r t system s h o u l d be e s t a b l i s h e d which would p r o v i d e f o r mutual a s s i s t a n c e between a l l m u n i c i p a l i t i e s and t h e r u r a l county system. Calhoun J u n i o r C o l l e g e should e s t a b l i s h a f i r e s c h o o l s i m i l a r t o t h a t which e x i s t s a t t h e U n i v e r s i t y of Alabama, T u s c a l o o s a .

POLICIES

1. F i r e s t a t i o n s s h o u l d be p l a n n e d , programmed, and c o n s t r u c t e d ; and f i r e s e r v i c e s o r g a n i z e d t o e n a b l e . t h e c l a s s i f i c a t i o n of t h e c o u n t y s f i r e de-f e n s e s t o c l a s s 9 o r 8.

2. A l l i n d u s t r i a l areas and areas planned f o r i n t e n s i v e development should be within 1 3/4 m i l e f o r a f i r e s t a t i o n .

3. All r u r a l s i n g l e - f a m i l y r e s i d e n t i a l areas should be w i t h i n f o u r t r a v e l m i l e s of a f i r e s t a t i o n .

4. F i r e s t a t i o n s s h o u l d be l o c a t e d i n t h e c e n t e r of t h e i r f i r e p r o t e c t i o n s e r v i c e areas.

5. F i r e s t a t i o n service areas should n o t be s p l i t by i m p a s s i b l e b a r r i e r s such a s major t h o r o u g h f a r e s and major. streams.

6. F i r e s t a t i o n s s h o u l d be l o c a t e d n e a r i n t e r s e c t i o n s o f a r t e r i a l highways where a l t e r n a t i v e r e s p o n s e r o u t e s t o a l l p a r t s of t h e i r f i r e p r o t e c t i o n d i s t r i c t s e x i s t . However, f i r e s t a t i o n s should n o t be l o c a t e d w i t h i n 1 , 0 0 0 f e e t of major i n t e r s e c t i o n s where c o n g e s t i o n i s l i k e l y t o o c c u r .

7. P r i o r i t y on t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n , e q u i p p i n g , and manning of f i r e s t a t i o n s i n t h e Limestone County P l a n n i n g Area should o c c u r i n t h e planned i n d u s t r i a l and urban d e n s i t y areas of t h e area.

COUNTY HIGHWAY The Limestone County E n g i n e e r i n g Department whose h e a d q u a r t e r s a r e l o c a t e d i n t h e Courthouse Annex, s e r v i c e s a t o t a l of 960 m i l e s of county r o a d s . O f t h i s 960 m i l e s , 850 m i l e s a r e paved and t h e remaining 110 m i l e s c o n s i s t s of e i t h e r g r a v e l o r d i r t s u r f a c e . Of t h e 850 m i l e s of paved r o a d s , 135 m i l e s a r e p l a c e d under t h e F e d e r a l Aid Secondary System. T h i s FAS system p r o v i d e s f e d e r a l f u n d s f o r t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n and r e c o n s t r u c t i o n of c o u n t y r o a d s con-s i d e r e d l o c a l l y t o be c o l l e c t o r r o u t e s ( p r o v i d i n g c o n n e c t i o n s from r u r a l a r e a s 1 03

t o s t a t e and f e d e r a l r o u t e s ) . These FAS r o a d s a r e numbered by t h e c o u n t y , o t h e r county r o u t e s e i t h e r have r o a d names o r a r e unnamed. N o t r u l y countywide r o a d numbering o r naming system e x i s t s , b u t one i s b e i n g implemented.

Maintenance and r e p a i r f a c i l i t i e s f o r a l l county v e h i c l e s a r e l o c a t e d a t t h e c o u n t y r e p a i r s h o p a t Athens. However, o p e r a t i n g c r e w s r e p o r t t o f o u r d i f -

f e r e n t f i e l d l o c a t i o n s , one i n e a c h of t h e f o u r County Commissioner's d i s t r i c t s .

A s f u n d s a l l o w , each Commissioner can pave r o a d s , buy equipment, and employ work crews. A s a matter of p o l i c y , t h e County E n g i n e e r i n g Department D i r e c t o r is c o n s u l t e d on major d e c i s i o n s , such a s r o a d paving p r i o r i t i e s and c a p i t a l equip-ment e x p e n d i t u r e s . The m a i n t e n a n c e of f o u r d i f f e r e n t equipment and work l o c a -

t i o n s i s f a v o r e d l o c a l l y s i n c e s e r v i c e s can t h e n b e r e n d e r e d m o r e q u i c k l y through-o u t t h e c o u n t y , as opposed t o a c e n t r a l g a r a g e f o r a l l o p e r a t i o n s . Limestone County m a i n t a i n s a much h i g h e r p e r c e n t a g e of paved r o a d s c o n t r a s t e d w i t h o t h e r r u r a l counties.

RECOMMENDATIONS ( 1 9 8 2 - 1 9 9 0

1. Even though s e v e r a l s u b f a c i l i t i e s a r e needed t h r o u g h o u t t h e county f o r d i r e c t m a i n t e n a n c e , t h e t o t a l road maintenance s y s t e m s h o u l d be c o o r d i n a t e d as a u n i t by t h e Department D i r e c t o r .

2. A y e a r l y road p a v i n g program s h o u l d b e c o n t i n u e d a s a program b u d g e t by t h e County Commission. T h i s y e a r l y budget by t h e County Commission s h o u l d b e developed from a t h r e e - y e a r s h o r t - r a n g e program.

3. The r a t i o of employees t o equipment should be i n c r e a s e d toward a one-to-one b a s i s so t h a t t h e p r e s e n t equipment d o e s n o t remain i d l e .

4. Minimum r o a d w i d t h and d r a i n a g e s t a n d a r d s s h o u l d be e s t a b l i s h e d f o r t h e p o i i c y of a c c e p t i n g new r o a d s i n t o t h e county system. F o r t y - f o o t roadway w i d t h s w i t h s i x - i n c h b a s e s , s u r f a c e p a v i n g , and s i x t y f o o t rights-of-way a r e recommended a s t h e b a s i s upon which t o f a m u l a t e minimum s t r e e t a c c e p t a n c e standards.

5. County s u b d i v i s i o n r e g u l a t i o n s should be e n f o r c e d by t h e County Cammission.

These r e g u l a t i o n s w i l l p r o v i d e f o r t h e p r o v i s i o n of p u b l i c s e r v i c e s , such a s u t i l i t i e s . Such s t a n d a r d s c o u l d b e based upon e x i s t i n g r e g u l a t i o n s i n f o r c e by t h e C i t y o f Athens. S t a t e l e g i s l a t i o n h a s been p a s s e d i n o r d e r f o r a l l c o u n t i e s t o a d o p t and e n f o r c e such r e g u l a t i o n s .

6. A f i v e - y e a r program of equipment p u r c h a s e s s h o u l d b e e s t a b l i s h e d and a y e a r l y p u r c h a s i n g r e s e r v e budget developed from t h i s f i v e - y e a r program.

7. A countywide r o a d numbering o r naming system s h o u l d b e e s t a b l i s h e d and coordinated with adjacent counties.

RECOMMENDATIONS ( 1 9 9 1 - 2 0 0 0 )

1. Maintain and u p d a t e f i v e - y e a r program f o r p u r c h a s e s .

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c

2. Maintain l e v e l o f r o a d maintenance commensurate w i t h m i l e a g e of paved and unpaved r o a d s .

POLICIES

1. Minimum s t a n d a r d s f o r r o a d maintenance used f o r FAS r o a d s should be used f o r a l l county r o a d s .

2. County r o a d s s e r v i n g o n l y one r e s i d e n t (dead-end) o r open l a n d o n l y should be r e v e r t e d t o t h e p r o p e r t y owner.

3. A l l areas n o t w i t h i n 3.r m i l e s of a paved r o a d should be s e r v e d w i t h paved roads f i r s t before adjacent a r e a s a r e served.

4. A l l s u b d i v i s i o n s t r e e t s s h o u l d be r e q u i r e d t o be paved b e f o r e a c c e p t a n c e by t h e c o u n t y .

' REFUSE -COLLECTION AND DISPOSAL Refuse c o l l e c t i o n and d i s p o s a l i s a problem today r e g a r d l e s s of whether people l i v e i n a r u r a l o r urban a r e a . T h i s i s a problem of t h e community a s w e l l a s t h e i n d i v i d u a l and c o n t i n u a l d i s r e g a r d on t h e p a r t of e i t h e r w i l l c e r t a i n l y r e s u l t i n unnecessary e n v i r o n m e n t a l problems and annoyances. Lack o f under-s t a n d i n g , c a r e l e s s n e s s and i n d i f f e r e n c e i s l a r g e l y r e s p o n s i b l e f o r many of o u r p r e s e n t problems. F r e q u e n t l y , i n d i v i d u a l e f f o r t i s wasted w i t h o u t p u b l i c con-t r o l ; b u t a t t h e same t i m e , e f f o r t s of p u b l i c a g e n c i e s a r e doomed t o f o l l o w w i t h o u t s u p p o r t of i n d i v i d u a l c i t i z e n s .

I n t h e o v e r a l l e n v i r o n m e n t a l p i c t u r e of Limestone County, t h e problem i s how t o h a n d l e o u r p r e s e n t e s t i m a t e d volume of 34,000 t o n s o f r e f u s e produced a n n u a l l y . By t h e y e a r 2000, t h i s amount w i l l i n c r e a s e t o 50,000 t o n s .

INVENTORY There a r e t h r e e methods of r e f u s e c o l l e c t i o n , a l l of which a r e i n u s e i n Limestone County: 1) by t h e i n d i v i d u a l , 2 ) by p r i v a t e c o n t r a c t c o l l e c t o r s who a r e p a i d by t h e i n d i v i d u a l r e c e i v i n g t h e s e r v i c e , and 3 ) by a governmental agency u s i n g p u b l i c f u n d s . Refuse d i s p o s a l i s normally accomplished by 1) t h e i n d i v i d u a l who u t i l i z e s h i s own l a n d o r d i s p o s a l areas b e l o n g i n g t o p r i v a t e o r p u b l i c a g e n c i e s , o r 2 ) by governmental a g e n c i e s who u t i l i z e p u b l i c l y owned d i s -

p o s a l areas.

Limestone County and t h e C i t y of Athens j o i n t l y m a i n t a i n t h e city-owned l a n d f i l l of 69 acres. The c o u n t y l i c e n s e s p r i v a t e h a u l e r s who p r o v i d e waste c o l l e c t i o n s e r v i c e . These h a u l e r s a r e a s s e s s e d a f e e by t h e c o u n t y , and t h i s f e e i s g i v e n t o t h e C i t y of Athens f o r u s e i n l a n d f i l l equipment p u r c h a s e s .

The Tri-County H e a l t h Department h a s c l o s e d open dumps i n Limestone County and a l l h a u l e r s a r e r e q u i r e d t o u s e t h e l a n d f i l l o r a n o t h e r method of d i s p o s a l ap-proved by t h e H e a l t h D e p a r m e n t . The county h a s n o t adopted o r d i n a n c e s r e l a t e d t o s o i l waste c o l l e c t i o n and d i s p o s a l .

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N o longer is t h e old-fashioned, u n s a n i t a r y r e f u s e dump a c c e p t a b l e i n t o d a y ' s s o c i e t y a s a means of r e f u s e d i s p o s a l . According t o t h e S t a t e S o l i d Waste D i s -

p o s a l A c t of 1971, t h e o n l y a c c e p t a b l e means of d i s p o s a l i n t h e S t a t e w i l l be e i t h e r a s a n i t a r y l a n d f i l l , o r a l t e r n a t e methods meeting ADEM . ( S o l i d Wastewater Division) requirements.

The problem of d e v e l o p i n g an adequate r e f u s e d i s p o s a l program i n LimesLone County i s compounded by 1) t h e c o u n t y ' s p r e s e n t low p o p u l a t i o n d e n s i t y , 2 ) t h e l a c k o f a v a i l a b l e f u n d s , and 3 ) t h e f a c t t h a t development i s t a k i n g p l a c e s i m u l t a n e o u s l y i n s o u t h e r n Limestone a d j a c e n t t o Decatur and i n e a s t e r n L i m e -

s t o n e which i s b e g i n n i n g t o f e e l t h e e f f e c t s of i t s p r o x i m i t y t o H u n t s v i l l e and i n c e n t r a l Limestone n e a r Athens.

Based on t h e f a c t o r s o f p r o j e c t e d p o p u l a t i o n growth, a n n u a l p r o d u c t i o n of 1 , 5 0 0 pounds of r e f u s e p e r p e r s o n and f o u r a c r e s o f l a n d f i l l p e r 1 0 , 0 0 0 popula-t i o n p e r y e a r , t h e ' f o l l o w i n g l a n d r e q u i r e m e n t s f o r Limestone County w e r e d e v e l -

oped z TABLE V - 3 SANITARY LANDFILL REQUIREMENTS LIMESTONE COUNTY, 1982-2000 Planning Period Acres Needed 1982-1985 28.7 1986-1990 30.3 1991-1995 31.9 1996-2000 13.5 104.4 Total SOURCE; U.S. P u b l i c H e a l t h S e r v i c e , Environmental H e a l t h P l a n n i n g Guide, 1962.

RECOMMENDATIONS (1982-1990)

T o p r o t e c t t h e h e a l t h o f t h e p e o p l e and t o p r e v e n t t h e d e p r e c i a t i o n of t h e c o u n t y ' s environment, t h e f o l l o w i n g p l a n for s t o r a g e , c o l l e c t i o n , and d i s p o s a l of r e f u s e i s recommended;

1. Limestone County should a c q u i r e one c e n t r a l l y l o c a t e d s i t e s u f f i c i e n t f o r t h e p u r p o s e of s e r v i n g t h e u r b a n i z i n g a r e a (recommended s i z e , 50-75 a c r e s ) .

I n a d d i t i o n , s e v e r a l smaller s i t e s ( 5 a c r e minimum) should be a c q u i r e d t o s e r v e t h e r u r a l a r e a s of t h e county. These s m a l l e r s i t e s would be s e r v e d by a c i r c u i t r i d e r . I f p r o p e r l y p l a n n e d , t h e l a r g e r s i t e could be u t i l i z e d a s a f u t u r e r e c r e a t i o n f a c i l i t y . The Athens l a n d f i l l could con-t i n u e t o be used a s a c e n t r a l f a c i l i t y p r o v i d e d i t i s expanded t o h a n d l e countywide waste n e e d s i n t h e f u t u r e .

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2. Limestone County s h o u l d a d o p t an o r d i n a n c e t o r e q u i r e a l l h o u s e h o l d e r s and commercial e s t a b l i s h m e n t s t o p r o v i d e c o n t a i n e r s approved by t h e H e a l t h Department.

3. I t i s recommended t h a t house-to-house c o l l e c t i o n be l e f t t o p r i v a t e e n t e r -

p r i s e and d i s p o s a l a t l a n d f i l l s i t e s t o be t h e r e s p o n s i b i l i t y o f t h e home-owner. The p r i v a t e a g e n c i e s , however, s h o u l d c o n t i n u e t o b e r e g u l a t e d a s i s t h e p r e s e n t case.

RECOMMENDATIONS ( 1991-2000

1. Limestone County s h o u l d c o n s i d e r t h e e x p a n s i o n of needed l a n d f i l l s i t e s based upon t h e s t a n d a r d s and T a b l e i n c l u d e d i n t h e s e c t i o n p r e c e d i n g Recommendations.

2. The c i r c u i t r i d e r system s h o u l d b e expanded c o n c u r r e n t l y w i t h t h e need f o r expanded l a n d f i l l s i t e s .

POLICIES

1. Reuse of l a n d f i l l s i t e f o r r e c r e a t i o n u s e i f s o i l s w i l l a l l o w such r e u s e .

2. Develop s a n i t a t i o n budget on both a l i n e i t e m and o b j e c t i v e (program) budget.

3. P o l i c y f o r e x t e n s i o n of service:

TABLE V-4 SERVICE ECONOMIC POPULATION D E N S I T Y EQUIVALENT LOT S I Z E JUSTIFICATION Over 2,500 p e r s o n s / L e s s than 1 a c r e Justified square m i l e 1,000-2,500 p e r s o n s / 1 t o 2 acres Probably J u s t i f i e d square m i l e 500-1,000 p e r s o n s /

square m i l e 2 t o 4 acres Not Normally J u s t i f i e d L e s s t h a n 500 p e r s o n s / Over 4 a c r e s Rarely J u s t i f i e d square m i l e EDUCATION The e d u c a t i o n o f t h e c h i l d r e n of any county i s t h e l a r g e s t s i n g l e i t e m of p u b l i c expense. C o n s i d e r i n g t h e complexity of t o d a y ' s modern s o c i e t y , :the 107

p u b l i c e d u c a t i o n a l system h a s a pronounced f u n c t i o n t o perform f o r e v e r y c h i l d i n t h e county. Without a d e q u a t e formal t r a i n i n g , employment o p p o r t u n i t i e s a r e l i m i t e d and t h e o p p o r t u n i t i e s f o r advancement a r e p o o r . The e d u c a t i o n of county r e s i d e n t s i s d i r e c t l y r e l a t e d t o t h e s t a n d a r d of l i v i n g and i t s p r o s p e c t s f o r growth and p r o g r e s s i n t h e f u t u r e .

INVENTORY The Limestone County Board of Education o p e r a t e s 1 2 s c h o o l s i n t h e county s c h o o l system. The service area o f t h e county system i n c l u d e s all of Limestone County e x c e p t t h e C i t y of Athens and t h e Athens-Limestone V o c a t i o n a l T e c h n i c a l C e n t e r (a county s c h o o l ) .

There a r e p r e s e n t l y t h i r t e e n (13) s c h o o l s i n t h e Limestone County School System. The f o l l o w i n g i s a r e v i e w of September 1982 e n r o l l m e n t .

School Grades Enrollment Tanner Primary KT 3 159 Re i d K- 6 167 Johnson J r . High K- 9 283 M o o r e s v i l l e - B e l l e Mina K- 6 161 Owens J r . High K- 9 537 Piney Chapel K- 9 430 Ardmore K-12 916 Clements K-12 946 E a s t Limestone K-12 1,007 Elkmont K-12 724 Tanner K-12 701 West Limestone K-12 737 6,768 A l l t e a c h e r s a r e p r o f e s s i o n a l l y c e r t i f i e d and s c h o o l s m e e t S t a t e a c c r e d i -

t a t i o n r e q u i r e m e n t . G r a d u a t i n g s e n i o r s t o t a l s 471. P u p i l - t e a c h e r r a t i o f o r g r a d e s K-6 i s 1 9 : l and g r a d e s 7-12 i s 1 6 : l .

STANDARDS The f o l l o w i n g s c h o o l s t a n d a r d s have been developed by t h e Alabama S t a t e Department of E d u c a t i o n , D i v i s i o n of Departmental S e r v i c e s . The s t a n d a r d s h e r e i n a r e s t a n d a r d s d e s i g n e d t o m a i n t a i n minimum f a c i l i t y development through-out the s t a t e .

MODERN TRNEDS I N BUILDINGS AND SITES For some t i m e much t h o u g h t and a t t e n t i o n h a s been g i v e n t o t h e improvement of i n s t r u c t i o n i n o u r p u b l i c s c h o o l s . Improved methods of t e a c h i n g and t h e r e o r g a n i z a t i o n of t h e program t o meet modern needs and demands have n e c e s s i t a t e d more a t t e n t i o n b e i n g g i v e n t o a d e q u a t e f a c i l i t i e s t o house a d e s i r a b l e program.

108

I c I Some of t h e r e a s o n s f o r l a r g e r school c e n t e r s a r e a s follows:

1 1. A broader e d u c a t i o n a l program may be o f f e r e d ; consequently, t h e c h i l d r e n w i l l be g i v e n g r e a t e r e d u c a t i o n a l o p p o r t u n i t i e s .

I 2. The h o l d i n g power o r l a r g e r s c h o o l s t e n d s t o be g r e a t e r t h a n t h a t of s m a l l e r s c h o o l s . T h i s should r e s u l t i n a l a r g e r percentage of school II c h i l d r e n being g i v e n t h e o p p o r t u n i t y a s w e l l a s t h e d e s i r e t o o b t a i n a more complete and u s e f u l e d u c a t i o n .

I 3. B e t t e r q u a l i f i e d t e a c h e r s a r e a t t r a c t e d t o l a r g e r , well-planned and well-equipped s c h o o l s .

1 4. More adequate f a c i l i t i e s , equipment, and o t h e r t e a c h i n g a i d s a r e o f t e n available.

1 5. T r a n s p o r t a t i o n , i f p r o p e r l y c a r r i e d o u t , i s less hazardous than when p u p i l s walk on dangerous highways t o s c h o o l s .

1 6. Larger s c h o o l c e n t e r s r e q u i r e l a r g e r and more permanent t y p e s of school buildings than small school c e n t e r s . A s a r u l e , buildings a t large school c e n t e r s a r e more economical t o maintain t h a n a r e s e v e r a l s c a t t e r e d I 7.

small s c h o o l b u i l d i n g s a t d i f f e r e n t c e n t e r s .

The school b u i l d i n g s and grounds f o r l a r g e r s c h o o l s c o n t r i b u t e more, i n a l l p r o b a b i l i t y , t o t h e g e n e r a l a t t r a c t i v e n e s s of t h e community.

1 SCHOOL PROGRAMS I I n school p l a n t p l a n n i n g , much thought m u s t be g i v e n n o t only t o t h e number of classrooms needed t o accommodate p u p i l s , b u t a l s o t o s p e c i a l f a c i l i t i e s neces-s a r y so t h a t a s a t i s f a c t o r y program can f u n c t i o n . Some of t h e s e s p e c i a l f a c i l i -

I t i e s a r e a s f o l l o w s : a u d i t o r i u m , lunchroom a c t i v i t i e s space, v i s u a l a i d s room, l i b r a r y s p a c e , s c i e n c e rooms ( e s p e c i a l l y s c i e n c e l a b o r a t o r i e s ) , p h y s i c a l educa-t i o n f a c i l i t i e s ( b o t h i n s i d e and o u t s i d e ) , v o c a t i o n a l home economics, v o c a t i o n a l a g r i c u l t u r e , t r a d e s , and i n d u s t r y , rooms for music i n c l u d i n g band, conference I rooms, h e a l t h and s a n i t a t i o n f a c i l i t i e s , a d m i n i s t r a t i o n o f f i c e s , and o t h e r s a s t h e program demands. The passage by Congress of t h e N a t i o n a l Defense Education Act and t h e Elementary and Secondary Education Act makes it d e s i r a b l e t o t a k e 1 advantage of t h e a s s i s t a n c e o f f e r e d t o provide a program of t h e h i g h e s t q u a l i t y .

SITE S I Z E 8 1. Elementary School P u p i l Number: 0-100; S i t e S i z e : 5 a c r e s I 2.

A d d i t i o n a l 100 p u p i l s ; a d d i t i o n a l 5 a c r e s J u n i o r High School 1 Pupil N u m b e r : 1-100; S i t e S i z e : 10 a c r e s A d d i t i o n a l 100 p u p i l s ; a d d i t i o n a l 1 0 a c r e s \

1 1 109

3. S e n i o r High School P u p i l Number: 1-100; S i t e S i z e : 1 5 a c r e s A d d i t i o n a l 100 p u p i l s ; a d d i t i o n a l a c r e Minimum: 25 acres ( i n c l u d e s 12-grade s c h o o l s )

I RECOMMENDATIONS ( 1 9 8 2 - 1 9 9 0

1. R e h a b i l i t a t e t h e e x i s t i n g p h y s i c a l p l a n t s of t h o s e h i g h s c h o o l s n e c e s s a r y t o o b t a i n S o u t h e r n A s s o c i a t i o n of C o l l e g e s and Schools s t a n d a r d s , as w e l l as t o m a i n t a i n S t a t e c e r t i f i c a t i o n .

L. Modernize t h e p h y s i c a l p l a n t s of t h o s e e l e m e n t a r y and j u n i o r h i g h s c h o o l s r e q u i r e d t o a t t a i n Southern A s s o c i a t i o n of C o l l e g e and Schools a c c r e d i t a t i o n ,

and t o r e t a i n S t a t e c e r t i f i c a t i o n a s n e c e s s a r y .

3. Add a c r e a g e t o t h e f o l l o w i n g s c h o o l s i t e s i n o r d e r t o e n a b l e t h e s e s i t e s t o m e e t minimum s t a t e s t a n d a r d s :

a. 11 a c r e s t o Ardmore High

b. 6 a c r e s t o Clements High

c. 11 a c r e s t o W e s t Limestone High

d. 9 . 5 a c r e s t o M o o r e s v i l l e - B e l l e Mina J u n i o r High Note: These s c h o o l s have a d j a c e n t t r a c t s of open l a n d a v a i l a b l e a t t h e s i t e .

RECOMMENDATIONS ( 1 9 9 1 - 2 0 0 0

1. Continue l a n d a c q u i s i t i o n program through t h e y e a r 2000, i f f u n d s a r e un-a v a i l a b l e f o r s u c c e s s f u l completion of l a n d a c q u i s i t i o n d u r i n g t h e p e r i o d 1982-1990. Classroom a d d i t i o n s and r e h a b i l i t a t i o n p r o j e c t s should have f i r s t p r i o r i t y during p r i o r period.

2. The f a c i l i t i e s a t Ardmore High, E a s t Limestone High, Elkmont High, and Tanner High a r e l o c a t e d i n areas expected t o e x p e r i e n c e s i g n i f i c a n t growth d u r i n g t h e l a t t e r p a r t of t h e p l a n n i n g p e r i o d (1991-2000). T h e r e f o r e ,

t h e s e h i g h s c h o o l s and t h e i r elementary and j u n i o r h i g h s c h o o l f e e d e r areas should p l a n f o r f u r t h e r c a p i t a l improvements d u r i n g t h e p e r i o d 1982-2000. A l l improvements, such a s a d d i t i o n a l c l a s s r o o m s , should be d e s i g n e d t o meet t h e minimum s t a n d a r d s a s d e s c r i b e d i n t h i s s e c t i o n o n Education.

POLICIES

1. Elementary Schools Each s c h o o l should be r e l a t e d t o a community a s c e n t r a l l y a s p o s s i b l e w i t h i n i t s s e r v i c e a r e a , w i t h i n a h a l f hour bus t r a v e l t i m e . I t should be c o n v e n i e n t l y l o c a t e d o r b o t h walking and t r a n s p o r t e d s t u d e n t s .

2. J u n i o r High S c h o o l s Each s c h o o l s h o u l d be r e l a t e d t o an o u t l y i n g community as c e n t r a l l y a s p o s s i b l e within i t s s e r v i c e area c o n s i s t e n t with t r a n s p o r t a t i o n r o u t e s servic-i n g t h e area and be w i t h i n one hour bus t r a v e l t i m e of a l l s t u d e n t s . Com-munity u s e of t h e s c h o o l f a c i l i t i e s i s a f a c t o r t o be c o n s i d e r e d i n s i t e l o c a -

tion. -

NUMBER OF TEACHERS Elementary S c h o o l s : 6 t e a c h e r s ; one t e a c h e r p e r g r a d e J u n i o r High S c h o o l s : 6 t e a c h e r s ; two t e a c h e r s p e r g r a d e S e n i o r High S c h o o l s : 6 t e a c h e r s ; two t e a c h e r s p e r g r a d e OTHER FACTORS I n t h e p u r c h a s e o f new s i t e s o r where major expansion i s planned t o an e x i s t i n g s c h o o l p l a n t , c a r e must be t a k e n t o p r o v i d e f o r s a f e and h e a l t h f u l c o n d i t i o n s . Where w a t e r and s e w e r l i n e s a r e n o t a v a i l a b l e and where t h e r e i s any d o u b t a b o u t f i n d i n g a s u i t a b l e w a t e r supply and t h e a b i l i t y t o p r o v i d e f o r sewage d i s p o s a l , c o u n t y h e a l t h a u t h o r i t i e s should be asked o r a d v i c e and assistance. I t c a n n o t be t o o s t r o n g l y emphasized t h a t a d e q u a t e , s a f e , and h e a l t h f u l s i t e s f o r t h e l o c a t i o n of s c h o o l p l a n t f a c i l i t i e s must be s e c u r e d .

3. S e n i o r High S c h o o l s Each s c h o o l s h o u l d be l o c a t e d w i t h i n one hour m a x i m u m b u s t r a v e l t i m e o f a l l s t u d e n t s i n e a c h d i r e c t i o n . Community u s e o f s c h o o l f a c i l i t i e s w i l l i n -

fluence location.

Note: P o l i c i e s r e g a r d i n g p u p i l / t e a c h e r r a t i o , s i t e s i z e , and o t h e r p h y s i -

c a l f a c t o r s s h o u l d b e b a s e d upon minimum s t a n d a r d s developed by t h e S t a t e De-p a r t m e n t of E d u c a t i o n . These s t a n d a r d s a r e p r e s e n t e d i n t h i s p l a n .

SPECIAL EDUCATION FACILITIES F a c i l i t i e s i n t h i s c a t e g o r y i n c l u d e c o l l e g e s and u n i v e r s i t i e s , v o c a t i o n a l and t e c h n i c a l s c h o o l s , and o t h e r s p e c i a l e d u c a t i o n a l f a c i l i t i e s . These f a c i l i -

t i e s are s e p a r a t e d from o t h e r e d u c a t i o n a l f a c i l i t i e s b e c a u s e of t h e i r u n i q u e e d u c a t i o n a l c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s . These i n s t i t u t i o n s perform s e r v i c e s r a n g i n g from t e a c h i n g b a s i c s t o p e o p l e who are o t h e r w i s e u n a b l e t o o b t a i n an e d u c a t i o n , t o t e a c h i n g t e c h n i c a l s k i l l s , to p r o v i d i n g h i g h e r e d u c a t i o n f o r p r o f e s s i o n s .

Funding comes from c i t y , county, s t a t e , and f e d e r a l a g e n c i e s .

LIMESTONE AREA VOCATIONAL-TECHNICAL SCHOOL The Limestone Area V o c a t i o n a l - T e c h n i c a l School i s l o c a t e d on S a n d e r f e r Road i n s o u t h w e s t Athens. The f a c i l i t y i s s i t u a t e d on a 3 0 - a c r e s i t e , and w a s con-s t r u c t e d i n 1970 and h a s been r e c e n t l y expanded. I t i s i n sound s t r u c t u r a l 111

c c o n d i t i o n . The s c h o o l i s o p e r a t e d through t h e Limestone County Board of Educa-t i o n and s e r v e s a l l s c h o o l systems w i t h i n t h e county. I t accommodates 608 s t u d e n t s i n g r a d e s 10-12 and i s s t a f f e d by v o c a t i o n a l i n s t r u c t o r s . There i s no c e n t r a l l i b r a r y ; r a t h e r , each department c o n t a i n s i t s own t e c h n i c a l l i b r a r y f o r s t u d e n t use.

CALHON COMMUNITY JUNIOR' COLLEGE -

Calhoun Community J u n i o r C o l l e g e i s a two y e a r , s t a t e - s u p p o r t e d , co-educa-t i o n a l i n s t i t u t i o n l o c a t e d a d j a c e n t t o U . S . Hwy. 3 1 i n t h e extreme s o u t h e r n p a r t of Limestone County. The campus c o n s i s t s of an a d m i n i s t r a t i o n - c l a s s r o o m b u i l d -

i n g , N a t u r a l S c i e n c e s b u i l d i n g , A l l i e d H e a l t h b u i l d i n g , l i b r a r y , p h y s i c a l educa-t i o n complex, S t u d e n t Union C e n t e r , R e h a b i l i t a t i o n C e n t e r , and classroom b u i l d i n g s f o r o c c u p a t i o n a l programs on a 60-acre s i t e . The c u r r i c u l a o f f e r e d i n c l u d e s u n i v e r s i t y - p a r a l l e l e d ( t r a n s f e r ) programs l e a d i n g t o an A s s o c i a t e ' s d e g r e e , two-year career programs, and o c c u p a t i o n a l programs. The c o l l e g e i s f u l l y a c c r e d i t e d by t h e Southern A s s o c i a t i o n of C o l l e g e s and S c h o o l s , and c r e d i t s a c c r u e d a t Calhoun a r e t r a n s f e r a b l e t o any c o l l e g e o r u n i v e r s i t y .

During 1972-1973, t h e e n r o l l m e n t w a s 3,800. I t has increased t o 4 , 2 0 0 i n 1974-1975; c u r r e n t l y , some 5,000-6,000 s t u d e n t s a r e e n r o l l e d .

The f a c i l i t y o p e r a t e s under a f i v e - y e a r master p l a n which c a l l s f o r pur-c h a s e of an a d d i t i o n a l 75 acres and expansion of classroom f a c i l i t i e s a t existing buildings.

ATHENS S T A T E COLLEGE Athens S t a t e C o l l e g e i s l o c a t e d w i t h i n walking d i s t a n c e of downtown Athens. I t i s t h e o l d e s t i n s t i t u t i o n of h i g h e r l e a r n i n g i n Alabama, having been e s t a b l i s h e d i n 1822 a s a s c h o o l f o r g i r l s . I t h a s been c o - e d u c a t i o n a l s i n c e 1931. The campus o c c u p i e s a 44-acre s i t e .

The C o l l e g e j o i n t e d t h e Post-Secondary D i v i s i o n of t h e S t a t e Department of Education i n 1975. I t i s A l a b a m a ' s o n l y upper d i v i s i o n i n s t i t u t i o n . It s e r v e s t h e g r a d u a t e s o f t h e j u n i o r c o l l e g e s and t e c h n i c a l s c h o o l s of t h e a r e a .

I t s program i n c l u d e s major d i v i s i o n s of b u s i n e s s e d u c a t i o n , n a t u r a l science and mathematics, h u m a n i t i e s , and s o c i a l s c i e n c e .

S t u d e n t s may p u r s u e t h r e e d e g r e e programs: (1) Bachelor of Arts,

( 2 ) Bachelor of S c i e n c e i n c l u d i n g a Bachelor of S c i e n c e i n Technology, and

( 3 ) Bachelor o f S c i e n c e i n E d u c a t i o n . Included i n t h e s e programs a r e prepro-f e s s i o n a l and p r e - g r a d u a t e c o n c e n t r a t i o n s and c o u r s e s l e a d i n g t o elementary and secondary t e a c h e r c e r t i f i c a t i o n .

I Enrollment d u r i n g t h e 1977-1978 s c h o o l y e a r was a p p r o x i m a t e l y 1450 s t u d e n t s . Although many of t h e s t u d e n t s a r e from t h e a r e a , s t u d e n t s come from a l l o v e r t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s and s e v e r a l f o r e i g n c o u n t r i e s . T h i s b r i n g s t o g e t h e r a wide v a r i e t y of customs and c u l t u r e s t o enhance l e a r n i n g e x p e r i e n c e s .

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RECOMMENDATIONS

1. Athens S t a t e C o l l e g e s h o u l d b e m a i n t a i n e d a s an u p p e r - d i v i s i o n degree-g r a n t i n g i n s t i t u t i o n . Adequate s u p p o r t s h o u l d b e p r o v i d e d t h i s f a c i l i t y whether t h i s s u p p o r t i s p r i v a t e , s t a t e , and/or f e d e r a l i n n a t u r e t o p r e -

s e r v e i t s upper d i v i s i o n s t a t u s .

2. The v a r i o u s f i v e - y e a r c a p i t a l programs of t h e s e Limestone County a r e a i n s t i t u t i o n s s h o u l d be implemented and updated a s t h e need a r i s e s .

PUBLIC HEALTH FACILITIES H e a l t h care f a c i l i t i e s and s e r v i c e s a r e e s s e n t i a l e l e m e n t s i n a compre-h e n s i v e community program d e s i g n e d t o s u b s t a n t i a l l y improve t h e w e l l - b e i n g of Limestone County r e s i d e n t s . P o p u l a t i o n p r o j e c t i o n s f o r Limestone County i n -

d i c a t e t h a t an i n c r e a s i n g p e r c e n t a g e of county r e s i d e n t s w i l l be i n t h e 65-and-over a g e c a t e g o r y . T h i s i n c r e a s i n g number of e l d e r l y r e s i d e n t s w i l l r e -

quire additional health f a c i l i t i e s i n the future.

ATH EN S-L IMESTO NE HOSP I T A L Nineteen p h y s i c i a n s p r a c t i c e a t Athens-Limestone H o s p i t a l and r e p r e s e n t t h e f o l l o w i n g m e d i c a l s p e c i a l t i e s : Family P r a c t i c e , O b s t e t r i c s , P e d i a t r i c s ,

Ophthalmology, S u r g e r y , I n t e r n a l Medicine, Radiology, and P a t h o l o g y . Addi-t i o n a l l y , s p e c i a l i s t s i n C a r d i o l o g y , T h o r a c i c S u r g e r y , Urology, ENT, Neurologi-c a l S u r g e r y , and O r t h o p e d i c s have c o n s u l t i n g p r i v i l e g e s a t Athens-Limestone Hospital.

Athens-Limestone H o s p i t a l i s a 91-bed g e n e r a l h o s p i t a l o f f e r i n g a f u l l range of d i a g n o s t i c x - r a y , n u c l e a r m e d i c i n e , u l t r a s o u n d , and l a b o r a t o r y s e r -

v i c e s p l u s 24-hour emergency p h y s i c i a n c a r e , ambulance s e r v i c e , i n t e n s i v e c a r e u n i t , p h y s i c a l t h e r a p y , r e s p i r a t o r y t h e r a p y , pharmacy, endoscopy, o u t p a t i e n t s u r g e r y , and a b i r t h i n g room.

A 3 . 3 m i l l i o n d o l l a r e x p a n s i o n p r o j e c t h a s r e c e n t l y been completed which i n c l u d e s a new l a b o r a t o r y , x - r a y d e p a r t m e n t , b u s i n e s s o f f i c e , and new f r o n t entrance t o the hospital. The new a d d i t i o n i s s u f f i c i e n t l y s t r e s s e d t o add two a d d i t i o n a l f l o o r s t o m e e t f u t u r e n e e d s .

RECOMMENDATIONS Continue t o implement t h e c u r r e n t e x p a n s i o n program, a s p r e v i o u s l y de-s c r i b e d . Westward e x p a n s i o n i n t o t h e f l o o d p r o n e area s h o u l d b e c o o r d i n a t e d w i t h t h e Athens C i t y P l a n n e r i n o r d e r t o minimize any f l o o d i n g p o t e n t i a l .

JACKSON MEMORIAL, HOSPITAL The Jackson Memorial H o s p i t a l i s l o c a t e d i n t h e Town of L e s t e r i n n o r t h w e s t Limestone County. The s e r v i c e area of t h i s h o s p i t a l e x t e n d s i n t o a d j a c e n t L a u d e r d a l e County, Alabama and G i l e s County, Tennessee.

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c D. E . Jackson H o s p i t a l is f u l l y a c c r e d i t e d by t h e J o i n t Commission on Ac-c r e d i t a t i o n of H o s p i t a l s . The h o s p i t a l o p e r a t e s a f u l l y equipped s u r g i c a l u n i t and o f f e r s comprehensive l a b o r a t o r y and r a d i o l o g y s e r v i c e s , and t h e s e r v i c e s of n i n e p h y s i c i a n s . A r e g i s t e r e d d i e t i t i a n o f f e r s d i e t e t i c c o u n s e l l i n g and b o t h i n - p a t i e n t and o u t - p a t i e n t pharmacy s e r v i c e s a r e p r o v i d e d by a r e g i s t e r e d p h a r m a c i s t . The Cardio-Pulmonary department h a s r e c e n t l y been expanded by adding a t r e a d m i l l , a n EEG machine, e l e c t r o c a r d i o g r a m equipment, and an it-house blood g a s machine. The h o s p i t a l ' s Community S e r v i c e s department and Education department work t o g e t h e r t o p r o v i d e t h e community w i t h e d u c a t i o n pro-grams a s a community s e r v i c e , and i s now p r o v i d i n g t h e community w i t h 24-hourI 7 days-a-week p h y s i c i a n s t a f f e d Emergency Room.

RECOMMENDATIONS Implement c u r r e n t p l a n s t o expand, a s s e r v i c e s require. The L e s t e r Road c o n n e c t i o n t o Buck I s l a n d Road i n Salem should b e improved, f o r e a s i e r a c c e s s t o o t h e r areas of Limestone County and t o Lauderdale County a s w e l l .

TRI-COUNTY HEALTH DISTRICT The Limestone County b r a n c h of t h e Health D i s t r i c t i s l o c a t e d a t 310 West Elm S t r e e t i n Athens. T h i s b u i l d i n g , c o n s t r u c t e d i n 1 9 7 3 , i s i n sound con-d it i o n .

The H e a l t h C e n t e r p r o v i d e s t h e s e r v i c e s l i s t e d below normally w i t h o u t charge.

Personal Services:

V i t a l S t a t i s t i c s Records P r e s e n t programs o f i n t e r e s t t o t h e p u b l i c o r s p e c i f i c g r o u p s Nutritional Instruction I n t a k e Nurse a v a i l a b l e on Thursdays Clinical Services:

M a t e r n i t y C l i n i c h e l d weekly C h i l d H e a l t h C l i n i c h e l d e a c h Tuesday a g e s 0-2 Weekly c l i n i c f o r d i a g n o s i s and t r e a t m e n t o f v e n e r e a l d i s e a s e C l i n i c s f o r d i a g n o s i s and t r e a t m e n t of t u b e r c u l o s i s - a p p o i n t m e n t Immunization c l i n i c h e l d weekly Family P l a n n i n g s e r v i c e s Women, I n f a n t , C h i l d r e n ( W I C ) i s a program t h a t p r o v i d e s c e r t a i n foods t o s p e c i f i c p e r s o n s who are f i n a n c i a l l y and m e d i c a l l y e l i g i b l e .

A program o f School H e a l t h Nursing i s a d m i n i s t e r e d i n each s c h o o l w i t h i n Limestone County.

The Environmental H e a l t h D i v i s i o n conducts a program o f i n s p e c t i o n and p e r m i t t i n g f o r a l l food h a n d l i n g e s t a b l i s h m e n t s , m o t e l s , d a i r i e s , and swimming p o o l s , s e p t i c t a n k i n s t a l l a t i o n s and s o l i d waste e n f o r c e m e n t .

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I 1 The A i r P o l l u t i o n C o n t r o l d i v i s i o n of ADEM c o n d u c t s a program of inspec-t i o n and p e r m i t t i n g o f p o t e n t i a l a i r p o l l u t i o n s o u r c e s .

1 RECOMMENDATIONS 1 Employ a minimum of f o u r a d d i t i o n a l s a n i t a r i a n s d u r i n g t h e p l a n n i n g p e r i o d .

T h i s i n c r e a s e i n s t a f f should e n a b l e t h e c e n t e r t o s u r p a s s t h e American P u b l i c H e a l t h A s s o c i a t i o n ' s s t a n d a r d s f o r s a n i t a t i o n s t a f f . The i n c r e a s e d r e s i d e n t i a l development i n areas n o t s e r v e d by sewers h a s d r a s t i c a l l y i n c r e a s e d t h e need f o r I sanitary inspections.

POLICIES I 1. The i n c r e a s i n g number of e l d e r l y i n d i v i d u a l s i n Limestone County should be c o n s i d e r e d i n any p r o p o s a l s f o r h e a l t h development p l a n n i n g program-I 2.

ming.

H e a l t h c l i n i c s and o t h e r o u t - p a t i e n t medical and h e a l t h s e r v i c e s should c o n t i n u e t o be p r o v i d e d i n c e n t r a l l o c a t i o n s where t h e g i v e n f a c i l i t y 1 w i l l have access and v i s i b i l i t y t o t h e p u b l i c .

3. Local h e a l t h and h o s p i t a l a g e n c i e s should c o o r d i n a t e l o c a l p l a n s w i t h t h e I areawide h e a l t h p l a n n i n g proposed t o be r e i n s t i t u t e d v i a t h e North Alabama H e a l t h Systems Agency.

Local p l a n s f o r p h y s i c a l f a c i l i t i e s should be u n d e r t a k e n a c c o r d i n g t o I 4.

s t a n d a r d s u t i l i z e d by t h e Bureau of Health F a c i l i t i e s C o n s t r u c t i o n , Alabama S t a t e Department of H e a l t h .

I 5. Small h e a l t h f a c i l i t i e s such a s d o c t o r ' s o f f i c e s and p r i v a t e c l i n i c s a r e encouraged t o l o c a t e i n r u r a l community c e n t e r s .

I 6. S p e c i a l , s m a l l , p u b l i c h e a l t h c l i n i c s should b e e s t a b l i s h e d i n mobile h e a l t h u n i t s p r o v i d e d t o areas of low-income h o u s i n g , e s p e c i a l l y i n o u t -

l y i n g areas.

I ELECTRIC POWER AND NATURAL GAS I U t i l i t i e s u s i n g wires--electric power, t e l e p h o n e , t e l e g r a p h , f i r e alarm, and p o l i c e c a l l box systems a r e t h e e l e m e n t s under c o n s i d e r a t i o n i n t h i s sec-t i o n . T h i s p l a n i s concerned w i t h t h e l o c a t i o n o f t h e s e w i r e s i n a d d i t i o n t o I t h e l o c a t i o n of t h e b u i l d i n g s r e q u i r e d i n t h e o p e r a t i o n of u t i l i t i e s using w i r e s .

Limestone County i s w i t h i n t h e power s e r v i c e area o f t h e Tennessee V a l l e y A u t h o r i t y . E l e c t r i c e n e r g y i s f u r n i s h e d t o b o t h u r b a n and r u r a l a r e a s of t h e I county through p u b l i c power u t i l i t i e s . The Tennessee V a l l e y A u t h o r i t y f u r n i s h e s power t o t h e C i t y o f Athens. Athens h a s a f r a n c h i s e f o r d i s t r i b u t i o n of power t o t h e e n t i r e county.

J G e n e r a t i n g p l a n t s w i t h i n o r n e a r t h e area i n c l u d e t h r e e dams and two steam p l a n t s r e p r e s e n t i n g a n i n s t a l l e d g e n e r a t i n g c a p a c i t y of 3 , 4 0 3 , 0 0 0 k i l o -

w a t t s i n c l u d i n g t h e f o l l o w i n g i n s t a l l a t i o n s : Widows Creek Steam Plant--1,175,000 I

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k i l o w a t t s ; C o l b e r t Steam Plant--1,300,000 k i l o w a t t s ; Wilson Dam--598,000 k i l o -

w a t t s ; Wheeler Dam--259,000 k i l o w a t t s and G u n t e r s v i l l e Dam--72,900 k i l o w a t t s .

An a d d i t i o n a l s o u r c e of e l e c t r i c power h a s been a c t i v a t e d a t t h e Browns F e r r y Nuclear P l a n t , which p r o d u c e s t h e l a r g e s t s i n g l e c a p a c i t y of a l l p l a n t s i n TVA's A l a b a m a D i s t r i c t ; 4,000,000 k i l o w a t t s .

G A S DISTRIBUTION S Y S T E M G a s i s d e l i v e r e d t o consumers p r i m a r i l y f o r h e a t i n g p u r p o s e s under uniform b u t c o m p a r a t i v e l y low p r e s s u r e s . G a s l i n e s can f o l l o w topography b u t a r e u s u a l l y l a i d w i t h a s l i g h t g r a d i e n t t o a l l o w f o r t h e d r a i n a g e of water caused by c o n d e n s a t i o n .

The t r a n s m i s s i o n l i n e s of t h e Alabama-Tennessee N a t u r a l G a s Company supply t h e county. The t r a n s m i s s i o n l i n e s r u n i n c l o s e p r o x i m i t y t o t h e r i v e r , r a i l -

r o a d s , and highways, a f f o r d i n g e a s y a c c e s s f o r n a t u r a l g a s t o many p r o p e r t i e s c o n s i d e r e d as d e s i r a b l e i n d u s t r i a l s i t e s .

Areas s e r v e d by n a t u r a l g a s i n c l u d e Alabama H w y . 2 0 t h r o u g h s o u t h e a s t e r n Limestone County and a r e a s a l o n g U.S. 31 from Decatur n o r t h t o Athens.

PUBLIC UTILITIES POLICIES U t i l i t i e s having t h e g r e a t e s t i n f l u e n c e upon urban growth p a t t e r n s a r e t h e w a t e r and sewer systems. These systems a r e r e l a t i v e l y c o s t l y and a r e a s i n t o which t h e y can b e economically extended a r e l a r g e l y d e t e r m i n e d by t o p o g r a p h i c c o n d i t i o n s and n a t u r a l b a r r i e r s . The e x t e n s i o n of t h e s e systems t o s e r v e s c a t t e r e d , low d e n s i t y development becomes c o s t l y b e c a u s e a g r e a t e r l e n g t h of l i n e must be i n s t a l l e d t o s e r v e e a c h . i n d i v i d u a 1 customer. A t t h e same t i m e ,

t h e p r o v i s i o n of o t h e r s e r v i c e s i n c l u d i n g t r a n s p o r t a t i o n , s c h o o l s , garbage c o l -

l e c t i o n , e t c . , becomes more c o s t l y . I t f o l l o w s t h e n t h a t a more compact devel-opment p a t t e r n f o r a n u r b a n a r e a g e n e r a l l y l e a d s t o g r e a t e r economy i n t h e pro-v i s i o n of governmental s e r v i c e s . S i n c e t h e a v a i l a b i l i t y of w a t e r and s e w e r ser-v i c e s can d e t e r m i n e where and how urban growth can o c c u r , p o l i c i e s a f f e c t i n g t h e e x t e n s i o n of t h e s e u t i l i t i e s have a c o n t r o l l i n g i n f l u e n c e o v e r urban growth p a t t e r n s . Water and s e w e r e x t e n s i o n p o l i c i e s , t h e r e f o r e , a r e t h e most e f f e c t i v e means a v a i l a b l e t o a community t o g u i d e development i n accordance w i t h planned o b j e c t i v e s f o r f u t u r e growth.

Urban growth p a t t e r n s a r e shaped, t o a l a r g e e x t e n t , by u t i l i t y s e r v i c e policies. T h i s i s b e c a u s e t h e p r e s e n c e o r absence of u t i l i t i e s can determine where urban growth w i l l o c c u r and where i t w i l l n o t . When u t i l i t y s e r v i c e p o l i c i e s a r e c o o r d i n a t e d w i t h an a r e a ' s o b j e c t i v e s f o r f u t u r e growth, a more a t t r a c t i v e and e f f i c i e n t urban environment can be c r e a t e d . Conversely, t h e l a c k of sound u t i l i t y service p o l i c i e s can l e a d t o c h a o t i c development p a t t e r n s and h i g h e r c o s t s f o r government s e r v i c e s .

U t i l i t y s e r v i c e s normally a s s o c i a t e d w i t h urban growth i n c l u d e e l e c t r i c i t y ,

g a s , t e l e p h o n e , w a t e r , and s e w e r . I n terms o f c o n t r o l l i n g urban development 116

1 p a t t e r n s , however, e l e c t r i c , gas, and t e l e p h o n e s e r v i c e s exert l i t t l e i n f l u e n c e .

Urban growth c a n t a k e place w i t h o r w i t h o u t a g a s d i s t r i b u t i o n system because a l t e r n a t i v e f u e l s and power s u p p l i e s a r e a v a i l a b l e , While e l e c t r i c and t e l e -

phone s e r v i c e s a r e t h e major concern of p u b l i c p o l i c i e s f o r t h e s e two u t i l i t i e s .

I- - W A T E R AND SEWER POLICIES

1. E s t a b l i s h a n urban service d i s t r i c t beyond which water and sewer exten-s i o n s w i l l n o t b e made e x c e p t f o r i n d u s t r i a l o r o t h e r n e c e s s a r y p u r p o s e s .

The limits o f s u c h a n urban s e r v i c e d i s t r i c t s h o u l d b e m u t u a l l y agreed upon by t h e g o v e r n i n g b o d i e s of t h e m u n i c i p a l i t i e s and Limestone County.

These limits c o u l d b e reviewed a n n u a l l y and n e c e s s a r y a d j u s t m e n t s made w i t h t h e c o n s e n t of a l l governments. The u r b a n s e r v i c e d i s t r i c t should c o n t a i n o n l y t h o s e p o r t i o n s of t h e county which a r e e i t h e r 1) u r b a n i z e d ,

2) experiencing urbanization, o r 3 ) suited f o r e a r l y urbanization. In d e f i n i n g t h e d i s t r i c t b o u n d a r i e s , due c o n s i d e r a t i o n must be g i v e n t o t h e c a p i t a l programming r e q u i r e m e n t s of t h e l o c a l governments o r d i s t r i c t s and t h e i r f i n a n c i a l a b i l i t y t o extend s e r v i c e s .

2. E s t a b l i s h means of p r o v i d i n g w a t e r and sewer s e r v i c e s on an area-wide b a s i s .

E i g h t y - f i v e p e r c e n t of t h e m u n i c i p a l w a t e r s u p p l y i n Limestone County i s p r o v i d e d t h r o u g h t h e Athens Water System. I t i s l o g i c a l , t h e r e f o r e , t h a t t h i s system c o n t i n u e t o b e expanded t o m e e t f u t u r e needs of t h e county.

T h i s c o u l d be accomplished t h r o u g h s u p p l y i n g w a t e r t o o t h e r s y s t e m through c o n t r a c t u a l a g r e e m e n t s and by e x t e n d i n g t h e Athens system i n t o u n i n c o r -

porated areas.

3. P r i o r i t i e s f o r e x t e n d i n g water and sewer s e r v i c e s s h o u l d be i n t h e follow-ing order:

a. T o developed areas where t h e r e e x i s t s a n immediate t h r e a t t o p u b l i c health.

b. To d e v e l o p i n g a r e a s . The t i m e l y and planned e x t e n s i o n of s e r v i c e s t o d e v e l o p i n g a r e a s p r o v i d e s an o p p o r t u n i t y t o s h a p e u r b a n growth p a t t e r n s and a c h i e v e m a x i m u m economy and e f f i c i e n c y of s e r v i c e .

c. To developed areas w i t h o u t u r g e n t p u b l i c h e a l t h o r s a f e t y problems.

Where development p a t t e r n s have a l r e a d y been e s t a b l i s h e d , w a t e r and sewer e x t e n s i o n p o l i c i e s w i l l have a minimum e f f e c t upon f u t u r e de-velopment p a t t e r n s . While water and s e w e r s e r v i c e s s h o u l d e v e n t u a l l y b e p r o v i d e d t o t h e s e areas t o p r e v e n t f u t u r e h e a l t h p r o b l e m and t o encourage u r b a n i z a t i o n , p r i o r i t y o r t h e i r e x t e n s i o n t o such a r e a s would b e r e l a t i v e l y low.

d. To areas s u b j e c t t o development w i t h i n f i v e t o t e n y e a r s . E x t e n s i o n p o l i c i e s s h o u l d a n t i c i p a t e s h o r t - r a n g e r e q u i r e m e n t s f o r urbar.

growth and l e a d s u c h growth i n t o a p p r o p r i a t e p a t t e r n s t h a t maximize economy and e f f i c i e n c y of s e r v i c e s .

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4. Urban d e n s i t y p a t t e r n s should be p e r m i t t e d o n l y i n a r e a s s e r v e d by w a t e r and s e w e r s y s t e m s .

S e p t i c t a n k s and w e l l s p r e s e n t h e a l t h problems when p e r m i t t e d on t h e s m a l l e r l o t s c h a r a c t e r i s t i c of urban d e n s i t y . County l a n d u s e and sub-d i v i s i o n r e g u l a t i o n s should be a d o p t e d , and t h e i r p r o v i s i o n s should r e q u i r e l a r g e l o t s f o r areas n o t s e r v e d by w a t e r and s e w e r systems. Such pro-v i s i o n s would n o t o n l y p r e v e n t h e a l t h p r o b l e m s , b u t would a l s o encourage a p p r o p r i a t e urban development p a t t e r n s . Such a c t i o n would r e q u i r e l o c a l legislation v i a the State Legislature.

5. Withhold w a t e r and s e w e r e x t e n s i o n s i n t o areas t h a t w i l l be developed a t low, non-urban d e n s i t i e s .

T h i s p o l i c y would p r e v e n t premature development of l a n d n o t y e t r i p e f o r urban development and e l i m i n a t e t h e h i g h c o s t r e q u i r e d t o p r o v i d e urban s e r v i c e s t o such areas.

6. Withhold t h e e x t e n s i o n of water and sewer s e r v i c e s t o areas n o t s u i t e d f o r urban development.

There a r e a r e a s , such a s f l o o d p l a i n s , a i r p o r t i n f l u e n c e zones, o r i s o -

l a t e d l a n d a r e a s w i t h i n t h e b o u n d a r i e s of t h e Wheeler W i l d l i f e Refuge, t h a t should n o t be developed t o urban d e n s i t i e s . By w i t h h o l d i n g water s e r v i c e s from such a r e a s , f l o o d damage can be r e d u c e d , p r e s s u r e s t o r e -

s t r i c t t h e a i r p o r t would be minimized, and proposed a c q u i s i t i o n s of l a n d f o r t h e W i l d l i f e Refuge would be p r e v e n t e d by unwise urban development.

7. Locate water and s e w e r l i n e s and f a c i l i t i e s o n l y when t h e y conform t o t h e County Comprehensive P l a n f o r development and a r e c o o r d i n a t e d w i t h o t h e r r e l a t e d s e r v i c e s o r improvements.

The c o n t r o l o v e r e x t e n s i o n s of w a t e r and sewer f a c i l i t i e s i s t h e most im-p o r t a n t t o o l a v a i l a b l e t o l o c a l governing o f f i c i a l s t o implement a com-p r e h e n s i v e p l a n f o r areawide growth. I t i s e s s e n t i a l t h a t such exten-s i o n s be c o o r d i n a t e d w i t h o t h e r p r e r e q u i s i t e s f o r urban growth, i n c l u d i n g road and s t r e e t c o n s t r u c t i o n , p u b l i c f a c i l i t i e s , and major p r i v a t e devel-opments.

8. Major e l e m e n t s of t h e water and s e w e r systems must be planned on an a r e a -

wide b a s i s .

Major e l e m e n t s o f t h e s e two systems i n c l u d e major mains and o u t f a l l s ,

t r e a t m e n t p l a n t s , and w a t e r r e s e r v o i r s . These e l e m e n t s must be planned on an a r e a w i d e b a s i s i f long-range needs a r e t o be m e t and economies of scale a c h i e v e d .

9. Water and s e w e r e x t e n s i o n s should be accomplished s i m u l t a n e o u s l y .

Where water i s extended t o unsewered a r e a s , s e p t i c t a n k s o r package sewer t r e a t m e n t p l a n t s are r e q u i r e d . Such f a c i l i t i e s f o r t r e a t i n g waste a r e temporary measures a t b e s t and g e n e r a l l y l e a d t o p o l l u t i o n and h e a l t h

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problems. Sound u r b a n development r e q u i r e s b o t h w a t e r and sewer s e r v i c e s .

When t h e y a r e p r o v i d e d i n i n i t i a l s t a g e s of development, h e a l t h y u r b a n growth c a n o c c u r . When one o r b o t h a r e a b s e n t , b l i g h t i n g c o n d i t i o n s f r e -

quently arise.

10. All c o s t s and c h a r g e s f o r c o n s t r u c t i o n and service s h o u l d b e borne by b e n e f i t t e d p r o p e r t y owners o r i n d i v i d u a l s .

The c o s t o f f a c i l i t i e s t h a t s e r v e e n t i r e w a t e r and s e w e r s e r v i c e a r e a s ,

s u c h a s r e s e r v o i r s , t r e a t m e n t p l a n t s , major mains and major o u t f a l l s ,

should be b o r n e by a l l b e n e f i t t e d p r o p e r t y owners w i t h i n such s e r v i c e areas. S e r v i c e s e x t e n d e d a t t h e r e q u e s t of p r i v a t e i n d i v i d u a l s o r de-v e l o p e r s s h o u l d b e p a i d f o r by such i n d i v i d u a l s o r d e v e l o p e r s .

11. F u t u r e water s y s t e m s s e r v i n g t h e u n i n c o r p o r a t e d a r e a s of Limestone County s h o u l d be f i n a n c e d c o o p e r a t i v e l y by t h e p r o s p e c t i v e c u s t o m e r s i n t h e a r e a and by t h e County Commission. I n a d d i t i o n , e a c h new w a t e r system s h o u l d b e e s t a b l i s h e d under t h e c o n t r o l and a d m i n i s t r a t i o n of t h e County Commission, v i a t h e Water A u t h o r i t y .

A d m i n i s t r a t i o n of t h e system s h o u l d b e t h e r e s p o n s i b i l i t y of t h e County Water A u t h o r i t y , and t h e County E n g i n e e r i n g Department s h o u l d p r o v i d e necessary engineering s t u d i e s i n cooperation with consulting firms i f needed.

12. A l l a v a i l a b l e w a t e r r e s o u r c e s f o r t h e Limestone County a r e a s s h o u l d be u t i l i z e d when n e c e s s a r y and f e a s i b l e .

Impending growth r e q u i r e s t h e a s s u r a n c e of an a b u n d a n t water s u p p l y f o r r e s i d e n t i a l and economic a c t i v i t i e s . The c o u n t y government s h o u l d s t u d y a l l long-range p o s s i b i l i t i e s t o &prove an a r e a w i d e w a t e r system.

13. Limestone County government s h o u l d own, manage, and o p e r a t e s a n i t a r y s e w e r s y s t e m s i n u n i n c o r p o r a t e d a r e a s , such a s P r y o r , Tanner, and French M i l l , v i a t h e County Water A u t h o r i t y .

I f m u n i c i p a l i t i e s annex s u c h t e r r i t o r y a f t e r a s a n i t a r y sewer system i s p r o v i d e d , a n agreement f o r t r a n s f e r of c o n t r o l of t h e system t o t h e m u n i c i p a l i t y s h o u l d be e n t e r e d i n t o by Limestone County and t h e g i v e n municipality.

Such an agreement s h o u l d a l s o b e made where a n a r e a becomes i n c o r p o r a t e d as a new m u n i c i p a l i t y upon c o m p l e t i o n of a s e w e r system.

14. I n areas where a m u n i c i p a l i t y e x t e n d s s e r v i c e s t o u n i n c o r p o r a t e d areas, an agreement s h o u l d b e e n t e r e d i n t o d e f i n i n g t h e f i n a n c i a l and p l a n n i n g r e s p o n s i b i l i t y of t h e c o u n t y and t h e m u n i c i p a l i t y .

T h i s type o f an agreement s h o u l d a s s i s t i n d e f i n i n g t h e county r o l e i n financing c o l l e c t i o n l i n e s i n t o p r e s e n t l y unincorporated areas.

119

15. The u s e of s e p t i c t a n k s i n a l l b u t l o w d e n s i t y r e s i d e n t i a l a r e a s should be d i s c o u r a g e d .

S e p t i c t a n k s i n b u i l t - u p areas a r e l i k e l y t o c a u s e p o l l u t i o n of s o i l and ground water s u p p l i e s . Because t h e y a r e a p o t e n t i a l h e a l t h d a n g e r , t h e y

- 16.

s h o u l d o n l y be u s e d i n non-urban areas.

P o l i c y f o r E x t e n s i o n o f Water S e r v i c e SERVICE ECONOMIC POPULATION DENSITY EQUIVALENT LOT S I Z E JUSTIFICATION Over 2,500 p e r s o n s / L e s s than 1 a c r e Justified square m i l e 1,000-2,500 p e r s o n s / 1 to 2 acres Probably J u s t i f i e d square m i l e 500-1,000 p e r s o n s / 2 t o 4 acres Not Normally J u s t i f i e d square m i l e Less t h a n 500 p e r s o n s / Over 4 acres Rarely J u s t i f i e d square m i l e

17. P o l i c y f o r E x t e n s i o n of Sewer S e r v i c e SERVICE ECONOMIC POPULATION DENSITY EQUIVALENT LOT SIZE JUSTIFICATION Over 5,000 p e r s o n s / L e s s than 3 acre Justified square m i l e 2,500-5,000 p e r s o n s / 4 t o 1 acre Normally J u s t i f i e d square m i l e 1,000-2,500 p e r s o n s / 1 t o 2 acres Not Normally J u s t i f i e d square m i l e L e s s than 1,000 Over 2 a c r e s Rarely J u s t i f i e d persons/square m i l e UTILITY W I R E DISTRIBUTION P O L I C I E S E l e c t r i c power and t e l e p h o n e d i s t r i b u t i o n i n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s have d e v e l -

oped p r i m a r i l y as o v e r h e a d systems. Those few underground systems t h a t do e x i s t are found p r i m a r i l y i n c e n t r a l b u s i n e s s d i s t r i c t s and i n a few e x c l u s i v e resi-d e n t i a l s e c t i o n s . The overhead system of d i s t r i b u t i o n w a s o r i g i n a l l y adopted 120

I I because o f i t s minimum c o n s t r u c t i o n c o s t s , f l e x i b i l i t y and s i m p l i c i t y of con-struction.

1 I n t h e e a r l y s t a g e s o f d e v e l o p i n g t h e e l e c t r i c a l d i s t r i b u t i o n i n t h e United S t a t e s , o n l y a few l i n e s w e r e needed t o serve r e s i d e n t i a l areas. I n l a t e r d e c a d e s , t h e expanding use of a p p l i a n c e s and e l e c t r i c h e a t i n g g r e a t l y i n c r e a s e d 1 capacity requirements. I n a d d i t i o n , many o t h e r l i n e s have been added t o t h e p o l e s , i n c l u d i n g t h o s e f z r s t r e e t l i g h t i n g , emergency alarm c i r c u i t s , t e l e -

phones, and t e l e v i s i o n cables. The growing u g l i n e s s o f t h e c l u t t e r e d overhead I system h a s b r o u g h t a b o u t a t t e m p t s t o improve i t s l o o k s . For t h e m o s t p a r t ,

however, l i t t l e h a s been done t o n u l l i f y t h e o b j e c t i o n a b l e a e s t h e t i c f e a t u r e s o f overhead w i r i n g .

I Because o f t h e o b j e c t i o n a l f e a t u r e s of t h e overhead system, t h e r e has been a .growing i n t e r e s t i n p l a c i n g d i s t r i b u t i o n systems or e l e c t r i c and t e l e p h o n e s e r v i c e underground. Recent i n n o v a t i o n s and improved t e c h n i q u e s f o r burying I t h e s e d i s t r i b u t i o n systems have gone f a r t o r e d u c e c o s t s and e l i m i n a t e mzny of o b j e c t i o n s v o i c e d by u t i l i t y c o p p a n i e s and d e v e l o p e r s . These advances i n d i c a t e t h a t t h e development of underground systems w i l l soon n a t u r e t o t h e p o i n t of 1 g e n e r a l acceptance--from an economical a s w e l l as t e c h n i c a l s t a n d p o i n t .

I n t h e meantime, p u b l i c p o l i c i e s concerning t h e l o c a t i o n and a s p e a r a n c e 1 of overhead l i n e s s h o u l d b e s t r e n g t h e n e d . P o l i c i e s t b z t should be c o n s i d e r e d f o r Limestone County and Athens i n c l u d e t h e f o l l o w i n g :

1. Encourage u t i l i t y companies and d e v e l o p e r s t o bury S i s t r i b u t i o n s y s t e m 1 where e c o n o m i c a l l y f e a s i b l e o r where a e s t h e t i c c o n s i d e r a t i o n r e q u i r e such b u r i a l .

8 a. T r e e trimming. The underground system e l b i n a r e s t h e need f o r t r e e trimming which, f o r overhead systems, might rm a s h i g h 2 s $ 4 t o $7 per year per pole.

1 b. Ice and s t o r a g e d r a i n a g e . Wind and i c e s t o m s can c a u s e widespread damage t o overhead systems w h i l e having no e f f e c t on b u r i e d s y s t e n s .

I c. Reduced e x p o s u r e t o a c c i d e n t s . Buried s y s t e m s e l i m i n a t e o r d r a s t i -

c a l l y r e d u c e a c c i d e n t s caused by: c o n s t r u c t i o n equipment making c o n t a c t w i t h wires; automobiles b r e a k i n g p o l e s ; f a l l i n g t r e e s break-8 i n g l i n e s ; p o l e t o p f i r e s ; animals s h o r t i n g o u t l i n e s ; w i r e f a t i q u e ;

u n a u t h o r i z e d p e r s o n s c l i m b i n g p o l e s ; and mzny o t h e r s .

I 2. R e g u l a t e t h e l o c a t i o n of overhead d i s t r i b u t i o n l i x e s i n new l a n d s u M i -

vision.

3. A l l bond i s s u e s r e g a r d i n g s t r e e t l i g h t i n g s h o u l d o f f e r o n l y o r n m e n t a l I 4.

s t a n d a r d s w i t h underground w i r i n g .

Where f e a s i b l e , new a p a r t m e n t a r e a s should be se-Tved by underground 1 wiring.

I 1 21 I

I

5. The C i t y of Athens and o t h e r service d i s t r i c t s should be encouraged t o r e p l a c e u n s l i g h t l y overhead f a c i l i t i e s w i t h more a t t r a c t i v e , modern standard, poles, transformers, etc.

I P o l i c i e s f o r Water, S e w e r , G a s , and E l e c t r i c U t i l i t i e s I n s t a l l e d J o i n t l y i

1. I n newly d e v e l o p i n g a re a s , d e v e l o p e r s and/or p u b l i c and p r i v a t e u t i l i t y a g e n c i e s o r companies s h o u l d be encouraged t o p r o v i d e as complete a u t i l i t y system as p o s s i b l e commensurate w i t h t h e t y p e of development.

I

2. Trunk u t i l i t y l i n e s should be i n s t a l l e d i n advance o r a t t h e t i m e of development i n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h a g e n e r a l p l a n f o r t h e a r e a . Local o r s e r v i c e u t i l i t y l i n e s should be i n s t a l l e d as needed.

I

3. The s o l u t i o n t o s p e c i a l i z e d u t i l i t y problems c r e a t e d by a p a r t i c u l a r t y p e of u s e ( s u c h a s abnormal or peak l o a d power and w a t e r r e q u i r e m e n t s I

4.

o r unusual sewage d i s p o s a l problems of c e r t a i n t y p e s o f i n d u s t r i e s )

s h o u l d be worked o u t by t h e community and t h e p a r t i e s r e s p o n s i b l e .

Where p o s s i b l e , underground u t i l i t i e s should be grouped and l o c a t e d where D

5.

accessible.

A l l u t i l i t y b u i l d i n g s and s t r u c t u r e s such a s t e l e p h o n e exchange b u i l d -

1 i n g s , t r a n s f o r m e r s t a t i o n s , sewage d i s p o s a l p l a n t s , pumping s t a t i o n s ,

water t o w e r s , and r e s e r v o i r s should b e l o c a t e d a d j o i n i n g n o n - r e s i d e n t i a l u s e s wherever p o s s i b l e .

I

6. F u n c t i o n s r e l a t e d t o u t i l i t y o p e r a t i o n s , which a r e n o t d i r e c t l y r e l a t e d t o t h e d e l i v e r y of a s e r v i c e t o a r e s i d e n t i a l a r e a (such a s o f f i c e man-i agement, c o l l e c t i o n of s e r v i c e c h a r g e s , s t o r a g e of materials o r v e h i c l e s ,

maintenance and r e p a i r ) , should be l o c a t e d i n commercial o r i n d u s t r i a l areas. i

7. P u b l i c o r p r i v a t e u t i l i t y b u i l d i n g s t r a n s f o r m e r s t a t i o n s , sewage d i s p o s a l p l a n t s , pumping s t a t i o n s , w a t e r t o w e r s , r e s e r v o i r s , e t c . , s h o u l d be d e s i g n e d ,

landscaped and m a i n t a i n e d i n such a manner s o as to minimize t h e a d v e r s e i

e f f e c t s on a d j o i n i n g u s e s . T h i s i s of p a r t i c u l a r importance i n r e s i -

d e n t i a l areas.

1 RECREATION R e c r e a t i o n h a s l o n g been r e c o g n i z e d as an e s s e n t i a l element i n t h e l i f e t

p a t t e r n of a l l normal i n d i v i d u a l s and f a m i l i e s . The demand o r r e c r e a t i o n a l s p a c e s and f a c i l i t i e s i s i n c r e a s i n g r a t h e r d r a m a t i c a l l y as a r e s u l t of more l e i s u r e t i m e b e i n g a v a i l a b l e ( s h o r t e r work w e e k , l o n g e r v a c a t i o n s , b e t t e r I

m o b i l i t y ) and t h e i n c r e a s e i n d i s p o s a b l e income p e r household.

The R e c r e a t i o n P l a n f o r Limestone County attempts t o c o o r d i n a t e t h e p u b l i c ,

semi-public and p r i v a t e s e c t o r s which p r o v i d e f o r t h e l e i s u r e t i m e n e e d s of I

I 122 I 8

1 1 t h e p e o p l e i n t h e c o u n t y . The c o u n t y of Limestone s h o u l d p r o v i d e f o r t h e d a i l y r e c r e a t i o n needs r e q u i r e d by i t s r e s i d e n t s , e s p e c i a l l y t h o s e r e s i d e n t s i n unin-1 c o r p o r a t e d areas.

The l o c a t i o n and q u a l i t y o f Limestone C o u n t y ' s r e c r e a t i o n and open s p a c e system h a s a s i g n i f i c a n t i n f l u e n c e on t h e o v e r a l l m e n t a l and p h y s i c a l w e l l -

8 b e i n g o f a l l c i t i z e n s . P a r k s and open s e a c e s m e e t human needs f o r o u t d o o r e x e r c i s e , m e n t a l r e f r e s h m e n t , i d e n t i t y , o r i e n t a t i o n and e x p e r i m e n t a t i o n . Open p a r k s and r e c r e a t i o n spaces are i m p o r t a n t p u b l i c f a c i l i t i e s which s e r v e t o im-8 p r o v e and s t a b i l i z e communities, a s w e l l a s m a i n t a i n p r o p e r t y v a l u e s .

t i o n , most l a r g e and many s m a l l i n d u s t r i a l f i r m s c o n s i d e r t h e p r o v i s i o n o f r e c r e a t i o n f a c i l i t i e s an i m p o r t a n t p r i o r i t y i t e m i n any community's roster of I n addi-I c i v i c assets.

I-INVENTORY I Although Limestone County i s endowed w i t h a l a r g e amount of open s p a c e acreage, t h i s open space i s n o t developed f o r a c t i v e r e c r e a t i o n a l use. The I county i s s e v e r e l y d e f i c i e n t i n county and r e g i o n a l p a r k acreage.

Table V-5 d e p i c t s t h e e x i s t i n g p a r k acreage u s e d f o r r e c r e a t i o n w i t h i n I Limestone County. These f i g u r e s i n c l u d e e x i s t i n g p a r k a c r e a g e i n a l l munici-p a l i t i e s a s w e l l . A t p r e s e n t , t h e C i t y of Athens and t h e Towns of Elkmont' and Ardmore have l o c a l p a r k f a c i l i t i e s .

I Although t h e Comprehensive P l a n w i l l c o n c e n t r a t e o n l o c a l needs and p l a n s f o r c o u n t y , r e g i o n a l , and r u r a l community p a r k s , p a r k s l o c a t e d i n Athens w i l l b e c o n s i d e r e d i n t h e a n a l y s i s o f countywide p a r k n e e d s s i n c e many r e s i d e n t s I of u n i n c o r p o r a t e d Limestone County u t i l i z e A t h e n s ' f a c i l i t i e s .

TABLE V-5 8 E X I S T I N G RECREATION AREAS: LIMESTONE COUNTY Administering I Recreation Category Acres Agency Location 8 Lucy Branch B o a t Launch Elk R i v e r Lodge 45 45 Limestone County S t a t e Dept o f Tennessee R i v e r Elk River Conservation 1 L e e High F i s h i n g Camp 45 S t a t e D e p t . of Conservation E l k River Elkmont P a r k 13 Town of Elkmont E l h o nt I Neighborhood Parks Community P a r k Ardmore Park 17 18 11 C i t y of Athens C i t y of Athens Town of Ardmore Athens Athens Ardmor e I C o n s e r v a t i o n Area Wheeler W i l d l i f e Refuge/

TVA R e s e r v a t i o n 13,960 U.S. D e p t . of Interior/TVA Tennessee R i v e r

'I SOURCE: R e g i o n a l Open Space P l a n , TARCOG, H u n t s v i l l e , AL, A p r i l , 1973, as u p d a t e d 1982.

8 123

The s t a n d a r d s upon which t h e R e c r e a t i o n P l a n f o r Limestone County i s based a r e similar t o t h o s e adopted i n t h e TARCOG Regional P a r k s and Open Space P l a n .

U n t i l more s e n s i t i v e measures of r e c r e a t i o n s p a c e demand are developed ( p a r t i -

c i p a t i o n r a t e s f o r s p e c i f i c r e c r e a t i o n a l a c t i v i t i e s by p o p u l a t i o n type), t h e acres p e r thousand p o p u l a t i o n s t a n d a r d c a n s u b s t i t u t e as a g u i d e to be f o l -

lowed. I n t o t a l , t h e r e s h o u l d be a minimum of t e n ( 1 0 ) acres of l o c a l park land f o r e v e r y 1 , 0 0 0 r e s i d e n t s . T h i s r a t i o i s , i n t u r n , d i v i d e d among t h e p a r k sub-types as shown i n Table TABLE V-6 ACREAGE STANDARDS FOR OPEN SPACE LANDS AND FACILITIES Type of Open Space A c r e s Per F a c i 1it y Category 1,000 Persons Neighborhood Park Public Recreation 2 Community Park Public Recreation 3 City-Wide P a r k Public Recreation 5 and S c e n i c Areas R u r a l Community P a r k Public Recreation 10 County Park Public Recreation, 10 S c e n i c Areas, Historic Sites Regionwide S t a n d a r d f o r Local P a r k s 20*

Regional Park Public Recreation, 20 Scenic Areas, Historic Sites C o n s e r v a t i o n Areas Regionwide S t a n d a r d f o r Regional and L a c a l P a r k s 40

• The f i g u r e of 2 0 acres i n c l u d e s county p a r k s , and/or r u r a l cmmunity p a r k s ,

o r u r b a n - l e v e l p a r k s (neighborhood, community, and c i t y - w i d e s a r k s ) , depend-i n g upon t h e s i z e of t h e m u n i c i p a l i t y .

SOURCE: A l a b a m a ' s S t a t e w i d e Comprehensive Outdoor R e c r e a t i o n P l a n , 1 9 8 0 ;

A l a b a m a D e p t . o f C o n s e r v a t i o n and N a t u r a l R e s o u r c e s , b!ontqomey, AL; and TARCOG s t a f f , 1973, updated 1982.

PARK CLASSIFICATIONS Rural Community Park--The Rural Community P a r k i s i n t e n d e d t o s e r v e t h e needs of t h e small community and i s u t i l i z e d a s t h e b a s i c p r o p o s a l i n L l i s 124

p l a n f o r m u n i c i p a l i t i e s of 2,500 o r l e s s . B a s i c a l l y , t h i s p a r k , if p r o p e r l y developed and l o c a t e d , would s e r v e t h e r e c r e a t i o n needs of t h e r e s i d e n t s of t h e a r e a . A minimum s i z e of f i v e a c r e s i s recommended w i t h t h e primary em-p h a s i s on a c t i v e r e c r e a t i o n . I n a d d i t i o n , t h i s type of p a r k can be developed f o r d e n s e l y - s e t t l e d , u n i n c o r p o r a t e d , r u r a l communities i n p a r t s of Limestone County which a r e remote from o t h e r r e c r e a t i o n f a c i l i t i e s .

County Park--This p a r i c u l a r park would s e r v e a l a r g e p a r t of t h e county.

The range of p o p u l a t i o n served by such a f a c i l i t y would be from 1 0 , 0 0 0 t o 40,000 people, and t h e minimum acreage f o r such a p a r k i s 100 a c r e s . Acreage may f l u c t u a t e from 100 acres t o 400 a c r e s . I t i s recommended by t h i s p l a n t h a t 10 acres p e r thousand of p o p u l a t i o n be developed f o r county r e c r e a t i o n a c t i v i t i e s . Included i n t h i s r o s t e r of a c t i v i t i e s could be f a c i l i t i e s o r day camps, g o l f c o u r s e s , swimming, a l a k e f o r b o a t i n g , b o t h w i n t e r and summer s p o r t s ,

i n t e r i o r r o a d s , and o f f - s t r e e t p a r k i n g .

T h i s type of p a r k should be developed by county and s t a t e governments w i t h a s s i s t a n c e from f e d e r a l outdoor r e c r e a t i o n programs where a v a i l a b l e .

S u r p l u s f e d e r a l land could be used f o r such f a c i l i t i e s , and p r i v a t e d o n a t i o n s by l a r g e landowners could be extremely h e l p f u l .

Regional Park--This type of park f a c i l i t y i s i n t e n d e d t o s e r v e t h e open space needs of s e v e r a l c o u n t i e s . Such a f a c i l i t y should s e r v e a minimum of 4 0 , 0 0 0 p e o p l e . A minimum of 250 a c r e s should be developed t o t h e e x t e n t t h a t 20 a c r e s p e r thousand p o p u l a t i o n be developed i n Limestone County.

T h i s park may i n c l u d e a l l p r e v i o u s l y mentioned f a c i l i t i e s f o r both a c t i v e and p a s s i v e r e c r e a t i o n a s w e l l as e x t e n s i v e open space areas, p a r t i c u l a r l y unique areas such as caves and w a t e r f a l l s .

A combination of c o u n t i e s , t h e s t a t e , o r f e d e r a l government should have t h e r e s p o n s i b i l i t y f o r developing parks a t t h e r e g i o n a l l e v e l . S t a t e and f e d e r a l a s s i s t a n c e i s n e c e s s a r y f o r t h e development of t h i s l e v e l of park s i n c e t h e s i z e of t h e f a c i l i t y c l e a r l y o u t s t r i p s l o c a l r e s o u r c e s .

A s w i t h t h e county p a r k , s u r p l u s f e d e r a l land i s e s p e c i a l l y h e l p f u l i n s e t t i n g a s i d e land f o r such a f a c i l i t y a s a r e p r i v a t e d o n a t i o n s .

The remaining three t y p e s of parks--neighborhood, community and citywide--

would be developed by t h e r e s p e c t i v e m u n i c i p a l i t i e s i n t h e county. Athens i s t h e o n l y c i t y i n Limestone County t h a t w i l l be of t h e p o p u l a t i o n s i z e necessary t o s u p p o r t t h e development of neighborhood, community, and citywide p a r k s . The Towns of L e s t e r , and Mooresville would develop one R u r a l Community Park each i n t h e i r r e s p e c t i v e m u n i c i p a l i t i e s a s Elkmont and Ardmore a l r e a d y have one each of t h e s e p a r k s .

Table V-7 d e p i c t s t h e acreage i n p a r k s needed by t h e year 2000 i n L i m e -

s t o n e County. County government w i l l be t o t a l l y o r p a r t i a l l y r e s p o n s i b l e f o r a s s i s t i n g i n t h e development of county and r e g i o n a l p a r k s . I n a d d i t i o n , r e s i -

d e n t s of c e r t a i n u n i n c o r p o r a t e d r u r a l communities may r e q u e s t a s s i s t a n c e of t h e County Commission i n developing r u r a l community p a r k s . This Table c o n s i d e r s r u r a l community p a r k needs f o r m u n i c i p a l i t i e s only s i n c e i t would be extremely 125

c d i f f i c u l t t o assess u n i n c o r p o r a t e d areas t o a t t e m p t t o a d v o c a t e i t s need t o t h e County Commission, u s u a l l y through a community development c l u b .

TABLE V-7 PROJECTED GROSS ACRE NEEDS: LIMESTONE COUNTY

- N e t Acreage T o t a l Added Existing t o be added Acreage Limestone County P a r k s Acreage 1982 1 9 8 2 1990 2000 1974-2000 Neighborhood P a r k s 3 17 6 8 8 19 41 Community P a r k s 1 18 24 12 12 18 66 Citywide P a r k s 0 0 70 20 20 30 140 Rural Community P a r k s 2 24 8 6 7 0 23 County P a r k s 3 115 305 60 80 115 560 Regional P a r k s 0 0 840 120 160 220 1,340 TOTAL 9 174 1,253 226 281 382 2,070 SOUkCE : TARCOG RECOMMENDATIONS ( 1982-1990 1

1. Develop three 125-acre county p a r k s ; two of t h e s e p a r k s should be l o c a t e d i n t h e w a t e r s h e d s o f P i n e y and Limestone C r e e k s , and a t h i r d should be l o c a t e d i n t h e upper p o r t i o n of Swan Creek n e a r Elkmont. T h i s l a t t e r p a r k could assist i n s e r v i n g t h e county p a r k needs of t h e proposed Elhnont V i l l a g e , a new community recommended by t h e TVA and E l k f i v e r Development Association.

2. Limestone County, i n c o o p e r a t i o n w i t h t h e T V A , should d e v e l o p approximately 1,500 acres of r e g i o n a l p a r k along t h e Elk R i v e r upstream from t h e Lee H i F i s h i n g Camp. T h i s p a r k can be l o c a t e d between t h i s camp and t h e G a l l u s I s l a n d v i c i n i t y of t h e E l k R i v e r . C o o r d i n a t i o n between Limestone County and ERDA and TVA w i l l b e needed r e g a r d i n g r e g i o n a l p a r k l o c a t i o n s i n t h i s v i c i n i t y s i n c e t h e proposed new communities w i l l a l s o be developed e a s t of t h i s area. P r o p e r c o o r d i n a t i o n between a g e n c i e s c o u l d a s s u r e t h e r e s i d e n t s o f t h e new communities a n a d d i t i o n a l s o u r c e of p a k l a n d . Lucy Branch Park s h o u l d be r e n o v a t e d and expanded, a s t h e s e f a c i l i t i e s , s e r v -

i n g a low-income area a r e i n a d e q u a t e .

3. R u r a l Community P a r k s should be c o n s i d e r e d f o r t h e u n i n c o r p o r a t e d com-m u n i t i e s of Tanner, Capshaw, French M i l l , and Blackburn d u r i n g t h i s p e r i o d .

A l s o , a d d i t i o n a l p a r k a c r e a g e w i l l be needed i n the v i c i n i t y of Pryor once r e s i d e n t i a l development o c c u r s i n r e l a t i o n t o t h e new General Motors P l a n t , b e i n g expanded. The i n c o r p o r a t e d towns of M o o r e s v i l l e and Lester should each d e v e l o p a r u r a l community p a r k f o r l o c a l p a r k needs. Ardmore and Elkmont a l r e a d y have such p a r k s , a l t h o u g h t h e y s h o u l d be expanded.

126

RECOMMENDATIONS (1991-2000

1. Two 100-acre county parks should be developed; one in the southwestern part of the county near B r o w n s Ferry Road, and one in the far north-western part of the county, southwest of Lester. The beautiful rolling countryside in this vicinity offers innumerable opportunities or recreation development in this area. -

2. Approximately 400 acres should be added to the Elk River Regional Park initiated during the 1981-1990 period. Continued coordination should be maintained between the Department of Interior, TVA, and ERDA in the loca-tion selection of additional park acquisitions.

,r3, Additional rural community park needs should be met for the unincorporated

,communitiesof Thatch, Salem, Owens School, Belle Mina, Fairview, and Greenbrier during this segment of the planning period. The municipalities under 2,500 population should be adequately served by the rural cornunity parks developed during the 1983-1990 period.

POLICIES The following policies are designed to assist the County Commission and other interested agencies and groups in the decision-making process when sites or new parks and recreation areas are considered. The policies are oriented toward rural cornunity parks, county parks, and regional parks.

Rural Community Parks

1. Sites to be used for rural community parks should be reasonably flat to permit their development for active recreation.

2. Sites for rural community parks should be accessible to the user group they are intended to serve. These parks should be located and designed to serve one town or community.

3. The multipurpose use of school grounds to meet local active park needs should be encouraged.

4. The County Commission should seek assistance fram the County Board of Education and local landowners willing to lease or donate land for park sites before the county attempts to purchase land for a rural community park in any area. Community interest is, therefore, a key factor in determining what community will develop a rural community park.

County Parks

1. Features of sites for county parks should be used to their best ad-vantage in park development. Examples of such features are streams, rock outcrops, topography, and the relationship of the park to adjoining de-velopment.

2. Sites for county parks should be acquired in advance of need, 127

3. D i r e c t purchase should be made of s i t e s f o r proposed county p a r k s . Owner-s h i p i n f e e simple w i l l g u a r a n t e e t h a t t h e County Commission has ccmplete c o n t r o l of t h e s i t e and f a c i l i t i e s .

Regional Parks

1. Although t h e l o c a t i o n of r e g i o n a l p G k s and r e s e r v a t i o n s i s dependent on a v a i l a b l e areas of s c e n i c and i n s p i r a t i o n a l q u a l i t y , such areas should be w i t h i n convenient t r a v e l time from a l l major p o r t i o n s of t h e county i n o r d e r t o p r o v i d e necessary r e l i e f from day-to-day l i v i n g .

2. P r e s e r v e s , which a r e a r e a s of h i s t o r i c a l , e c o l o g i c a l , a r c h a e l o g i c a l , o r o t h e r s c i e n t i f i c v a l u e o r a r e a s of o u t s t a n d i n g s c e n i c o r w i l d e r n e s s c h a r a c t e r , must n e c e s s a r i l y be acquired where t h e y occur w i t h no r e l a -

t i o n s h i p t o p o p u l a t i o n o r development.

3. Any r e d u c t i o n i n amount of l e a s e d s t a t e f o r e s t o r p a r k l a n d s o r i n t e r -

mingling p r i v a t e f o r e s t should be d i s c o u r a g e d , and any s t e p s taken t o p r e s e r v e n a t u r a l c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s of n a t u r a l p a r k a r e a s should b e s q -

ported.

4. Any sponsoring agency developing r e g i o n a l p a r k s i n Limestone County should c o o r d i n a t e i t s e f f o r t s w i t h t h e following a g e n c i e s :

a. County Commission

b. S t a t e Department of Conservation

c. S t a t e F o r e s t r y Commission

d. Tennessee V a l l e y A u t h o r i t y

e. U . S . Department of I n t e r i o r ( N a t i o n a l Park S e r v i c e )

f. Elk River Development A s s o c i a t i o n 128

WATER SERVICE The a v a i l a b i l i t y of water i s c r u c i a l t o a n y t y p e of development. Wzter s y s t e m development i s a key e l e m e n t of community p l a n n i n g i n f o u r b a s i c ways: s u p p l y ,

q u a l i t y , q u a n t i t y and d i s t r i b u t i o n . T h i s p o r t i o n of t h e p l a n i s c o n c e r n e d p r i m a r i l y w i t h q u a n t i t y and d i s t r i b u t i o n .

EXISTING SERVICE - The c i t i e s of A t h e n s , Ardmore, M o o r e s v i l l e , Elkmont, and Lester and t h e "Areas" of Be1I.e Mina and G r e e n b r i a r a r e s e r v e d by i n d i v i d u a l water s y s t e m s . S e v e r a l small u n i n c o r p o r a t e d communities i n t h e S o u t h C e n t r a l p o r t i o n o f t h e County a r e s e r v e d by t h e S o u t h Limestone Water System which r e c e i v e s water from Athens and D e c a t u r . The E a s t Limestone Water System s e r v e s t h e E a s t C e n t r a l p o r -

t i o n of t h e County. The F o r t Hampton Water System s e r v e s t h e Western and South-w e s t e r n p o r t i o n o f ' t h e County, and t h e North Limestone Water System p r i m a r i l y s e r v e s t h e N o r t h e a s t e r n p o r t i o n of t h e County. While t h e s e e l e v e n t o t a l s y s t e m s c o v e r a l a r g e p o r t i o n o f t h e County, c o v e r a g e w i t h i n e a c h of t h e s e a r e a s i s n o t complete, and t h e r e a r e l a r g e p o r t i o n s of t h e l o c a l governments f o r m i n g u n i n c o r p o r a t e d County t o t a l l y unserved.

TARCOG h a s a d o p t e d a R e g i o n a l Water P l a n which p r o v i d e s f o r t h e p l a n n e d w a t e r service t o a l l f e a s i b l e areas of t h e TARCOG r e g i o n , i n c l u d i n g Limestone County.

All s y s t e m s p r o p o s e d i n t h i s Limestone County Comprehensive P l a n conform t o t h e R e g i o n a l Water P l a n .

The Limestone County Commission, a l o n g w i t h t h e Limestone County Water A u t h o r i -

t y , h a s h i s t o r i c a l l y p e r f o r m e d t h e r o l e o f l o c a l p e o j e c t s p o n s o r or r u r a l and community water s y s t e m s i n Limestone County. T h e r e f o r e , t h e County Government re-c o g n i z e s t h e r o l e needed t o be performed by t h e County Commission i n p r o m o t i n g sound and o r d e r l y development i n t h e u n i n c o r p o r a t e d a r e a s of t h e County.

INVENTORY OF LIMESTONE COUNTY COMMUNITY AND RURAL SYSTEMS I 1. Ardmore a 2.

3.

4.

M o o r e s v i l l e - B e l l e Mina Water A u t h o r i t y Elkmont Lester 1 5.

6.

E a s t Limestone Water System (County-owned)

S o u t h Limestone Water System (County-owned)

I 7.

8.

F o r t Hampton Water System (County-Owned)

N o r t h Limestone Water System (County-Owned)

I 1. Ardmore: The i d e n t s (1980) i n A l a b a m a Ardmore water s y s t e m s u p p l i e s a p p r o x i m a t e l y 2 , 0 0 0 res-and T e n n e s s e e w i t h an a v e r a g e of a b o u t 1 0 5 , 0 0 0 g a l l o n s p e r d a y of p o t a b l e water from two w e l l s located i n Ardmore, T e n n e s s e e . An a d d i -

t t i o n a l 5,000 gallons per 8

d a y i s s u p p l i e d t o l o c a l i n d u s t r y f o r an a v e r a g e total 129

c 1

demand on the system o f 110,000 g a l l o n s p e r day. The p r e s e n t c a p a c i t y o f t h e system i s 160,000 g a l l o n s p e r day o r 120 g a l l o n s p e r minute. After c h l o r i n a t i o n ,

1 t h e w a t e r is s t o r e d i n two e l e v a t e d t a n k s o f 75,000 - and 150,000 - g a l l o n s .

The system does n o t e x t e n d beyond t h e Ardmore Town l i m i t s i n Alabama, b u t does e x t e n d a b o u t two m i l e s n o r t h w e s t of t h e C i t y i n Tennessee. 8

2. M o o r e s v i l l e - B e l l e Mina: The M o o r e s v i l l e - B e l l e Mina Water A u t h o r i t y s u p p l i e s approximately 7000 r e s i d e n t s of South-East Limeztone County w i t h an e s t i -

mated 100,000 g a l l o n s p e r minute from t h e Horton S p r i n g . The s e r v i c e a r e a i n -

1 c l u d e s t h e t h r e e communities o f B e l l e Mina, G r e e n b r i a r and M o o r e s v i l l e which have a t o t a l p o p u l a t i o n of 2,500. A 100,000-gallon e l e v a t e d t a n k l o c a t e d midway be-tween G r e e n b r i a r and Belle!Mina f u r n i s h e s s t o r a g e f o r t h e system. The system i s I

c a p a b l e of pumping and c h l o r i n a t i n g 144,000 g a l l o n s p e r day from t h e 3,800,000 g a l l o n s p e r day s p r i n g . The d i s t r i b u t i o n system, c o n s i s t i n g of 6-inch d i a m e t e r and smaller p i p e s w a s completed i n 1966, and an e x t e n t i o n i s c u r r e n t l y b e i n g I made n o r t h of M o o r e s v i l l e .

3. Elkmont: The Elkmont Water s y s t e m services a p p r o x i m a t e l y 2 0 0 customers i n and around Elkmont, pumping on t h e a v e r a g e of 47,000 g a l l o n s p e r day from t h e I

G i l b e r t Spring. S t o r a g e c o n s i s t s o f a 60,000-gallons e l e v a t e d s t o r a g e tank i n Elkmont which i s p a r t of t h e Water System. There i s a 50,000-gallon e l e v a t e d t a n k i n t h e middle o f town t h a t h o l d s a reserve f o r a p r i v a t e bonded c o t t o n w a r e -

8 house f a c i l i t y o n l y and i s n o t a p a r t of t h e p u b l i c water system. The e x i s t i n g system c o n s i s t s of 6-inch d i m a t e r l i n e s , w i t h a l a r g e m a j o r i t y o f t o t a l l e n g t h b e i n g smaller d i a m e t e r l i n e s . A p r o j e c t i s c u r r e n t l y underway f o r t h e i n s t a l l a -

t i o n of new l a r g e d i a m e t e r pipe l i n e s t h r o u g h o u t town. A d d i t i o n a l s t o r a g e w i l l I

be added i n t h e i n d u s t r i a l p a r k area, and mechnical and e l e c t r i c a l improvements a t t h e s o u r c e w i l l be i n c l u d e d . The o l d system w a s completed i n 1964. Treatment i s l i m i t e d t o c h l o r i n a t i o n o f t h e water from t h e 216,000 g a l l o n p e r day s p r i n g .

I

4. L e s t e r : Water d i s t r i b u t i o n system serves a b o u t 30 customers w i t h a n average o f a b o u t 1 0 , 0 0 0 g a l l o n s p e r day o f p o t a b l e w a t e r from two deep w e l l s 8

which have a t o t a l c a p a c i t y o f 100,000 g a l l o n s p e r day. The p r e s e n t d i s t r i b u t i o n system, completed i n 1970, c o n s i s t s o f p i p e s i n s i z e s of 6 i n c h e s and smaller.

Treatment i s l i m i t e d t o c h l o r i n a t i o n , and s t o r a g e i s p r o v i d e d by a 50,000-gallon e l e v a t e d tank.

I

5. E a s t Limestone Water System: The E a s t Limestone Water System w a s com-p l e t e d i n t h e e a r l y 1 9 7 0 ' s and i s a t t a c h e d t o t h e E a s t e r n p e r i m e t e r o f t h e Athens I

Water system. I t depends on Athens d i s t r i b u t i o n f o r i t s s o u r c e o f water. A t t h e p o i n t o f t i e - i n n e a r t h e i n t e r s e c t i o n o f Nick Davis Road and t h e C i t y L i m i t s ,

t h e E a s t Limestone System c o n s i s t s o f a b o o s t e r s t a t i o n c a p a b l e o f producing 1

150 g a l l o n s p e r minute o r 216,000 g a l l o n s p e r d a y , depending upon t h e C i t y o f Athens a b i l i t y t o s u p p l y w a t e r . The d i s t r i b u t i o n system serves t h e E a s t C e n t r a l p o r t i o n o f t h e County and s u p p l i e s w a t e r t o r e s i d e n t i a l customers, and a l s o serves E a s t Limestone High S c h o o l . The E a s t Limestone Water System s t o r e s i t s water i n 1

2 c e n t r a l l y l o c a t e d e l e v a t e d t a n k s of 250,000 - g a l l o n s c a p a c i t y . A t t h e time of w r i t i n g t h i s p l a n , a l l of t h e water u s e r s a r e r e s i d e n t i a l o r s m a l l commercial s u b s c r i b e r s . I n 1984, however, t h i s system w i l l s u p p l y water t o a new p r i s o n I

f a c i l i t y p r e s e n t l y u n d e r c o n s t r u c t i o n by t h e S t a t e o f Alabama Department o f Correc-t i o n s , ( a p p r o x i m a t e l y 1 , 2 0 0 i n m a t e s and s t a f f ) .

8 130 I

I I 6. South Limestone Water System: Decatur h a s a 16-inch water l i n e ex-t e n d i n g a c r o s s Wheeler Reservior i n t o Limestone County t o f u r n i s h t h e s o u t h e r n p a r t I of t h e South Limestone Water System w i t h potable w a t e r . The C i t y of Decatur h a s an agreement w i t h t h e County Water A u t h o r i t y t o f u r n i s h up t o 4,000,000 g a l l o n s p e r day, p r i m a r i l y f o r i n d u s t r i a l development. T h i s agreement p r o v i d e s a s u p p l y of p o t a b l e water f o r t h e Decatur-Athens Pryor F i e l d a s w e l l as Tanner Primary and I High School.

An e s t i m a t e d 50,000 t o 75,000 g a l l o n s p e r day o f p o t a b l e water i s now b e i n g I , u s e d . w i t h t h e major u s e r b e i n g t h e John C. Calhoun S t a t e J u n i o r College, which has a s t u d e n t e n r o l l m e n t of approximately 4,200 and a s t a f f and f a c u l t y numbering 80.

The General Motors Saginaw S t e e r i n g G e a r Division P l a n t i s t h e second l a r g e s t u s e r .

I .The .area has approximately 1 0 0 permanent r e s i d e n t s . N o s t o r a g e c a p a c i t y i s l o c a t e d i n t h e area.

7. F o r t Hampton Water System: The p o i n t o f t i e - i n t o t h e C i t y of Athens I Water system i s n e a r t h e i n t e r s e c t i o n of Highway 99 and E l m S t r e e t , and i s a m a s t e r meter connection o n l y , w i t h no pumping r e q u i r e d . The F o r t Hampton Water System i s a d i s t r i b u t i o n system which r e l i e s e n t i r e l y on t h e C i t y of Athens f o r supply I and s t o r a g e from t h e E l m S t r e e t tank. I n this e x t e n s i v e system (which s e r v e s t h e West C e n t r a l and South West p o r t i o n of t h e County) 1,054 s u b s c r i b e r s a r e s e r v e d .

The d i s t r i b u t i o n system c o n s i s t s p r i m a r i l y of 6" d i s t r i b u t i o n main with a minimum I amount of smaller d i a m e t e r p i p e . T h i s system i s p a r t o f t h e county water system.

8. North Limestone Water System: The North Limestone Water System, which c o v e r s and s e r v e s t h e North E a s t q u a d r a n t of Limestone County, connects t o t h e I Northern p e r i m e t e r of t h e C i t y of A t h e n s Water System and depends on t h i s system f o r i t s supply. A t t h e i n t e r s e c t i o n of Highway 127 and Sewell Road, which i s t h e p o i n t o f t i e - i n t o t h e C i t y o f Athens s y s t e m , a pumping f a c i l i t y has been i n s t a l l e d I which i s c a p a b l e of pumping 400 g a l l o n s p e r minute o r 5,760,000 g a l l o n s p e r day, depending upon t h e a b i l i t y of t h e C i t y o f Athens t o s u p p l y w a t e r t o t h e p o i n t of tie-in. The system i s s u p p l i e d w a t e r through a 10-inch d i a m e t e r t r a n s m i s s i o n main I from t h e b o o s t e r s t a t i o n a t Highway 1 2 7 t o a 500,000-gallon s t o r a g e tank n o r t h e a s t of Elkmont n e a r t h e Tennessee S t a t e Line. T h i s c e n t r a l t r a n s m i s s i o n main and s t o r a g e tank p r o v i d e t h e flows and p r e s s u r e o r t h e e x t e n s i v e d i s t r i b u t i o n system, s e r v i n g 1,350 customers, i n c l u d i n g 1,328 r e s i d e n t i a l customers. Johnson Jr. High I School i s among t h e l a r g e s t f a c i l i t i e s served. N o l a r g e i n d u s t r i a l type consumers are s e r v e d by t h i s system, which i s p a r t of t h e county system. There i s a con-n e c t i o n t o t h e Ardmore system, which can provide t h e Ardmore system with w a t e r i n I emergencies as w e l l a s f o r t h e Town of Elkmont.

STANDARDS - The f o l l o w i n g s t a n d a r d s f o r county--wide s e r v i c e have been de-1 veloped i n o r d e r s t a n d a r d s should adequate minimum t o promote sound u t i l i t y development i n u r b a n i z i n g a r e a s . These promote t h e p r o v i s i o n of p o t a b l e w a t e r t o customers and e s t a b l i s h standards f o r r u r a l f i r e protection.

I 1.

2.

Maintain 2 minimum p i p e s i z e of 6 i n c h e s where economically f e a s i b l e .

Maintain f i r e h y d r a n t s spaced a t a maximum d i s t a n c e of 1 , 0 0 0 f e e t between h y d r a n t s where economically f e a s i b l e .

I 3. Maintain no dead-end l i n e s i f p o s s i b l e .

4. Maintain a minimum r e s i d u a l p r e s s u r e of 40 PSI a t p e r i o d s of peak I flow a t a l l l i n e s .

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5. Maintain d i r e c t County Commission a d m i n i s t r a t i o n and Water A u t h o r i t y a d m i n i s t r a t i o n of a l l l i n e s i n a l l u n i n c o r p o r a t e d a r e a s .

WCO~~MENDATIONS - The recommendations f o r County water s e r v i c e f o r t h e p e r i o d 1984 - 2000 w i l l be made on a system by s y s t e m b a s i s . P r i o r i t i z a t i o n of p r o j e c t s among.,systems i s b a s e d on s e v e r a l f a c t o r s , i n c l u d i n g b u t n o t l i m i t e d t o : p r e s e n t demand, u n f o r e s e e n f u t u r e demands, and r e l i a b i l i t y o f t h e C i t y zf R t h e n s - s o u r c e s .

1. Ardmore - These recommendations a r e f o r improvements t o a n e x i s t i n g system.)

a. P r e s e n t s u p p l y c a p a c i t y of 160,000 g a l l o n s p e r day should be expanded t o 210,000 g a l l o n s p e r day.

b. Connection should be made t o t h e L i n c o l n County U t i l i t y D i s t r i c t f o r r e s e r v e water s u p p l i e s ( t h e system i s a l r e a d y connected t o t h e North Limestone System.) i

2. M o o r e s v i l l e - B e l l e Mind Water and F i r e P r o t e c t i o n A u t h o r i t y (These recommendations a r e f o r improvements t o t h e e x i s t i n g s y s t e m . )

a- T i e a metered c o n n e c t i o n t o t h e South Limestone Water System or a r e l i a b l e source.

b. Add 1 0 0 , 0 0 0 g a l l o n s s t o r a g e tank a t a s t r a t e g i c p o i n t of t h e system.

c. Extend l i n e s t o unserved customers w i t h i n t h e A u t h o r i t y ' s j urisdic tional area.

3. Elkmont - ( A new c o n s t r u c t i o n program i s imminent and when implemented s h o u l d s a t i s f y t h e r e q u i r e m e n t s d u r i n g t h e p e r i o d 1984 - 2000)

4. Lester/Salem - These recommendations a r e f o r improvements t o an e x i s t -

i n g system:)

a. C o n s t r u c t a 100,000-gallon s t o r a g e t a n k between Lester and Salem.

b. P r o v i d e c o n n e c t i o n between L e s t e r and Minor H i l l , Tennessee, t o p r o v i d e a c o n t i n u e d p o t a b l e water s u p p l y f o r t h e L e s t e r System.

5. E a s t Limestone Water S y s t e m - (The recommendations a r e f o r improve-ment t o a n e x i s t i n g s y s t e m . )

a. Add d i s t r i b u t i o n l i n e s t o s e r v e more s u b s c r i b e r s i n t h e a r e a s n o t s e r v e d by t h e E a s t Limestone S y s t e m .

b. P r o v i d e a c o n n e c t i o n from t h e South Limestone System t o t h e E a s t Limestone System from o l d U . S . Highway 3 1 s o u t h through P e e t s Corner t o t h e E a s t Limestone System a l o n g U.S. Highway 72 E a s t .

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c. Provide additional connections between the East Limestone and North Limestone Water Systems north of Nick Davis Road.

6. South Limestone Water System -(These recommendations are for improve-ments to an existing system.)

a. Construct connection between this system and the Athens system near Tanner.

b. Construction connection between the South Limestone system and Mooresville Bell Mina system along Alabama 20.

c. Construct a 400,000-gallon storage tank near Tanner.

7. Fort Hampton Water System And Limestone Water System - (The following recommendation is made relative to these two large existing systems.)

a. Provide additional sources. This can be accomplished by locating and providing ground water sources or by constructing alternate facilities near the City of Athens treatment plant which could pump and store water, making it available for use in the North Limestone and Fort Hampton Systems.

b. Improve flows and pressures and reliability by accomplishing the above items.

c. Fill in distribution system in areas heretofore eliminated be-cause of lack of feasibility. These are isolated and unserved pockets of population surrounded by existing systems.

8. West Limestone Water System - (These recommendations are for a new system, added to the Limestone County System. 1

a. Construct a connection between this system (proposed) and the current system on S.R. 99 (Buck Island Bridge), to the 24" diameter City of Athens transmission line.

b. Construct 101,000 linear feet of PVC pipe 6 " or longer in diameter, and 70,000 linear feet of 3 " diameter PVC pipe.

c. Construct a 500,000 storage tank.

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L SEWER SERVICE The d i s p o s a l of sewage i s one of t h e major problems c o n f r o n t i n g l o c a l govern-mental u n i t s . Within urban a r e a s , i n d i v i d u a l d i s p o s a l methods become u n s a t i s -

f a c t o r y and more u n i f i e d systems must be developed. A sewerage system i s a neT-work of d r a i n s and sewers used t o c o l l e c t t h e l i q u i d wastes of an a r e a f o r sub-sequent t r e a t m e n t , a t a wastewater treatment f a c i l i t y .

Although m o s t of t h e unincorporated a r e a of Limestone County w i l l n o t ex-p e r i e n c e a degree of urban development w a r r a n t i n g s e w e r s e r v i c e , t h i s p l a n w i l l recommend sewer s e r v i c e i n s e l e c t e d a r e a s o f t h e county where such s e r v i c e i s

, proposed t o be f e a s i b l e .

I n o r d e r f o r l o c a l a u t h o r i t i e s t o u t i l i z e f e d e r a l funds f o r sewer system development, t h e proposed systems must conform t o t h e r e g i o n a l sewer p l a n de-veloped f o r t h a t area. Local p r o p o s a l s f o r s e w e r system development were t h e r e -

f o r e reviewed f o r conformance t o t h e TARCOG Regional Sewer Plan. The p r o p o s a l s developed by t h e Limestone County Comprehensive P l a n were found t o be i n con-formance w i t h t h i s r e g i o n a l p l a n .

I N V E N T O R Y OF' E X I S T I N G SYSTEMS The o n l y p u b l i c waste water d i s p o s a l systems i n Limestone County s e r v e t h e c i t i e s of Athens and Ardmore, and t h e County-owned system s e r v i n g t h e General Motors Plant-Saginaw S t e e r i n g Gear D i v i s i o n - J . C . Calhoun Community College-Pryor F i e l d Subarea.

Three I n s t i t u t i o n s - - t h e E a s t Limestone and Tanner Schools, and t h e Jackson H o s p i t a l a t L e s t e r a r e served by small p r e f a b r i c a t e d p l a n t s . Due to t h e n a t u r e of t h e s e small p l a n t s , t h e y cannot expand t o s e r v e surrounding development. There-f o r e they are n o t c o n s i d e r e d t o be p a r t of t h e l a r g e r system proposed i n t h i s Plan.

ATHENS Athens' s e w e r system i s t h e l a r g e s t f a c i l i t y of t h i s type i n Limestone County.

The p r e s e n t t r e a t m e n t p l a n t can p r o c e s s 4 , 5 0 0 , 0 0 0 g a l l o n s p e r day. Under c u r r e n t p r o p o s a l s , a r e a s surrounding t h e urbanized c e n t r a l area of Athens . w i l l be provided w i t h sewer b e f o r e 1990. Since community f a c i l i t y s t u d i e s of Athens have explored t h e c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s , needs, and p l a n s of t h i s system i n g r e a t e r d e t a i l , t h e s e s t u d i e s should be c o n s u l t e d f o r more d e t a i l on t h i s system, i n t h e o f f i c e of t h e Athens C i t y planner.

ARDMORE The Ardmore s e w e r system, completed i n 1969, now s e r v e s most of t h e two towns' r e s i d e n t s . A t t h e d e s i g n flow of 220,000 gal/day and t h e design l o a d i n g of 2 , 2 0 0 p o p u l a t i o n e q u i v a l e n t s , t h e extended a e r a t i o n t r e a t m e n t p l a n t should remove 90 p e r c e n t of t h e BOD ( B i o l o g i c a l Oxygen Demand). The p r e s e n t e s t i m a t e d average f l o w t o t h e t r e a t m e n t p l a n t i s 140,000 gal/day, i n c l u d i n g about 4 , 0 0 0 134

gal/day from local i n d u s t r y . Because of t h e h i g h s t r e n g t h o f t h e i n d u s t r i a l wastes, t h e t o t a l l o a d i n g i s e s t i m a t e d a t 2,000 p o p u l a t i o n e q u i v a l e n t s . A f t e r t r e a t m e n t , t h e waste water is discharged i n t o Piney Creek n e a r mile 39.0. Pro-blems i n t h e s y s t e m i n c l u d e an e x c e s s i v e amount of i n f i l t r a t i o n . The town h a s r e c e n t l y prepared a n e n g i n e e r i n g s t u d y t o a l l e v i a t e t h i s problem, and i s on t h e ADEM p r i o r i t y l i s t f o r e v e n t u a l funding, now t h a t h d m o r e ' s i n f i l t r a t i o n /

i n f l o w s t u d y has been completed.

SMALL TREATMENT PLANTS Three i n s t i t u t i o n s i n Limestone County a r e s e r v e d by small package sewage t r e a t m e n t p l a n t s . The Tanner school i s i n an area proposed t o be served by t h e county waste water system ( provided t h e c i t y of Athens does n o t annex Tanner.)

The t w o s c h o o l s should connect t o t h e l a r g e r systems when completed. Jackson H o s p i t a l , a small h o s p i t a l a t L e s t e r , i s l o c a t e d i n a area expected t o ex-p e r i e n c e very l i t t l e growth and t h e h o s p i t a l w i l l p r o b a b l y have t o continue t o r e l y on package t r e a t m e n t . The E a s t Limestone School i s i n an a r e a expected t o undergo c o n s i d e r a b l e growth d u r i n g t h e t i m e span of t h i s r e p o r t , b u t it w i l l probably prove t o be economically i n f e a s i b l e t o i n c o r p o r a t e i n a n a r e a system.

STANDARDS

1. Provide s e r v i c e with a minimum s i z e l i n e of 8 i n c h e s .

2. Provide a t r e a t m e n t d e s i g n c a p a c i t y i n e x c e s s o f p r e s e n t need a t a minimum of t e n y e a r s s e r v i c e .

3. C o n s o l i d a t e sewer i n t e r c e p t o r and c o l l e c t i o n systems i n t o one uni-t a r y t r e a t m e n t system on a watershed b a s i s .

4. Discourage t h e expansion of package t r e a t m e n t p l a n t s . Encourage s u r r o u n d i n g s e r v i c e a r e a s t o be s e r v e d by a conventional t r e a t m e n t system.

5. Encourage t h e use o f secondary ( b i o l o g i c a l ) t r e a t m e n t a s w e l l a s primary ( s o l i d s removal) t r e a t m e n t . The Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) r e q u i r e s a minimum of secondary t r e a t m e n t , as w e l l as primary t r e a t m e n t . Systems should be de-s i g n e d so as t o i n c o r p o r a t e t e r t i a r y t r e a t m e n t a t a l a t e r d a t e .

RECOMMENDATIONS ( 1 9 8 3 - 2 0 0 0 (UNINCORPORATED LIMESTONE COUNTY)

SOUTH LIMESTONE COUNTY ( Pryor Field-General Motors-Community College Area--

E x i s t i n g System)

The County o f Limestone has been funded by t h e Environmental P r o t e c t i o n Agency f o r a g r a n t t o e n a b l e them t o connect w i t h t h e Decatur Waste water d i s -

p o s a l system. This connection i s made by means o f a 16-inch f o r c e main under t h e Tennessee River (Wheeler L a k e ) . Included i n t h e system i s an a d d i t i o n t o t h e Decatur waste t r e a t m e n t p l a n t t o accommodate t h e a d d i t i o n a l volume of do-m e s t i c and i n d u s t r i a l waste from s o u t h Limestone County. The a r e a i n South Limestone County served i n c l u d e s a l a r g e i n d u s t r i a l complex, i n c l u d i n g t h e General Motors P l a n t , J u n i o r College, and Pryor F i e l d A i r p o r t . The system should be expanded t o t h e S p r i n g Branch Creek watershed a l o n g 1-65 and 1-565.

TANNER (System Proposed f o r Development)

The a r e a should develop a waste water c o l l e c t i o n system t o s e r v e both Tanner and t h e r e s i d e n t i a l areas a l o n g U.S. Hwy 31. The number of g a l l o n s t o be served by t h i s system by 2000 should be a b o u t 200,000 gal/day. N o i n d u s t r i a l wastes a r e ex-pected t o be t r e a t e d by t h e municipal system. A 300,000 gal/day c a p a c i t y sewage t r e a t m e n t is proposed. The r e c e i v i n g stream f o r t h e t r e a t e d , e f f l u e n t should be Spring Creek (7-day, ten-year r e c u r r e n c e i n t e r v a l flow of 160,000 gal/day) which f l o w s i n t o t h e r e l a t i v e l y shallow Spring Creek embayment of Wheeler Reservoir.

(Eventual i n c o r p o r a t i o n i n t o t h e Athens c i t y system may v o i d t h i s recommendation).

The treatment f a c i l i t y should be designed i n accordance with t h e d e f i n i t i o n of " b e s t p r a c t i c a b l e t r e a t m e n t " (secondary t r e a t m e n t and n i t r i f i c a t i o n ) . The ADEN i s r e s p o n s i b l e f o r determining what a d d i t i o n a l l e v e l s of waste t r e a t m e n t be-yond b e s t p r a c t i c a b l e may be r e q u i r e d .

OTHER AREAS OF LIMESTONE COUNTY The i n c o r p o r a t e d a r e a s of L e s t e r and Mooresville a r e n o t expected t o undergo urban development t o a l e v e l needing s a n i t a r y sewer systems. I n a d d i t i o n , areas undergoing development i n unincorporated a r e a s , such a s E a s t Limestone County, a r e a l s o c o n s i d e r e d t o have a l e v e l of development which could n o t f e a s i b l e s u p p o r t a s a n i t a r y sewer system between 1983-2000. These a r e a s must c o n t i n u e t o r e l y on s e p t i c t a n k s and t i l e f i e l d s where p e r c o l a t i o n t e s t s i n d i c a t e p r o p e r s o i l c o n d i t i o n s . A p o s s i b l e e x c e p t i o n t o t h e s e g e n e r a l s t a t e m e n t s could be t h e French M i l l a r e a .

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1 i 1.

I I

I CHAPTER 6 I- TRANSPORTATION PLAN I F u t u r e t r a n s p o r t a t i o n p l a n n i n g must s t r i k e a b a l a n c e between t h e r e g i o n a l and local aspects o f t h e t o t a l problem i f i t i s t o be s u c c e s s f u l . Where an a r e a I is p a r t of a m e t r o p o l i t a n r e g i o n and i s l o c a t e d a l o n g one o r more of i t s major t r a n s p o r t a t i o n c o r r i d o r s , a s i s t h e case i n L i m e s t o n e County, a s u b s t a n t i a l amount o f t r a f f i c t r a v e l i n g i n t o o r o u t of t h e r e g i o n a s w e l l a s t o and from 1 l o c a l p o i n t s must be accommodated. I t i s a l s o i m p o r t a n t t o t a k e i n t o a c c o u n t t h e need t o p r e s e r v e t h e c h a r a c t e r of t h e a r e a s u r r o u n d i n g t h e r o a d . A network of r o a d s which i s e s t a b l i s h e d w i t h o u t a p r o p e r c o n s i d e r a t i o n f o r t h i s n e e d c o u l d r e s u l t i n s u b s t a n t i a l d e t e r i o r a t i o n of t h e environment.

1 One of t h e m o s t d i f f i c u l t problems f a c e d by a r a p i d l y growing county i s p r o v i d i n g f o r t h e r o a d s and highways n e c e s s a r y t o s e r v e p r e s e n t and f u t u r e de-I velopment. I t i s t h e r e f o r e a n i m p o r t a n t f a c e t of t h e Limestone County Compce-h e n s i v e P l a n t o t h o r o u g h l y c o n s i d e r t h e c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s and f u n c t i o n i n g of t h e c o u n t y s p r e s e n t r o a d system w i t h a view towards i n c r e a s i n g s a f e t y , c o n v e n i e n c e ,

I and e f f i c i e n c y , p a r t i c u l a r l y i n l i g h t of f u t u r e p l a n s and p r o j e c t i o n s .

For t h e m o s t p a r t , t h e e x i s t i n g s t a t e r o a d a l i g n m e n t s p r o v i d e t h e b a s i c network of m a j o r r o a d s , and t h e e x i s t i n g c o u n t y r o a d s p r o v i d e t h e b a s i c network I of c o l l e c t o r r o a d s i n t h e c o u n t y . T o g e t h e r t h e s e h a n d l e t h e b u l k o f p r e s e n t and f u t u r e t r a f f i c movements t h r o u g h and between v a r i o u s s e c t i o n s of Limestone County.

I GOALS I One o f t h e f i r s t s t e p s i n t h e t r a n s p o r t a t i o n p l a n n i n g p r o c e s s i s t o d e f i n e t r a n s p o r t a t i o n g o a l s . With t h i s i n mind, t h e Limestone County Commission h a s adopted t h e f o l l o w i n g t r a n s p o r t a t i o n g o a l s :

t -- T o m a i n t a i n a c o n t i n u o u s r e v i e w and u p d a t i n g o f t h e major s t r e e t and highway p l a n j o i n t l y by t h e Limestone County Commission, County E n g i n e e r i n g Department, t h e Top o f Alabama R e g i o n a l C o u n c i l o f Govern-I m e n t s , a n d , where s t a t e highways a r e i n v o l v e d w i t h t h e Alabama Highway Department.

-- T o cooperate w i t h o t h e r governmental a g e n c i e s toward development of a I c o o r d i n a t e d t r a n s p o r t a t i o n system f o r Limestone County. T h i s system should :

I I C 137 I

1. Minimize t r a v e l times between t h e v a r i o u s areas of a c t i v i t y .

2. P r o v i d e f o r t h e f r e e flow of p e o p l e and goods through and w i t h i n t h e county and e l i m i n a t e l a c k of a c c e s s t o i s o l a t e d areas of t h e county.

3. Minimize t h e amount o f l a n d r e q u i r e d f o r c i r c u l a t i o n w i t h i n t h e l i m i t s o f convenience.

4. Minimize t h e h a z a r d s and u n d e s i r a b l e e f f e c t s of a i r p o r t f a c i l i t i e s i n s u r r o u n d i n g areas.

5. Ensure t h a t a d e q u a t e p a r k i n g w i l l be p r e s e n t f o r a l l f a c i l i t i e s which have need of it.

6. S y s t e m a t i c a l l y upgrade a l l s u b s t a n d a r d r o a d s i n Limestone County which a r e deemed n e c e s s a r y t o s e r v i c e t h e r e s i d e n t s of t h e county.

7. P r o v i d e a highway network which i s o r d e r l y and can be understood by v i s i t o r s and r e s i d e n t s u n f a m i l i a r w i t h i t s arrangement.

8. Ensure s a f e t y and convenience of p e d e s t r i a n s by minimizing t h e c o n f l i c t s of major p e d e s t r i a n and v e h i c u l a r p a t h s .

9. Encourage t h e o r d e r l y and t i m e l y development of b o t h commercial and g e n e r a l a v i a t i o n where n e c e s s a r y and f e a s i b l e .

10. Encourage t h e p r o v i s i o n of r a i l s e r v i c e t o a l l f u n c t i o n s i n t h e p l a n n i n g r e g i o n which r e q u i r e i t .

11. Promote t h e c o n s o l i d a t i o n of r a i l l i n e s and t h e e l i m i n a t i o n of un-n e c e s s a r y d u p l i c a t e t r a c k s and r a i l r o a d g r a d e c r o s s i n g s wherever possible.

12. Program t h e b a l a n c e d expansion of a i r t r a n s p o r t a t i o n f a c i l i t i e s t o keep p a c e w i t h growing needs.

To e s t a b l i s h a p r i o r i t y l i s t i n g f o r t h e p r o j e c t u n i t s i n t h e t o t a l system.

T o reserve right-of-way and p r o v i d e f o r f r o n t a g e improvements a s a con-d i t i o n t o a l l l a n d development as r e q u i r e d f o r t h e f u t u r e t r a n s p o r t a t i o n network.

T o e s t a b l i s h d e s i g n c r i t e r i a and maintenance p r o c e d u r e s f o r l a n d s c a p i n g o f m a j o r s t r e e t s and highways t o make such roadways more p l e a s a n t f o r t h e t r a v e l i n g p u b l i c w h i l e minimizing t h e d e t r i m e n t a l e f f e c t s of major t r a f f i c ways on a b u t t i n g p r o p e r t i e s .

To p r o v i d e a system f o r c o o r d i n a t i o n and management of e x i s t i n g and proposed f a c i l i t i e s w i t h adequate p r e v e n t a t i v e maintenance.

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I -- To promote t h e enhancement o f harmonious t r a n s p o r t a t i o n c o r r i d o r l a n d u s e r e l a t i o n s h i p s t h a t s u p p o r t t h e economic, p h y s i c a l and s o c i a l d e v e l -

opment of t h e c o u n t y .

I -- T o d e v e l o p , i n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h t h e Comprehensive P l a n , scenic r o u t e s l e a d i n g t o major r e c r e a t i o n a l a r e a s .

I --- T o d e v e l o p c a p i t a l improvements programming t o e f f e c t i v e l y implement t r a n s p o r t a t i o n p r o j e c t s a c c o r d i n g t o p h y s i c a l and f i n a n c i a l c o n s t r a i n t s I -- and p r i o r i t i e s .

To i n c r e a s e c i t i z e n p a r t i c i p a t i o n i n t h e development and e v a l u a t i o n of b o t h s h o r t and long-range t r a n s p o r t a t i o n p l a n s .

I -- , T o e s t a b l i s h a w e l l - s t r u c t u r e d c l a s s i f i c a t i o n of r o a d s and highways d e s i g n e d t o perform t h e d i f f e r e n t f u n c t i o n s and i n t r i n s i c l a n d u s e I --

c o n s i d e r a t i o n s and t r a v e l p a t t e r n s and demands i n t h e c o u n t y .

T o i n s u r e t h a t t h e t r a n s p o r t a t i o n syscem serves t o c o o r d i n a t e and I complement a l l o t h e r community s e r v i c e f u n c t i o n s , l a n d u s e a c t i v i t i e s ,

and e n v i r o n m e n t a l c o n s i d e r a t i o n s .

FUNCTIONAL CLASSIFICATION I .

The development of a n e f f e c t i v e t r a f f i c c i r c d l a t i o n system requires t h e a l -

l o c a t i o n of f u n c t i o n s t o d i f f e r e n t c a t e g o r i e s of r o a d s . Each t y p e o f road I s e r v e s a d i f f e r e n t p u r p o s e i n t h e c i r c u l a t i o n p a t t e r n and, t h e r e f o r e , should be c o n s t r u c t e d and m a i n t a i n e d a c c o r d i n g t o i t s f u n c t i o n .

I I n 1968, t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s Deparlment of T r a n s _ p r t a t i o n began a program o f f u n c t i o n a l c l a s s i f i c a t i o n of a l l p u b l i c s t r e e t s and r o a d s i n t h e n a t i o n . Road c l a s s i f i c a t i o n i n A l a b a m a i s t h e r e s p o n s i b i l i t y of the A l a b a m a Highway Depart-ment working i n c o n j u n c t i o n w i t h a s t a t e highway c l a s s i f i c a t i o n committee and I t h e l o c a l t r a n s p o r t a t i o n c o o r d i n a t i n g committee.

For t h e p u r p o s e s of t h i s s t u d y , t h e s t a t e has been d i v i d e d i n t o r u r a l areas I and urban areas. I n r u r a l a r e a s , t h e f o l l o w i n q c l a s s i f i c a t i o n s have been de-veloped :

I R u r a l P r i n c i p a l A r t e r i a l System I n t e r s t a t e System Other P r i n c i p a l Arterials I R u r a l Minor A r t e r i a l Road System R u r a l C o l l e c t o r Road System I Major C o l l e c t o r Roads Minor C o l l e c t o r Roads R u r a l Local Road System I

I I 139

I I n urban areas, t h e f o l l o w i n g c l a s s i f i c a t i o n s have been developed: I Urban P r i n c i p a l A r t e r i a l System Interstate Other Freeways and Expressways Other P r i n c i p a l A r t e r i a l s I

Urban Minor A r t e r i a l S t r e e t System I Urban C o l l e c t o r S t r e e t System Urban Local S t r e e t System I

I n t h e t r a n s p o r t a t i o n p l a n f o r Limestone County, t h e f o l l o w i n g road clas-s i f i c a t i o n s are u t i l i z e d : I P r i n c i p a l A r t e r i a l s - - M a j o r s t r e e t s and r o a d s used f o r high volume t r a f f i c movement t o , w i t h i n , and through t h e county. I Major Collectors--Major s t r e e t s and r o a d s used f o r t r a f f i c of moderate-to-f a s t speeds and r e l a t i v e l y h i g h t r a f f i c volumes between communities t o be r e -

q u i r e d i n L e s t e r , E a s t Limestone, and Tanner. Many of t h e s e r o a d s should be I

widened where p o s s i b l e and e x t e n s i v e maintenance completed. I n a d d i t i o n , a l l r o a d s w i l l r e q u i r e improved marking. A l l unpaved r o a d s i n t h i s area should be graded and paved. I An o r g a n i z e d r o a d i d e n t i f i c a t i o n system and r o a d m a r k e r s should be imple-mented f o r a l l county-maintained r o a d s n o t b e a r i n g r o u t e numbers.

i r o a d s do n o t have e i t h e r names o r numbers, and most r o a d s have no markings.

Most county 1 Roads b e a r i n g name s i g n s a r e n o t marked a c c o r d i n g t o any uniform marking system.

IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM I The Limestone County P l a n n i n g Program recommends t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n of t h e f o l l o w i n g new r o a d s , i n t h e o r d e r i n d i c a t e d , i n o r d e r t o open up a r e a s of t h e county p r e s e n t l y i s o l a t e d and t o a l l o w f o r t h e f u l l development of t h e s e areas.

I A r te r i a ls I

1. The S t a t e Highway Department proposes t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n of I n t e r s t a t e 565 t o commence a t a new i n t e r c h a n g e w i t h 1-65, of t h e p r e s e n t 1-65 Alabama 20 i n t e r c h a n g e . The new 1-565 w i l l c o u r s e e a s t - n o r t h e a s t ,

s o u t h of G r e e n b r i e r , i n t o Madison County. An i n t e r c h a n g e w i l l be I

p r o v i d e d a t M o o r e s v i l l e . C o n s i d e r a t i o n s h o u l d a l s o be g i v e n t o i n t e r -

changes a t G r e e n b r i e r and County Line R o a d .

a l r e a d y approved by t h e ASHD.

The one a t G r e e n b r i a r i s I

2. Alabama 53 i s proposed by t h e S t a t e Highway Department t o be improved a l o n g t h e c u r r e n t a l i g n m e n t through n o r t h e a s t e r n Limestone County.

I T h i s r o u t e would p r o v i d e an a r t e r i a l r o u t e from H u n t s v i l l e t o 1-65 I

140 I

I

I I n e a r Ardmore.

S e c t i o n Road t o 1-65.

The improved r o u t e would t h e n r u n west a l o n g Elkwood T h i s r o u t e would t h e n t r z v e r s e t h e r a i l r o a d 1 t r a c k s s o u t h of Ardmore t o i n t e r c h a n g e w i t h 1-65 a t t h e e x i s t i n g A r d m o r e (south) interchange.

Collectors 1 1. The c z u n t y r o a d from t h e 1-65 Thatch I n t e r c h a n g e t o Elkmont h a s been c o n s t r u c t e d t o F e d e r a l Aid Secondary Road s t a n d a r d s . T h i s I r o a d serves t h e Elkmont I n d u s t r i a l P a r k w i t h a c c e s s t o 1-65.

a d d i t i o n , t h i s r o a d w i l l be extended e a s t w a r d t o connect w i t h t h e proposed P r i n c i p a l A r t e r i a l r e a l i g n m e n t i n t h e Alabama Highway 53 In t r a f f i c c o r r i d o r . T h i s road i s a l s o proposed t o be extended w e s t I t o S t a t e Road 1 2 7 , t o t h e e n t r a n c e t o t h e TC'A-s2onsored Elkmont R u r a l V i l l a g e . Thus, R u r a l V i l l a g e t r a f f i c w i l l g a i n d i r e c t access t o 1-65, t o t h e e a s t , and a l o n g t h e route, t o t h e Ellhnont Indus-I 2.

t r i a l Park.

Realignment of County Road 84 from Alabama tiighwty 1 2 7 t o County I Road 90. T h i s r e a l i g n m e n t w i l l p r o v i d e westerr. county employment access t o t h e proposed i n d u s t r i a l a r e a n o r t h of .=-=hens and 1-65.

3. N e w r o u t i n g of County Road 2 4 e a s t and w e s t of Csunty Road 2 9 . No I p r e s e n t r o u t i n g e x i s t s f o r t h i s proposed r e a l i q m e n t .

4. Shanghai Road (County Road) should b e added t o t h e F e d e r a l Aid I Secondary System t o p r o v i d e a c c e s s from t h e r a F i E l y d e v e l o p i n g West Limestone County a r e a eastward t o t h e ecor.ozic hub of Lime-s t o n e County, the urban a r e a of Athens.

I Local Roads

1. The c o u n t y r o a d fram Lester t o Beulah Church neEds complete recon-1 s t r u c t i o n , i n c l u d i n g new b r i d g e s f o r Sugar Creek and i t s t r i b u t a r i e s .

2. New a l i g n m e n t s w i l l e v e n t u a l l y be neede2 I n sonf-. Limestone County 1 n e a r t h e G e n e r a l Motors P l a n t a r e a . Air2crz 3 0 ~ 5 ,o r y o r Road, and i n t e r s e c t i n g r o u t e s w i l l need e i t h e r repai;ir.q o r r e a l i g n m e n t , de-pending upon t h e new growth i n t h e a r e a .

I POLICIES The f o l l o w i n g s e t o f p o l i c i e s d e s c r i b e s overall p o l i c i e s zo T J i d e d e c i s i o n -

I making r e g a r d i n g any g i v e n t r a n s p o r t a t i o n e f f o r t : i n a < d i t i c n , 2 f-iurther s e t of p o l i c i e s p e r t a i n s t o s p e c i f i c areas of t r a n s p o r t a t i o n p l a n n i n q m d implementa-tion :

I 1. The s a f e t y and t r a f f i c - c a r r y i n g c a p a c i t y of i n t e r c h a n g e a r e a s and a r t e r i a l c o r r i d o r s should be p r o t e c t e d from a d v e r s e laxd development.

( I n t e r c h a n g e areas and a r t e r i a l c o r r i d o r s a t t r a c c i n t e n s i v e areawide I growth which c a n u l t i m a t e l y undermine t h e efficient-J and s a f e u s e of I

141 I

I t h e s e r o u t e s . County development should n o t be d i s c o u r a g e d from l o c a t -

i n g n e a r t h e s e r o u t e s a s e f f e c t i v e a c c e s s t o t h e t r a n s p o r t a t i o n system I

i s needed by major l a n d u s e s . However, r e g u l a t i o n s should a s s u r e t h a t t h e i n t e n s i v e growth w i l l n o t o v e r t a x t h o r o u g h f a r e c a p a c i t y . N e w de-velopment s h o u l d m e e t a c c e p t a b l e s i t e s t a n d a r d s : a c c e s s c o n t r o l , t h e p r o v i s i o n of s u i t a b l e s e r v i c e r o a d s , o f f - s t r e e t p a r k i n g and l o a d i n g ,

- etc. )

2. A d i v e r s i f i e d highway system, which i n c l u d e s t h e u s e of t h e same r o u t e s i n a p p r o p r i a t e a r e a s , s h o u l d be c r e a t e d i n t h e c o u n t y .

3. E s t a b l i s h a w e l l - s t r u c t u r e d t r a n s p o r t a t i o n system t o i n s u r e u n i t y o f community, convenience o f . c i t i z e n s , and o p e r a t i o n of p u b l i c i n s t i t u t i o n a l and commercial f a c i l i t i e s by a l l o w i n g p e r s o n s t o move about e a s i l y ,

s a f e l y and w i t h o u t s i g n i f i c a n t i n t e r r u p t i o n .

4. Promote t h e enhancement of harmonious t r a n s p o r t a t i o n c o r r i d o r - l a n d u s e and s e c t o r r e l a t i o n s h i p s t h a t s u p p o r t t h e economic, p h y s i c a l , and s o c i a l development o f t h e c o u n t y .

5. Develop c a p i t a l improvements programming t o e f f e c t i v e l y implement t r a n s p o r t a t i o n p r o j e c t s a c c o r d i n g t o p h y s i c a l and f i n a n c i a l c o n s t r a i n t s and p r i o r i t i e s .

6. I n c r e a s e c i t i z e n p a r t i c i p a t i o n i n t h e development and e v a l u a t i o n of b o t h s h o r t - and long-range t r a n s p o r t a t i o n p l a n s .

7. I n s u r e t h a t t h e t r a n s p o r t a t i o n system s e r v e s t o c o o r d i n a t e and comple-ment a l l o t h e r cannuunity s e r v i c e f u n c t i o n s , l a n d u s e a c t i v i t i e s , and en-vironmen t a 1 cons i d e r a t i o n s .

8. Encourage sound development p a t t e r n s i n t h e Athens c e n t r a l b u s i n e s s area through c o o r d i n a t i o n and best u s e of v a r i o u s t r a v e l methods which a i d new l a n d development and redevelopment of decaying a r e a s .

THOROUGHFARES

1. E s t a b l i s h a c u r r e n t and v i a b l e t h o r o u g h f a r e system f o r t h e area which sets f o r t h p r o v i s i o n f o r t h e development, redevelopment, improvement, e x t e n s i o n and r e v i s i o n of a r t e r i a l s , c o l l e c t o r s , and o t h e r ( l o c a l )

county r o a d s .

2. The t h o r o u g h f a r e p l a n must be w i t h i n t h e r e a s o n a b l e and f o r e s e e a b l e f i n a n c i a l c a p a b i l i t i e s of t h e community and should f o l l o w t h e improve-ment s c h e d u l e e s t a b l i s h e d i n t h e adopted Limestone County Comprehensive P l a n s u b j e c t t o most r e c e n t l o c a l i z e d e v a l u a t i o n s .

3. The planned t h o r o u g h f a r e system should be d e s i g n e d and implemented t o o p e r a t e as a t o t a l and i n t e g r a t e d system t o accommodate and serve e x i s t i n g and a n t i c i p a t e d t r a v e l demand e f f i c i e n t l y .

142 I

i

I, c

I 4. E s t a b l i s h a w e l l - s t r u c t u r e d h i e r a r c h y of streets designed t o -perform t h e d i f f e r e n t f u n c t i o n s b a s i c t o land u s e c o n s i d e r a t i o n s and t r a v e l I p a t t e r n s and demands i n t h e county a r e a .

5. The t h o r o u g h f a r e p l a n should r e f l e c t t h e h i g h s t a n d a r d s of geometric I 6.

d e s i g n as w e l l as high a e s t h e t i c s t a n d a r d s and a t t r a c t i v e lanciscaping.

The t h o r o u g h f a r e system should provide e f f e c t i v e connections w i t h a i r and r a i l t r a v e l f a c i l i t i e s and r e f l e c t the u s e of major s t r e e t s and 1 highways by a l l u s e r s .

7. Rights-of-way f o r major t r a n s p o r t a t i o n r o u t e s should be acquired o r I l e g a l l y e s t a b l i s h e d i n advance o r a t t h e time of development i n ac-cordance w i t h t h e Comprehensive P l a n . L e s s e r transportation routes, which d i r e c t l y serve and a r e dependent upon the d e s i g n of a d j o i n i n g I l a n d u s e s , should n o t be e s t a b l i s h e d u n t i l t h e time of land ?evelop-ment.

8. The a r t e r i a l should s e r v e a s a connecting l i n k between r e s i d e 2 t i a l I and r u r a l a r e a s and t h e i r major s e r v i c e f a c i l i t i e s such as ccnrmrnity b u s i n e s s a r e a s , community c i v i c o r c u l t u r a l c e n t e r s , and seccndary schools.

I 9. The c o l l e c t o r should s e r v e a s a connecting link between r e s i c i n t i a l and r u r a l neighborhoods as w e l l a s accommodating t h e l e s s e r t r a f f i c volumes 1 10.

g e n e r a t e d between r e s i d e n t i a l and r u r a l cormrmnities.

The c o l l e c t o r should s e r v e as a connecting l i n k between r e s i c e n t i a l a r e a s and t h o s e f a c i l i t i e s which s e r v e p r i m a r i l y one c o m m u n i ~o~r I p a r t s of s e v e r a l neighborhoods such a s neighborhood ccmmercizl a r e a ,

j u n i o r high s c h o o l , o r community r e c r e a t i o n c e n t e r .

1 11. The c o l l e c t o r should be l o c a t e d where it can c o l l e c t and dis'cibute t r a f f i c from a r t e r i a l r o u t e s t o l e s s i m p o r t a n t s t r e e t s o r d i r e c t l y t o t r a f f i c destinations.

1 Local county r o a d s should be l o c a t e d w i t h i n a r e a s where t5ey a r e desiqned t o c o l l e c t and d i s t r i b u t e l o c a l t r a f f i c only and s e r v e t h o s e f a c i l i t i e s l o c a t e d w i t h i n t h e a r e a , such a s t h e elementary school.

I Local county r o a d s should be l o c a t e d on a r u r a l c o r n u n i t y boundaries where t h e y are designed t o s e r v e m o r e t h a n one a r e a o r l a r g e r f a c i l i t i e s such a s I j u n i o r high s c h o o l s , community p a r k s and r e c r e a t i o n c e n t e r s , and churches.

I I

I I 14 3

I I

CHAPTER 7 I

- LAND USE PLAN 1 The Limestone County Land Use Plan i s proposed a s an i n s t r u m e n t f o r combin-i n g county development o b j e c t i v e s , p u b l i c and p r i v a t e a c t i o n programs and s p e c i f i c I

improvement p r o j e c t s i n t o a u n i f i e d p o l i c y i n s t r u m e n t .

A l a n d use p l a n h o l d s no l e g a l s t a t u s , b u t c a n s e r v e as a b a s i s f o r more ,

d e f i n i t i v e l e g i s l a t i v e and a d m i n i s t r a t i v e measures s u c h a s l a n d use c o n t r o l s and I

p o l i c i e s r e g a r d i n g t h e e x t e n s i o n of p u b l i c s e r v i c e s and f a c i l i t i e s . The plan must be g e n e r a l and f l e x i b l e i n o r d e r t o be a d a p t a b l e t o changing p h y s i c a l , s o c i a l ,

economic, and t e c h o l o g i c a l p a t t e r n s which may o c c u r d u r i n g t h e p l a n n i n g p e r i o d .

I GOALS 'AND 'OBJECTIVES I Recognition of community needs and a t t i t u d e s i s a necessary p r e r e q u i s i t e t o t h e development of a l a n d u s e p l a n .

ha.ve been formulated for Limestone County:

The f o l l o w i n g l a n d use g o a l s and o b j e c t i v e s I

GOAL ACHIEVE A BALANCE AMONG VARIOUS LAND USES M ACCOMMODATE A D I V E R S I T Y O F TOTAL L I F E STYLES WHICH WILL FULFILL THE RE-QUIREMENTS OF COUNTY RESIDENTS.

I O b j e c t i v e 1: Promote a v a r i e t y of housing type,s and a h i g h l e v e l of e f f i -

c i e n c y i n r e s i d e n t i a l development p a t t e r n s .

I

a. Encourage t h e development o f mixtures o f d w e l l i n g types i n o r d e r t o provide more heterogeneous development I

b. Encourage t h e assembly of l a n d i n t o l a r g e t r a c t s a t suit-a b l e l o c a t i o n s t o be developed w i t h compatible mixtures of r e s i d e n t i a l d e n s i t i e s and o t h e r l a n d u s e s . I O b j e c t i v e 2 : Promote t h e s p a t i a l d i s t r i b u t i o n o f v a r i o u s l a n d u s e s which w i l l r e s u l t i n a compatible r e l a t i o n s h i p o f l a n d use a c t i v i t i e s . 1

a. R e s i d e n t i a l a r e a s should c o n t a i n t h e n e c e s s a r y supporting l o c a l s e r v i c e u s e s and should have adequate a c c e s s through t h e t r a n s p o r t a t i o n system to employment, commercial, and secon-1 dary school f a c i l i t i e s ,

b. Regional commercial u s e s s h o u l d be l o c a t e d i n c e n t e r s of c o n c e n t r a t e d a c t i v i t y , o r t h o s e areas r e a s o n a b l y p r o j e c t e d a s I

centers.

c . Other commercial development should be l o c a t e d a l o n g major t h o r o u g h f a r e s and should have l i m i t e d a c c e s s i n o r d e r t o minimize 1

t r a f f i c c o n f l i c t s and maximize t r a f f i c e f f i c i e n c y .

P I

144 I

I' I d. I n d u s t r i a l u s e s should have d i r e c t a c c e s s t o highways and r a i l r o a d s , and reasonable a c c e s s t o airport f a c i l i t i e s and r e -

s i d e n t i a l areas.

I O b j e c t i v e 3 : Provide l a n d f o r a wide v a r i e t y of employment o p p o r t u n i t i e s for the residents.

1 a. Provide t h e o p p o r t u n i t y f o r expansion o f employment a r e a s t o assist i n keeping t h e f a c i l i t i e s i n scale w i t h demand and I t e c h n o l o g i c a l advances.

b. Provide a v a r i e t y o f d e s i r a b l - e s i t e s f o r i n d u s t r i a l uses adequate both f o r p r e s e n t use and f u t u r e expansion.

I c. Provide f o r i n d u s t r i a l p a r k development while providing l o c a t i o n s f o r t h o s e i n d u s t r i e s which economically r e q u i r e I more d e n s e l y developed land.

d. Provide i n d u s t r i a l s i t e s a t s u i t a b l e l o c a t i o n s a d j a c e n t I t o h i g h volume t r a f f i c arteries which a r e i n demand f o r t h e i r v i s i b i l i t y potential.

e . Provide i n d u s t r i a l s i t e s a d j a c e n t t o t h e Huntsville-Madison 1 J e t p l e x f o r use by high technology-oriented companies. The e a s t e r n s i d e (Madison County s i d e ) of the J e t p l e x Ms a c q u i r e d s e v e r a l high-technology companies; the western s i e e (Limestone I LAND USE PROPOSALS county s i d e ) a l s o h a s p o t e n t i a l f o r such develo-ment.

1 The Land U s e Plan i d e n t i f i e s t h e proposed development p a t t e r n of Limestone County by d e l i n e a t i n g t h e l o c a t i o n , type, and i n t e n s i t y of t h e v a r i o u s land use c a t e g o r i e s . These c a t e g o r i e s o f l a n d u s e , d e s c r i b e d below a r e : medium and high I d e n s i t y urban development, l o w d e n s i t y urban development, r u r a l d e n s i t y r e s i d e n -

t i a l and a g r i c u l t u r a l development , major areas of i n d u s t r i a l p o t e n t i a l , and open space and c o n s e r v a t i o n .

1 For t h e purpose of g u i d i n g development, t h e l a n d a r e a w i t h i n Linestone County h a s been c l a s s i f i e d a c c o r d i n g t o i n t e n s i t y of use. The s p e c i f i c recommen-dations as t o t h e most s u i t a b l e d e n s i t y f o r t h e v a r i o u s s e c t i o n s of t h e county I w e r e based on t h e c o n s i d e r a t i o n of v a r i o u s f a c t o r s :

a. Areas p r e s e n t l y served o r planned t o be s e r v e d i n t h e f u t u r e by 1 p u b l i c water and sewer s e r v i c e a r e most s u i t a b l e o r h i g h e r d e n s i t i e s of development.

I b. Land c a p a b i l i t i e s should be important f a c t o r s i n determining de-velopment d e n s i t y . For t h o s e a r e a s n o t served by p u b l i c water and s e w e r s e r v i c e , areas with s o i l and topographic c o n d i t i o n s m o s t s u i t -

a b l e f o r b u i l d i n g c o n s t r u c t i o n should be u t i l i z e d f o r h i g h e r d e n s i t y I development. Lands l e a s t a b l e t o s u p p o r t mre i n t e n s i v e u s e s should be maintained f o r lower d e n s i t y development. Areas of open space and e c o l o g i c a l s i g n i f i c a n c e a r e most a p p r o p r i a t e f o r t h e low d e n s i t i e s of I development.

I 145

I

c. Higher d e n s i t y development i s more a p p r o p r i a t e i n a r e a s w i t h g r e a t e r road a c c e s s o p p o r t u n i t i e s . With t h e a u t o m o b i l e a s t h e prime I

mode o f t r a n s p o r t a t i o n i n Limestone County, d e n s i t i e s of d e v e l o p n e n t s h o u l d r e l a t e t o t h e major roadways.

d. Areas h a v i n g g r e a t e r p r o x i m i t y t o o t h e r p u b l i c f a c i l i t i e s and I

s e r v i c e s are most s u i t a b l e f o r developments of h i g h e r densities.

w M E D I U MU-HI G H: D E N S I T Y ' D E V E L O P M E N T I

Urban development s h o u l d o c c u r c o n t i g u o u s t o e x i s t i n g a r e a s o f high d e n s i t y development where urban services and f a c i l i t i e s a r e a v a i l a b l e o r can be p r o v i d e d .

Medium and h i g h d e n s i t y development a r e a s , a s i n d i c a t e d on t h e Lar.6 Use Plan Map, I

w i l l be s e r v i c e d w i t h p u b l i c water and sewer s e r v i c e .

The p r i m a r y l a n d u s e i n t h e s e development a r e a s a r e r e s i d e n c i d , w i t h a I

w i d e r a n g e of h o u s i n g a s t o t y p e and w i t h a minimum d e n s i t y of f o c r & - e l l i n g u n i t s per acre. Lot s i z e s w i l l c o n s i s t of an a v e r a g e o f 10,OOC s y ~ a r ef e e t . The h i g h c o s t of p u b l i c s e r v i c e s , s u c h a s paved s t r e e t s , w a t e r and s e w e r , and o t h e r I

f a c i l i t i e s i s t h e major r e a s o n o r t h e d e n s i t i e s t h a t a r e p r o - p s ? C .

The medium and h i g h d e n s i t y urban development a r e a s i n c l u < s :r.duscrial s i t e s , I commercial areas s u i t a b l e f o r convenience s h o p p i n g , i n a d d i t i o r . 2s z r 2 3 s of open s p a c e w i t h s u p p o r t i n g community f a c i l i t i e s i n c l o s e p r o x i m i t y , 5 . ~ ~ 3I.S s c h o c l l s ,

p a r k s and p l a y g r o u n d s . I HIGH INTENSITY DEVELOPMENT S E C T O R S Access t o t h e major t r a n s p o r t a t i o n network i s a m a j o r res_-irt=enc i n t h e D

l o c a t i o n of c o u n t y l a n d u s e s . A s l a n d u s e s become r a r e intexs:r:s, z : ? t r e i s an i n c r e a s i n g importance f o r access t o major t r a n s p o r t a t i o n a r t e r i e s . k c e s s i b i l i t y t o t h e major t h o r o u g h f a r e network i s a major f a c t o r i n i n f l u e n c i n g rhs l o c a l l a n d u s e development p a t t e r n .

I High i n t e n s i t y development s e c t o r s a r e d i r e c t l y t i e d t o =:YS z i j c r highways of t h e c o u n t y . I n Limestone County, t h e s e i n c l u d e c o r r i d o r dey:elcsr=er.c s e c t o r s .

I The C o r r i d o r Development S e c t o r s a r e c o n t a i n e d w i t h i n 1 , 0 0 0 fee- sf e i z h e r s i d e of a m a j o r t h o r o u g h f a r e as i n d i c a t e d on t h e P l a n . Only p o r t i o n s cf highways hav-i n g growth p o t e n t i a l are d e l i n e a t e d a s development c o r r i d o r s . T k s 2 o r r i o n s of 1

t h e highway s y s t e m p r o v i d e m a j o r a c c e s s t o u r b a n i z i n g a r e a s o f zk.5 =z-nty. Uses t h a t would be r e s t r i c t e d t o t h e l o c a t i o n s i n t h e c o r r i d o r s incl*LCe ?--is:?

m u l t i - f a m i l y h o u s i n g , o f f i c e s and community s h o p p i n g c e n t e r s . ~Tkzzz density

- - - ~ r ues e s which have a s t r o n g n e c e s s i t y or a c c e s s i b i l i t y , b u t a r e l e s s 2.t_s~r.Zencon h i g h -

I speed t r a f f i c f a c i l i t i e s .

L O W DENSITY' URBAN' DEVELOPMENT I

The low d e n s i t y u r b a n development a r e a s a r e g e n e r a l l y are2.s o f ? r i m d r i l y r e s i d e n t i a l development w i t h a lower development d e n s i t y . Lot s i z 2 5 x i 1 1 g e n e r a l - 1 l y c o n s i s t of a minimum o f 15,000 s q u a r e f e e t . A r e a s i n c l u d e d I? ~ 2. . 1c a~t e g o r y w i l l be p r o v i d e d w i t h w a t e r s e r v i c e a s a minimum and w i l l i n c l u e e , Ir. a d d i t i o n t o r e s i d e n t i a l land u s e , o t h e r s u p p o r t i n g u s e s s u c h a s schools, ;zr:<s, m e r c i a l c e n t e r s , and l i m i t e d i n d u s t r i a l development.

small com- 1 9

I 146 I

I c

I RURAL DENSITY' RESIDENTIAL AND AGRlCULTURAL B R u r a l d e n s i t y r e s i d e n t i a l and a g r i c u l t u r a l areas, a s d e s i g n a t e d on t h e Land U s e P l a n , are t h o s e areas where t h e development o f urban d e n s i t i e s i s u n d e s i r a b l e o r u n f e a s i b l e a t t h i s t i m e due t o r e m o t e n e s s , i m p e r m e a b i l i t y ,

I o r s h a l l o w n e s s o f s o i l s , t h e a b s e n c e of t h e n e c e s s a r y urban s e r v i c e s , o r t h e c o n t i n u a t i o n o f farming o r a g r i c u l t u r a l a c t i v i t i e s .

I Rural development areas c o n t a i n low-density r e s i d e n t i a l development and I o c c a s i o n a l convenience commercial e s t a b l i s h m e n t s . A major o b j e c t i v e of t h e s e areas i s t o accommodate l a n d u s e s which t o n o t demand a h i g h l e v e l o f urban services, i . e , water and sewer service.

I Areas d e s i g n a t e d as Rural D e n s i t y and A g r i c u l t u r a l s h o u l d m a i n t a i n l o t s i z e s a minimum o f 40,000 s q u a r e f e e t i n o r d e r t o p r o v i d e b o t h a w e l l and s e p t i c I t a n k . The u s e o f h i g h - q u a l i t y f a r m l a n d s h o u l d be d i s c o u r a g e d f o r e x c e s s i v e u s e by non-farm r u r a l r e s i d e n t i a l development.

MAJOR A R E A S O F ' I N D U S T R I A L P O T E N T I A L B Most i n d u s t r i a l development areas w i t h i n Limestone County a r e l o c a t e d w i t h -

i n o r n e a r t h e major u r b a n areas. G u i d e l i n e s p r o p o s e d f o r t h e development of I i n d u s t r i a l areas i n c l u d e : (1) e f f i c i e n t and c o n v e n i e n t access t o t r a n s p o r t a t i o n f a c i l i t i e s , i n c l u d i n g r a i l , highway, a i r and w a t e r ; ( 2 ) a c e n t r a l l o c a t i o n w i t h respect t o labor, r a w materials, and m a r k e t s ; ( 3 ) s u f f i c i e n t , s u i t a b l e l a n d which i s f r e e from c o n s t r u c t i o n and d r a i n a g e problems w i t h s u f f i c i e n t r e s e r v e I f o r f u t u r e e x p a n s i o n ; ( 4 ) a d e q u a t e and r e l i a b l e s o u r c e s o f u t i l i t i e s , i n c l u d i n g water, waste d i s p o s a l , and power; (5) p r o t e c t i o n f r o m encroachment o f r e s i d e n -

t i a l and o t h e r p o s s i b l e c o n f l i c t i n g l a n d u s e s ; ( 6 ) l o c a t i o n so a s t o minimize 1 obnoxious e x t e r n a l e f f e c t s on n e i g h b o r i n g n o n - i n d u s t r i a l l a n d u s e s ; and ( 7 )

l o c a t i o n w i t h i n e a s y commuting d i s t a n c e t o l i v i n g areas and o t h e r work areas SO t h a t a c t i v i t i e s r e l a t e d t o one a n o t h e r can e a s i l y s a t i s f y mutual access I roads.

S e v e r a l areas have been d e s i g n a t e d for i n d u s t r i a l growth a s shown on t h e I Land U s e Plan. The areas i n d i c a t e d are s i t e s w i t h a minimum s i z e o f 100 a c r e s .

S m a l l e r sites may be developed w i t h i n t h e urban d e n s i t y areas. The p o l i c i e s c o n c e r n i n g i n d u s t r i a l l o c a t i o n s h o u l d be u t i l i z e d when d e t e r m i n i n g t h e l o c a t i o n o f s i t e s w i t h i n t h e u r b a n d e n s i t y areas.

I The Tennessee V a l l e y A u t h o r i t y i n i t i a l l y i d e n t i f i e d s e v e r a l of t h e i n -

d u s t r i a l s i t e s i n d i c a t e d on t h e Land U s e P l a n . A l l t h e sites designated a r e 1 c h a r a c t e r i z e d by a c c e p t a b l e s o i l and t e r r a i n p a t t e r n s and bv a c c e s s t o a t l e a s t one t r a n s p o r t a t i o n mode.

OPEN SPACE AND CONSERVATION I The areas w i t h i n Limestone County, which have been d e s i g n a t e d as open s p a c e and c o n s e r v a t i o n areas, areas i n c l u d e l a n d a l o n g t h e Tennessee R i v e r , Wheeler I Lake ( i n c l u d i n g L i m e s t o n e ' s p o r t i o n of J o e Wheeler S t a t e Park and t h e Tennessee V a l l e y A u t h o r i t y ' s r e s e r v a t i o n a r e a s ) and t h e Elk R i v e r , a s w e l l as Piney Creek, Limestone C r e e k , Swan C r e e k , S u l p h u r C r e e k , Round I s l a n d Creek, Sugar Creek, I and M i l l Creek, and l e s s e r s t r e a m s , and t h e i r r e s p e c t i v e t r i b u t a r i e s .

I 14 7

I The open s p a c e and c o n s e r v a t i o n a r e a s o f t h e County s h o u l d remain i n t h e i r n a t u r a l s t a t e w i t h a l l t y p e s o f development d i s c o u r a g e d . Recreational, a g r i c u l - I t u r a l , and f o r e s t r y p u r p o s e s c o u l d , however, be s e r v e d .

L A N D USE P O L I C I E S I The p o l i c i e s recommended i n t h i s s e c t i o n r e p r e s e n t what i s f e a s i b l e a s w e l l as d e s i r a b l e f o r an o r d e r l y growth and development p a t t e r n i n Limestone County.

They a r e d e s i g n e d t o p r o v i d e a c l e a r and c o n s i s t e n t b a s i s f o r t h e Comprehensive I

Plan and f o r government programs d e s i g n e d to implement t h e P l a n . These p o l i c i e s ,

i f a c c e p t e d , can be t r a n s l a t e d d i r e c t l y i n t o a p u b l i c a c t i o n p l a n .

The p r i m a r y g o a l t o be a c h i e v e d t h r o u g h t h e Limestone County P l a n n i n g Pro-I gram i s t h e c r e a t i o n o f an environment t h a t a d e q u a t e l y m e e t s t h e p h y s i c a l , s o c i a l and economic needs of t h e C o u n t y ' s r e s i d e n t s . I RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT

1. A g r e a t e r v a r i e t y and b r o a d e r r a n g e of r e s i d e n t i a l h o u s i n g t y p e s and den-I s i t i e s Should be encouraged so t h a t a c h o i c e o f h o u s i n g i s a v a i l a b l e f o r a l l Limestone County r e s i d e n t s .

2. S u b d i v i s i o n development on s o i l s n o t s u i t a b l e f o r r e s i d e n t i a l development I

s h o u l d be d i s c o u r a g e d .

3. Housing f o r low- and moderate-income r e s i d e n t s s h o u l d be s u p p o r t e d i n a I

v a r i e t y o f communities i n Limestone County. The l o c a t i o n o f such housing s h o u l d a l s o be s u p p o r t e d i n areas e x p e r i e n c i n g growth o r i n c r e a s e d employment o p p o r t u n i -

ties.

1

4. The development o f unsewered h o u s i n g i n areas where p u b l i c sewer i s a v a i l -

a b l e o r planned s h o u l d be d i s c o u r a g e d . I

5. S a f e , a d e q u a t e and sound d e s i g n and c o n s t r u c t i o n s t a n d a r d s or a l l types and c o s t l e v e l s o f h o u s i n g s h o u l d be encouraged. I

6. The development o f p l a n n e d r e s i d e n t i a l areas l a r g e enough t o m e e t a v a r i e t y o f h o u s i n g needs a s w e l l as commercial and open space u s e s s h o u l d be encouraged.

1

7. E x i s t i n g h o u s i n g areas s h o u l d be r e c o g n i z e d and e f f o r t s f o r improvement and r e h a b i l i t a t i o n s h o u l d be s u p p o r t e d and encouraged.

8. D i s t r i b u t e and d e s i g n p u b l i c f a c i l i t i e s t o p r o v i d e maximum s e r v i c e t o re-I s i d e n t i a l areas.

9. R e s i d e n t i a l development s h o u l d be r e l a t e d t o e x i s t i n g and proposed employ-I ment a r e a s , community f a c i l i t i e s and t h e t r a n s p o r t a t i o n system.

10. L e g i s l a t i o n which would p e r m i t governmental r e g u l a t i o n s ( i n c l u d i n g b u i l d i n g I

and housing c o d e s , l a n d u s e and s u b d i v i s i o n r e g u l a t i o n s ) t h a t a s s i s t i n p r o v i d i n g f o r a d e q u a t e housing s h o u l d be s u p p o r t e d and encouraged. The County Engineer i s implementing what e n a b l i n g l e g i s l a t i o n he c u r r e n t l y h a s t o u t i l i z e . 1 P I 148 I

11. R e s i d e n t i a l d e n s i t y p a t t e r n s which r e l a t e t o n a t u r a l and man-made a s s e t s s h o u l d be developed.

12. Avoid w a s t e f u l u s e of prime a g r i c u l t u r a l l a n d and c o n s e r v e v a l u a b l e l a n d and water r e s o u r c e s f o r t h e f u t u r e i n r e s i d e n t i a l development.

13. R e s i d e n t i a l development, e x c e p t r u r a l d e n s i t y , s h o u l d be p r o v i d e d w i t h p u b l i c improvements p r i o r t o development. Medium d e n s i t y h o u s i n g i n t h e c o u n t y s h o u l d be r e q u i r e d t o have p u b l i c s e w e r and water f a c i l i t i e s . By f u r n i s h i n g p u b l i c f a c i l i t i e s i n advance of development, l o c a l governments can guide de-velopment a n d i n s u r e t h e e f f i c i e n t u s e o f p u b l i c e x p e n d i t u r e s .

14. Housing market d a t a , i n c l u d i n g f o r e c a s t s o n m a r k e t a c t i v i t i e s and popula-t i o n p r o j e c t i o n s and t r e n d s , s h o u l d be f u r n i s h e d t o r e s i d e n t i a l d e v e l o p e r s i n order t o serve t h e h o u s i n g n e e d s of t h e c o u n t y more e f f e c t i v e l y .

15. P o l i c y for r e s i d e n t i a l d e n s i t i e s :

POLICLY F O R RESIDENTIAL DENSITIES D e n s i t y Type Units Per A c r e - Sq. F t . P e r U n i t U t i l i t i e s Required High D e n s i t y 4.8/12.5* 9,000/12,000 + Water and Sewer 3,000* for each additional unit Medium D e n s i t y 4.1 10,500 Water and Sewer Low Density 2.8 1 5 ,000 Water/On-site S e p t i c Tank Rural/Agricul- 1.0 43,560 O n - s i t e well/on-t u r a l Density s i t e septic tank

• Multi-family s t r u c t u r e s o n l y HIGH DENSITY RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMET

1. The l o c a t i o n of h o u s i n g i n areas s e r v e d by p u b l i c u t i l i t i e s , i n c l u d i n g s a n i t a r y sewers s h o u l d be e n c o u r a g e d .

2. A r e a s of h i g h d e n s i t i e s s h o u l d be d e p e n d e n t o n t h e amount and t y p e s o f p u b l i c improvements a v a i l a b l e o r p l a n n e d . M u l t i - f a m i l y r e s i d e n t i a l development should :

a. B e l o c a t e d a d j a c e n t t o major t h o r o u g h f a r e r o u t e ;

14 '?

b. Have s a n i t a r y sewers w i t h minimum l i n e s i z e of e i g h t ( 8 ) i n c h e s ,

storm sewers, a n d water l i n e s a minimum of s i x ( 6 ) i n c h e s .

c. Have a l l p u b l i c improvements i n e x i s t e n c e o r programmed i n t h e c a p i t a l improvements b u d g e t b e f o r e development o c c u r s ;

d. Have f i r e p r o t e c t i o n s e r v i c e w i t h i n 1 3/4 m i l e s .

e. A maximum a l l o w e d d e n s i t y of f i v e ( 5 ) s i n g l e f a m i l y d w e l l i n g u n i t s may be employed i n h i g h d e n s i t y u r b a n r e s i d e n t i a l development areas. A maximum of 1 2 . 5 m u l t i - f a m i l y d w e l l i n g u n i t s may be a l l o w e d i n t h e h i g h d e n s i t y r e s i d e n t i a l areas.

3. A l l h i g h d e n s i t y development p r o p o s e d f o r Limestone County by e i t h e r p u b l i c or p r i v a t e a g e n c i e s s h o u l d t a k e place i n t h e areas d e s c r i b e d i n t h e Comprehensive Plan.

MEDIUM D E N S I T Y RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT

1. Water l i n e s w i t h a minimum s i z e o f s i x ( 6 ) i n c h e s and s a n i t a r y sewer w i t h l i n e s a minimum o f e i g h t ( 8 ) i n c h e s s h o u l d b e p r o v i d e d t o a l l a r e a s d e s i g n a t e d f o r medium and h i g h d e n s i t y r e s i d e n t i a l development.

2. A l l l a n d u s e s n o t d e v o t e d t o r e s i d e n t i a l n e e d s s h o u l d be e x c l u d e d from a l l r e s i d e n t i a l areas. D i s t r i b u t i o n of n o n - r e s i d e n t i a l l a n d u s e s i n t e n d e d t o s e r v e r e s i d e n t i a l u s e s o f l a n d , s u c h as s h o p p i n g c e n t e r s and c h u r c h e s , should be l o c a t e d on t h e b a s i s of p r o v i d i n g c o n v e n i e n t access t o c o u n t y r e s i d e n t s .

3. Medium d e n s i t y r e s i d e n t i a l development s h o u l d be s e p a r a t e d from h i g h d e n s i t y development and o t h e r n o n - r e s i d e n t i a l u s e s w i t h open space b u f f e r s .

4. Medium d e n s i t y r e s i d e n t i a l areas s h o u l d be d e v e l o p e d w i t h c o n v e n i e n t ease o f movement f r o m l i v i n g areas t o work and l e i s u r e - t i m e areas.

5. A m a x i m u m a l l o w e d d e n s i t y i n o u t l y i n g r u r a l areas s h o u l d be t w o ( 2 )

d w e l l i n g u n i t s p e r g r o s s acre. Where o u t l y i n g areas a r e s u s c e p t i b l e t o urban r e s i d e n t i a l d e v e l o p m e n t , t h e d e n s i t y s h o u l d be allowed t o a t l e a s t f o u r u n i t s per acre p r o v i d e d s t a n d a r d s f o r u r b a n development a r e a l s o m e t .

LOW DENSITY RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT

1. Water service w i t h a minimum l i n e s i z e of six ( 6 ) i n c h e s s h o u l d be pro-vided i n t h e s e areas.

2. Sewer s e r v i c e w i t h a minimum l i n e s i z e o f e i g h t ( 8 ) i n c h e s s h o u l d be p r o -

vided i n t h e s e areas, i f f e a s i b l e , provided h i g h e r d e n s i t y areas are served w i t h such service f i r s t on a p r i o r i t y b a s i s .

3. A maximum d e n s i t y of 2 . 8 d w e l l i n g u n i t s p e r g r o s s a c r e s h o u l d be p r o v i d e d i n t h e s e l o w d e n s i t y areas.

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RURAL AND A G R I C U L T U R A L R E S I D E N T I A L DE V E L OP ME N T

1. A maximum d e n s i t y o f one h o u s i n g u n i t p e r g r o s s acre s h o u l d be encouraged i n areas of t h e c o u n t y where:

a. A r u r a l character o r e s t a t e u s e s are e x i s t i n g o r proposed.

b. S l o p e s exceed 2 0 p e r c e n t o r t h e area i s subject t o f l o o d hazard.

2. I n t h o s e p o r t i o n s o f t h e c o u n t y now p r e d o m i n a n t l y r u r a l i n c h a r a c t e r , re-s i d e n t i a l d e n s i t i e s o f no more t h a n t h r e e u n i t s p e r g r o s s acre s h o u l d be e n c o u r -

aged a d j o i n i n g e x i s t i n g town c e n t e r development. Such areas would be i n t h e v i c i n i t y o f t h e towns of Lester and Mooresville.

COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT

1. Commercial a r e a s s h o u l d b e l o c a t e d so as t o have a m a x i m u m a c c e s s i b i l i t y t o t r a d e area p o p u l a t i o n .

2. Commercial development s h o u l d be d i s c o u r a g e d on s o i l s t h a t are n o t s u i t a b l e f o r commercial development.

3. S t r i p commercial development s h o u l d be c o n t a i n e d i n c o n c e n t r a t e d groups by p r o v i d i n g c o n t r o l l e d p o i n t s o f egress and i n g r e s s .

4. P r o v i d e f o r t h e l o c a t i o n o f a l l commercial s i t e s s o t h a t c o n v e n i e n t and s a f e access can b e p r o v i d e d f o r c u s t o m e r s , employees and s u p p l i e r s .

5. Scattered commercial l o c a t i o n s s h o u l d be d i s c o u r a g e d i n a g r i c u l t u r a l areas where t h e y may r e s u l t i n d i s r u p t i v e t r a v e l p a t t e r n s o r become i n c o m p a t i b l e w i t h agricultural activities.

6. Multi-purpose commercial c e n t e r development s h o u l d b e s t r o n g l y encouraged.

These c e n t e r s c o n t a i n a v a r i e t y of commercial, c u l t u r a l , and r e c r e a t i o n a l f a c i -

l i t i e s and are d e s i g n e d t o s a t i s y t h e n e e d s o f area r e s i d e n t s i n one p l a c e a t one t i m e .

7. Ensure t h a t commercial development b e s e r v e d by public u t i l i t i e s i n c l u d i n g s a n i t a r y s e w e r s , w i t h t h e possible e x c e p t i o n of highway commercial c e n t e r s t h a t a r e p r o p e r l y l o c a t e d b u t beyond t h e r e a c h o f public u t i l i t i e s .

8. Adequate p r o v i s i o n s h o u l d b e made f o r o f f - s t r e e t p a r k i n g , access and i n -

t e r n a l v e h i c u l a r c i r c u l a t i o n t o minimize commercial t r a f f i c c o n f l i c t s w i t h t h r o u g h t r a f f i c movements on a d j a c e n t t h o r o u g h f a r e s .

CONVENIENCE COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT

1. Convenience commercial a r e a needs n o r m a l l y can be s e r v e d a d e q u a t e l y by 2 t o 3 acres of developed c ome rc ia l l a n d .

2. Convenient access t o a convenience commercial area i s provided by s t r e e t s w h i c h a r e designed to c a r r y the a d d i t i o n a l t r a f f i c generated by the business f a c i l i t y , a s well a s r e s i d e n t i a l t r a f f i c from t h e surrounding commercial t r a d -

ing o r s e r v i c e a r e a .

3. A convenience commercial a r e a should be l o c a t e d a t t h e junction of two minor c o l l e c t o r s , o r a minor and a major c o l l e c t o r , c e n t r a l w i t h i n i t s t r a d e area and a t a p o i n t b e s t s e r v i n g two o r more elementary school s e r v i c e a r e a s or p a r t s thereof.

COMMUNITY COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT

1. Total developed land area requirements f o r community commercial a r e a s may range from 3 t o 5 a c r e s , depending upon t h e p o t e n t i a l t r a d e a r e a population, the design of t h e business a r e a , and the amount o f land a l l o c a t e d f o r general commercial u s e s w i t h i n t h e commercial a r e a .

2. Community commercial c e n t e r s should provide multi-faceted business, o f f i c e ,

and r e t a i l s e r v i c e s t o areas of 1,000 to 10,000 population.

3. The community commercial c e n t e r a r e a should be l o c a t e d a t the junction of a minor a r t e r i a l and major c o l l e c t o r o r a t t h e i n t e r s e c t i o n of two major c o l l e c -

tors.

4. Community commercial centers r e q u i r e d e t a i l e d c o n s i d e r a t i o n of t r a f f i c ac-cess and e x i t , adequate o f f - s t r e e t , parking and loading f a c i l i t i e s , proper s i z e and shape of t r a c t , s e r v i c e by publ'ic u t i l i t i e s , and r e l a t i o n s h i p t o adjacent r e s i d e n t i a l areas.

HIGHWAY COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT

1. The development of highway commercial c e n t e r s and i n t e r s e c t i o n a r e a s should be c o n t r o l l e d s o as t o avoid d i s r u p t i v e t r a v e l p a t t e r n s and t r a f f i c c o n f l i c t s .

2. S t r i p commercial a r e a s along s t r e e t s and highways a s well a s development of commercial uses improperly r e l a t e d t o surrounding land uses should be avoided.

3. A balanced d i s t r i b u t i o n of commercial c e n t e r s should be encouraged i n t h e County. County and l o c a l c e n t e r s should be l o c a t e d so t h a t a l l r e s i d e n t i a l a r e a s a r e adequately served and t r a v e l t i m e s i n reaching commercial c e n t e r s a r e m i n i -

mized.

4. Special highway commercial d i s t r i c t s should be developed which would r e -

q u i r e coordinated consolidation of e x i s t i n g c e n t e r s , provisions f o r s u f f i c i e n t o f f - s t r e e t parking and o f f - s t r e e t loading f a c i l i t i e s , well located but not ex-c e s s i v e e g r e s s p o i n t s , and provision f o r b u f f e r i n g when such commercial d i s t r i c t s abutt r e s i d e n t i a l areas.

5. Organized, l i n i a r highway-oriented commercial d i s t r i c t s of a compact nature should replace the uncontrolled s t r i p commercial p a t t e r n .

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INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT

1. Locate i n d u s t r i a l a r e a s where f a s t , c o n v e n i e n t access t o t r a n s p o r t a t i o n f a c i l i t i e s , i n c l u d i n g r a i l , highway and a i r , c a n be p r o v i d e d . The a r e a n e a r t h e J e t p l e x and n e a r Saginaw S t e e r i n g Gear a r e s u c h a r e a s .

2. Encourage t h e c l u s t e r i n g of i n d u s t r i a l u s e s i n p l a n n e d i n d u s t r i a l p a r k s i n or a d j a c e n t t o e x i s t i n g c e n t e r s o f development.

3. Isolated i n d u s t r i a l l o c a t i o n s i n a g r i c u l t u r a l areas s h o u l d be d i s c o u r a g e d where t h e y may r e s u l t i n e n v i r o n m e n t a l d e t e r i o r a t i o n o r d i s r u p t i v e t r a v e l p a t t e r n s or become i n c o m p a t i b l e w i t h a g r i c u l t u r a l a c t i v i t i e s .

4. Located i n d u s t r i e s i n areas where t h e y w i l l have a d e q u a t e e x p a n s i o n s p a c e t o m e e t a n t i c i p a t e d f u t u r e needs. Expansion of i n d u s t r y a t t h e p r e s e n t s i t e s s h o u l d be encouraged.

5. Locate i n d u s t r i a l a r e a s so t h a t t h e y a r e r e a d i l y accessible from r e s i d e n t i a l areas and a r e v i s u a l l y and f u n c t i o n a l l y c o m p a t i b l e w i t h them.

6. I n t h e l o c a t i o n o f i n d u s t r i e s , a n a d e q u a t e a n d r e l i a b l e s u p p l y of u t i l i t i e s s h o u l d be a v a i l a b l e : w a t e r , waste d i s p o s a l , power and f u e l .

7. Recognize t h e need f o r new i n d u s t r y and employment o p p o r t u n i t i e s for smaller o u t l y i n g towns and communities as w e l l a s t h e major u r b a n i z i n g areas and t o en-c o u r a g e t h i s i n d u s t r i a l development.

8. Encourage i n d u s t r i a l development on s o i l s t h a t are s u i t a b l e f o r i n d u s t r i a l development. The s t a n d a r d f o r d e t e r m i n i n g s u i t a b i l i t y s h a l l be s o i l s t h a t do n o t have s e v e r e o r v e r y s e v e r e l i m i t a t i o n s f o r i n d u s t r i a l development a s d e t e r m i n e d by t h e U . S . S o i l C o n s e r v a t i o n service s u r v e y of Limestone County. The l a n d area s h o u l d be capable of b e i n g g r a d e d w i t h o u t undue e x p e n s e and s h o u l d n o t have a slope of o v e r f i v e p e r c e n t .

9. I n d u s t r i a l development s h o u l d be w i t h i n r e a s o n a b l e l o c a t i o n t o raw m a t e r i a l s ,

s o u r c e o f labor s u p p l y , and m a r k e t demand.

10. P u b l i c improvements s h o u l d be p r o v i d e d i n a d v a n c e f o r a r e a s w i t h a h i g h i n -

d u s t r i a l development p o t e n t i a l .

LIGHT INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT

1. A wide r a n g e of l o c a t i o n a l c h o i c e s s h o u l d b e made a v a i l a b l e w i t h i n t h e c o u n t y t o h i g h l y mobile l i g h t i n d u s t r y a n d w h o l e s a l i n g u s e s .

2. L i g h t i n d u s t r i a l u s e s s h o u l d b e l o c a t e d i n a manner where t h e s e u s e s can p r o v i d e a t r a n s i t i o n from n o n - i n d u s t r i a l l a n d u s e t o heavy i n d u s t r i a l l a n d u s e .

3. L i g h t i n d u s t r i a l u s e s s h o u l d have access t o P r i n c i p a l A r t e r i a l s a n d / o r Major C o l l e c t o r r o u t e s .

4. The a t t r a c t i o n o f l i g h t , n o n - p o l l u t i n g i n d u s t r y s h o u l d be encouraged and p r o v i d e d w i t h a p p r o p r i a t e l o c a t i o n s , s u f f i c i e n t l a n d f o r e x p a n s i o n , and s i t e s p r o t e c t e d from encroachment of o t h e r l a n d u s e s .

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5. Landscaping and open space should be provided a s b u f f e r s between an o t h e r -

wise d e t r i m e n t a l i n d u s t r i a l use and sound r e s i d e n t i a l neighborhoods.

HEAVY INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT

1. I n d u s t r i a l performance s t a n d a r d s should be adopted and enforced r e g a r d i n g t h e l e v e l of d u s t , smoke, n o i s e , g l a r e and odor e m i t t e d from an i n d u s t r i a l u s e .

2. I n d u s t r i a l a r e a s should be l o c a t e d with a c c e s s provided o n l y t o major t r a n -

s p o r t a t i o n r o u t e s which i n c l u d e p r i n c i p a l a r t e r i a l r o u t e s , major c o l l e c t o r s , ma-j o r r a i l r o a d l i n e s and n a v i g a b l e b o d i e s of water i n o r d e r t h a t r e s i d e n t i a l a r e a s may be f r e e of i n d u s t r i a l t r a f f i c .

3. C e r t a i n i n d u s t r i a l u s e s g e n e r a t e heavy t r a f f i c , n o i s e , smoke o r o t h e r nuisances and should be l o c a t e d where it i s f e a s i b l e t o p r o v i d e an adequate t r a n s i t i o n , such a s l i g h t i n d u s t r i a l a r e a s , commercial a r e a s o r open space, t o a d j o i n i n g land use t y p e s .

4. I n d u s t r i a l a r e a s n o t meeting i n d u s t r i a l performance s t a n d a r d s should be improved o r e l i m i n a t e d so a s t o e l i m i n a t e any b l i g h t i n g i n f l u e n c e from surround-ing non-industrial u s e s .

CONSERVATION A R E A DEVELOPMENT

1. Land along r i v e r s , s t r e a m s , l a k e s , wetlands o r o t h e r a r e a s of s i g n i f i c a n t topography i n c l u d i n g f o r e s t s and woodlands should be a c q u i r e d and/or preserved a s open space.

2. Immediate a t t e n t i o n should be given t o t h e p r e s e r v a t i o n of open space c o r -

r i d o r s w i t h i n t h e i n n e r a r e a . o f t h e county where p r e s s u r e s f o r u r b a n i z a t i o n a r e greatest.

3. Adequate open space a r e a s should be provided throughout t h e county which would discourage urban development i n a r e a s more s u i t a b l e f o r open s p a c e , r e -

t r a i n i n g t h e a e s t h e t i c q u a l i t y t h a t o n l y open space can p r o v i d e .

4. A l l a v a i l a b l e implementing and f i n a n c i a l d e v i c e s should be used f o r open space p r e s e r v a t i o n .

5. S t a t e and f e d e r a l a l l o c a t i o n of f i n a n c i a l r e s o u r c e s should be encouraged f o r parks and open space t o u r b a n i z i n g a r e a s .

6. Local communities should be supported a s w e l l as encouraged i n t h e i r e f -

f o r t s t o provide p a r k s and open space f o r t h e community r e s i d e n t s .

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CHAPTER 8 IMPLEMENTATION .

The Comprehensive Plan is of little value to the County unless it can serve as an effective guide for both public and private decisions which fashion the County. However, the effectiveness of the Plan is primarily dependent on two major factors. First, the public should be reasonably informed about all facets of anticipated changes expressed in the form of proposals to be met within the fulfillment of goals and objectives, and the opportunities thus created for them due to long range planning efforts. Second, the plan should seriously be used in its advisory capacity as a creative tool to shape the county's growth and its environment. Therefore, a specific program of implementing actions is necessary to achieve positive results in carrying out the Limestone County Comprehensive Plan.

In order to initiate this continuing program of planning implementation, Limestone County should establish a Planning Commission to update and revise the Comprehensive Plan. This organization will be described in detail as to the legal and administrative duties to undertake Plan fulfillment.

PLANNING 'COMMISSION .

Alabama counties do not possess the comprehensive planning authority necessary to control the development of territory lying outside the boundaries of incorporated municipalities nor the authority to establish County Planning Commissions. Therefore, in order to establish a Planning Commission, Limestone County would require special legislation. The Planning Commission, which represents all governmental as well as citizen interests in the County, would assist in guiding land use and capital improvement decisions at the county level in order to promote new development without damaging the County's environment or economy. The organization, composed of nine members, including two elected officials, one official in public service representing the development arm of local government, and six citizens chosen for civic interests and involvement by the local governing body, can provide a valuable service in bringing the county citizens into the countywide planning process. In order to organize such an organization of Limestone County citizens interested in the growth and development of the county, the present Limestone County Rural Development Committee could provide the basis or the initiation of a planning commission.

DEVELOPMENT CONTROLS LAN.D U S E C O N T R O L Land use control measures should be established to serve the public health, safety and general welfare and to provide the social, economic and physical advantages resulting from an orderly planned use of land resources. This implementation measure can assist in preserving prime agricultural land from 155

premature and uncontrolled urban development, not conforming to the comprehensive Plan. Land use policies and controls can also serve to protect residential property values as well as commercial and industrial investment. The County will require local legislation to implement land use control procedures. The land use regulations should be applied in accordance with all principles and policies of the Comprehensive Plan. Additional guidelines in the implementation of land use control measures are:

a. All land use regulations and policies should be coordinated with the same of incorporated places within the county and bordering counties and cities.

b. The amount of land in each land use category should not be in excess of the foreseeable need plus a reasonable margin for individual choice.

SUBDIVISION REGULATIONS The control of land subdivision is the means by which private land development can be brought into conformity with the Comprehensive Plan and the public interest.

These regulations establish minimum standards of design and construction for all new land development, insure the installation of utilities that may be economically serviced and maintained, insure a coordinated system and sufficient open spaces for recreation and other public services, and establish correlation with adjacent existing or possible future subdivisions. These .controls are necessary if orderly, economical and sound development is to be achieved. Through the adoption and enforcement of such regulations, the design and quality of.land development will be improved, resulting in improved living conditions and stability of property values for county residents. Local legislation will also be needed for Limestone County to benefit from these regulations.

BUILDING AND H O U S I N G C O D E S These legal codes (including electrical, plumbing and fire codes) insure safe and sound building construction. They can be enacted to apply to new and remodeling construction and to old-buildings as well.

Local legislation is needed to give the Limestone County Commission authority for the adoption and enforcement of these codes. If such legislation is approved, it is recommended that the Southern Standard Building and Housing Codes, as amended, be adopted by Limestone County.

S A N I T A R Y CODES Sanitary codes are official controls established by the State and/or County to assure the adequate and safe provisions of water and the proper disposal of sewage in residential subdivisions and for other areas where the public requires such service.

Public water supplies and sewage disposal systems currently must be approved by the State Department of Environmental Management. This State Agency has certain regulations regarding the disposal of sewage which must be met. The Tri-County Health Department has established certain requirements for water supply and sewage D

156

I disposal systems which must be met. All county and municipal agencies should, I therefore, cooperate in the rapid but fair and equal enforcenent of these codes.

COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS I/

I Cooperative agreements include any agreement between two or more agencies, whether public, s?mi-public, or private, wherein any projects related to the Comprehensive Plan may be jointly or cooperatively planned, financed, constructed, I or administered to be, beneficial to the public.

A primary example of cooperative agreements between operating agencies or m departments in Limestone County is in the case of school m.d recreational facilities.

The use of school facilities by recreation and other cornunity groups is allowed by schools throughout the county, in such areas as Tanner x i 2 Capshaw, for instance.

I Any cooperative arrangement should be encouraged where ir is in accordance with the Comprehensive Plan and where there are recognizable 5er.efits to be derived.

This is easily recognized in the cooperative agreement bee;een the Commission and I County Water Authority, and the City-County Landfill P r o g r a .

C ITIZ E N 'PART1C IP A TI 0 N '

1 Citizen participation is undoubtedly one of the mosr bFortant factors determining the success of the Comprehensive Plan. An inic-qee citizenry that is willing to work to achieve the goals set forth in the Ccxerthensive Plan is a tremendous asset.

Successful citizen participation could be achieved t?-zsu$:h a public education program designed to inform the County residents of the va--icr;s efforts involved in the planning process. Experience has shown that such a 2:llzlic information program yields a valuable sounding board technique from which valiC s-xgestions and I criticisms usually result. Thus, these suggestions can 3e inregrated into the future goals and plans of Limestone County.

A P I T A L I M P R O V E M E N T S PROGRAMMING A N D B U D G E T I N G The recommended Capital Improvements Program and Budcsz of Limestone County is a major step toward the implementation of the County's ;:lar.s f o r future development.

1 The Capital Improvements Program and Budget should prove L h n e E L c i a l to the County Commission in preparing the county's annual budget. A l < i o ~ q h Lie Capital Improvements Program covers a period of at least fifteen years ir. t h e 5 z x z e , and the Sudget six years, it must be kept flexible and reviewed and u-datee ex:? year to kees pace with 1 changing conditions within the County. Capital improvezen:s i r s major projects requiring the expenditure of public funds over and above ?r.zcal operating expenses for the purchase, construction, or replacement of the pkysiczl needs of t h e county on the basis of a system of priorities, The capital Ln_crovl-r,ents program is normally coordinated by a County Planning Commission with the coczsrzcicn of the operating departments for the purpose of 1) establishing a coordir.ate5 srogram for all county public construction projects, and 2) establishing a met?& f c r review of a l l proposed projects to determine if the plans conform to the Ccmprr'ner.s:-:c- D l a n . The budget and program presentation that follows is guided by the f o l l o w - n g policies.

I i 157

P

1. Where p r o j e c t s a r e r e l a t e d t o e a c h o t h e r i n f i n a l u s e , t h e i r c o n s t r u c t i o n d e s i r a b l y s h o u l d be timed so a s t o be m u t u a l l y b e n e f i c i a l .

2. B u i l d i n g s c o n s t r u c t i o n p r i o r i t i e s s h o u l d be e s t a b l i s h e d , t o t h e g r e a t e s t e x t e n t p o s s i b l e , on t h e basis of g r e a t e s t e x i s t i n g need.

3. S i t e s f o r f u t u r e p r o j e c t s s h o u l d b e a c q u i r e d i n advance o f need w h i l e v a c a n t

-. land i s s t i l l available.

4. P u b l i c f u n d s s h o u l d be a l l o c a t e d on t h e b a s i s of t h e o f f i c i a l c a p i t a l improvement program.

Many e l e m e n t s o f t h e Comprehensive P l a n c a n n o t be implemented t h r o u g h t h e c o u n t y ' s day-to-day a d m i n i s t r a t i o n . These e l e m e n t s r e q u i r e d i r e c t a c t i o n by t h e county t h r o u g h t h e a c q u i s i t i o n of p r o p e r t y and/or c o n s t r u c t i o n of p u b l i c works. F i n a n c i n g o f c a p i t a l e x p e n d i t u r e s must be e v a l u a t e d and c o n s i d e r e d i n t h e c o u n t y ' s a n n u a l b u d g e t . E x p e n d i t u r e s or a l l proposed improvements s h o u l d be e s t a b l i s h e d i n a long-range c a p i t a l improvement program.

ADVANTAGES OF CAPITAL PROGRMMING Limestone County can d e r i v e c o n s i d e r a b l e b e n e f i t s from a s y s t e m a t i c approach t o p l a n n i n g c a p i t a l p r o j e c t s . These b e n e f i t s a r e , however, d e p e n d e n t upon a s t r o n g l e g i s l a t i v e commitment t o t h e program and f i r m e x e c u t i v e l e a d e r s h i p i n c a r r y i n g it out.

S o m e of t h e a d v a n t a g e s of c a p i t a l programming a r e :

a. C a p i t a l p r o j e c t s can be b r o u g h t i n t o l i n e w i t h c o u n t y o b j e c t i v e s ,

a n t i c i p a t e d g r o w t h , and f i n a n c i a l c a p a b i l i t i e s . B y planning , p r o j e c t s ahead, t h o s e t h a t a r e needed o r d e s i r e d t h e most w i l l be c o n s t r u c t e d first.

b. Advance programming o f p u b l i c works on a n o r d e r l y basis w i l l h e l p a v o i d t h e p o s s i b i l i t y of c o s t l y m i s t a k e s . Local o f f i c i a l s w i l l b e g u i d e d i n making sound a n n u a l b u d g e t d e c i s i o n s .

C. The c a p i t a l improvements program k e e p s t h e p u b l i c informed a b o u t f u t u r e c o n s t r u c t i o n p l a n s of t h e c o u n t y . A l s o , knowledge a b o u t t h e f u t u r e p h y s i c a l n e e d s of t h e county and t h e f i n a n c i a l a b i l i t y of t h e l o c a l government t o f u l f i l l t h e s e n e e d s i s a v a l u a b l e a i d t o p r i v a t e investors.

d. C o o r d i n a t i o n of c a p i t a l improvements programming by t h e county a g e n c i e s c a n r e d u c e s c h e d u l i n g p r o b l e m s , c o n f l i c t i n g a n d o v e r l a p p i n g pro,jects, and overemphasis of any government f u n c t i o n .

e. C a p i t a l improvements programming o f f e r s p u b l i c o f f i c i a l s an o p p o r t u n i t y t o p l a n t h e l o c a t i o n , t i m i n g , and f i n a n c i n g of needed improvements i n t h e i n t e r e s t of t h e e n t i r e c o u n t y . F u r t h e r m o r e , a d e q u a t e p l a n n i n g a n d c o o p e r a t i o n of v a r i o u s a g e n c i e s a s s i s t i n r e d u c i n g d u p l i c a t i o n a s w e l l a s c o s t of such c a p i t a l p r o j e c t s and a v o i d p u b l i c i n c o n v e n i e n c e s .

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I L

'I f. P r e p a r a t i o n of a c a p i t a l program improves t h e l o c a l g o v e r n m e n t ' s c h a n g e of o b t a i n i n g a v a i l a b l e F e d e r a l and S t a t e a i d f o r p l a n n i n g ,

-I A N A L Y S I S c o n s t r u c t i o n and f i n a n c i n g c a p i t a l improvements.

I n comparison t o o t h e r TARCOG Region c o u n t i e s , Limestone County h a s a r e l a t i v e l y sound, s t a b l e f i n a n c i a l s t - c t u r e . The c o u n t y ' s r e v e n u e s a r e o b v i o u s l y i n c r e a s i n g ,

w i t h e f f o r t s b e i n g made t o keep e x p e n d i t u r e s w i t h i n c o l l e c t e d r e v e n u e s . Ad valorem I t a x e s a r e n o t e x c e e d i n g l y h i g h , and t h e c o u n t y ' s bonded i n d e b t e d n e s s i s n o t a t i t s legal l i m i t . I n terms o f f i n a n c i n g f u t u r e c a p i t a l p r o j e c t s , t h e major dependence would seem t o r e s t on c u r r e n t r e v e n u e and r e v e n u e bonds.

I I t i s r e c o g n i z e d t h a t l i m i t e d f e d e r a l f u n d s a r e a v a i l a b l e and ~y b e u t i l i z e d f o r v a r i o u s p r o j e c t s , s u c h a s t h e a c q u i s i t i o n and development o f r e c r e a t i o n areas. It is a l s o r e c o g n i z e d t h a t t h e Alabama S t a t e Highway Department w i l l be r e s - w n s i b l e f o r I implementing p o r t i o n s o f t h e Limestone County T r a n s p o r t a t i o n P l a n . F i n a n c i a l a s s i s t a n c e from s u c h s o u r c e s w a s n o t made a p a r t o f t h i s C a p i t a l Improvements Budget b e c a u s e of t h e u n p r e d i c t a b l e n a t u r e o f f u n d i n g by t h e a g e n c i e s . T h i s d o e s n o t imply t h a t s u c h R f u n d s s h o u l d be r e j e c t e d o r n o t s o u g h t a f t e r , b u t r a t h e r t h a t t h e c a g i i t a l improvements l i s t e d i n t h i s b u d g e t a r e needed now; and emphasis h a s b e e n p l a c e d on funds t h a t a r e a v a i l a b l e l o c a l l y ' o r c a n be o b t a i n e d by a bond i s s u e . Should f e d e r a l o r s t a t e a i d I b e o f f e r e d or a g r e e d upon, t h e n s u c h f u n d s s h o u l d be u s e d .

RECOMMENDA T I O N S I 1. The c o u n t y s h o u l d a c t i v e l y s o l i c i t f e d e r a l and s t a t e g r a n t s . Many f e d e r a l and s t a t e programs have been a v a i l a b l e or t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n o f c o m u i t y f a c i l i t i e s .

The Housing and Community Development A c t o f 1 9 7 4 p r o v i d e s f u n d s o r rnost community I f a c i l i t i e s , except c e n t r a l a d m i n i s t r a t i v e f a c i l i t i e s .

2. The c o u n t y s h o u l d s e r i o u s l y c o n s i d e r c r e a t i o n o f a R e s e - r v e ?und earmarked I f o r c a p i t a l improvements.

3. The c o u n t y s h o u l d c o n s i d e r t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n of u t i l i t y s e r v i c e d i s t r i c t s i n o r d e r t o f i n a n c e c e r t a i n s e r v i c e s o f l e s s t h a n countywide s c o p e , unless these s e r v i c e s I d i r e c t l y r e l a t e t o a s y s t e m t r u l y countywide i n s c o p e ( s u c h a s w a t e r se-mice).

CAP ITA L 'IMPROVE M E NTS 'BUDGET 1 The o b-j e c t i v e of t h e C a-p i t a l Improvements

- Budget i s t o m a i n t a i r . a p r o p e r b a l a n c e between o p e r a t i o n and c a p i t a l e x p e n d i t u r e s i n r e l a t i o n t o r e v e n u e s . I n doing so, t h i s Budget s h o u l d n o t be c o n f u s e d w i t h t h e Annual O p e r a t i n g Budget. The -Annual Budget i s I a program of f i n a n c i a l o b l i g a t i o n s f o r a o n e y e a r p e r i o d , i n c l ~ c i n ga l l items t h a t a r e b o t h r e c u r r i n q and n o n r e c u r r i n g n e e d s r e g a r d l e s s o f s i z e of e x p e n d i t - x e . The C a p i t a l Improvement Budget i t e m i z e s o n l y t h o s e i t e m s a n t i c i p a t e d a s c a p i t a l o u t l a y s d u r i n g t h e next six y e a r s .

I t s h o u l d b e n o t e d t h a t a l l c o s t s l i s t e d i n t h i s b u d g e t a r e e s t i m a t e s and i n t e n d e d t o be u s e d a s g u i d e l i n e s o n l y . The p r i m a r y f u n c t i o n of t h e s e e s t i m a t e s is t o g i v e t h e g o v e r n i n g body and Limestone County c i t i z e n s some general c o s t s i n o r d e r t h a t t h e y might see how t h e s e w i l l a f f e c t t h e f u t u r e b u d g e t s o f Limestone County.

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Past annual financial statements for Limestone County have been analyzed to determine trends of revenues and operating expenditures. This effort was undertaken so that projections of financial statistics could be made and capital improvements could be scheduled in light of the countyls ability to pay. Table depicts past revenues and expenditures, fiscal years 1976-1982, and projected revenues and expenditures, 1983-1990, It shoul&be noted that despite the expected surplus shown in the table for the budget period, inflation will be expected to reduce the county's ability fo finance capital improvements without the availability of revenue bonding and federal aid.

Therefore, professional budgeting procedures, agressive use of available bonding options, and agressive use of federal domestic assistance programs should enable the county to implement its Capital Budget according to the Budget's recommended schedule.

Provided the county works diligently at increasing its revenue potential, the following projects should be funded. These projects will promote economic development; hence, additional revenues will eventually accrue Limestone County.

The projects listed on the next page were drawn from the Community Facilities Plan.

TABLE VIII-1 LIMESTONE COUNTY REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES PROJECTED SIX-YEAR BUDGET PERIOD (1983-1989)

(FIGURES IN MILLIONS)

Projection 1983-1984 1984-1985 1985-1986 1986-1987 1987-1988 1988-1989 Revenues 5.00 5.65 6.50 7.50 8.50 10.00 Expenditures 4.60 5.00 6.00 7.80 8.00 9.00 Excess (Deficit) -40 .65 .50 .50 1.00 SOURCE: TARCOG TABLE VIII-2 LIMESTONE COUWY, COUKTY-YIOL TAX M R t l Y MILLS BY F I S C A L YEAR O F LMT W O R C H W E 1901-82

?df 10.5 14.5 21.0 State - 6.5 -6.5 -6.5 General 2.5 2.5 2.5 Soldler 1.0 1.0 1.0 School 1.0 1.0 3.0 County Cane r a I 24.0 7.0 10.0 8.5 16.5 5.0 Road b Bridge 1.5 4.5 2.5 Ilospital 1.0 1.5 2.0 neappra I rn a 1 2.0 2.0 0 School (County) 5.5 6.5 4.0 School fOrmt. I 1.0 1.0 1.0 SOUHCE: State o f Alabama. Department o f Examiners of P u b l i c Accounts. 1971-19Al 160

COST Funding Source Project Department Federal Local Federal/Local F i s c a l Year 1 Police Car Sheriff $ 900 CB 1983-1984 1 Pumper Fire Note: FmHA Loan 80,000 RDA/GA 1983-1984 1 Fire Station Fire Note: FmHA Loan 147,500 RDA/GO 1983-1984 Equipment P u r c h a s e Engineering N/A N/A RDA/GO 1983-1984 School Renovations Education N/A N/A DE/ARC/GO 1983-1984 E a s t and South Water $260 ,700 $ 1 5 8 ,000 RDA/LN/REV 1983-1984 Limestone Systems CDBG 1 Police Car Sheriff $ $ 9,000 CB . 1985-1986 1 Pumper Fire Note: FmHA Loan 80,000 RDA/GO 1985-1986 1 Fire Station Fire Note: FmHA Loan 147,500 RDA/GO 1985-1986 Equipment P u r c h a s e Engineering N/A N/A RDA/GO 1985-1986 School Renovations Education N/A N/A DE/ARC/GO 1985-1986 1 B e l l e Mina S y s t e m Water $ 504,000 $ 12,600 RDA/ARD/GO 1985-1986 RDA/CDBG/GO 1985-1986 Lester-Salem System Water 350 ,000 719 ,300 RDA/CDBG/GO 1 1985-1986 South Limestone System Water 8 0 ,000 20 ,000 RDA/CDBG/GO 1985-1986 County P a r k Recreation 252,800 6 3 ,200 NPS/ARC/GO 1985-1986 2 Police C a r s Sheriff $ $ 18,000 CB 1987-1988 1 Pumper Fire Note: FmHA Loan 80,000 RDA/GO 1987-1988 1 Fire Station Fire Note: FmHA Loan 1 4 7 ,500 RDA/GO 1987-1988 Equipment P u r c h a s e Engineering N/A N/A RDA/GC) 1987-1988 School Renovations Education N/A N/A DE/ARC/GO 1987-1988 North T,j mestone System Water $ 243,200 $ 60,800 RDA/ARC/REV 1987-1988 County Park Recreation 252,800 63 ,2 0 0 NPS /RDA/ARC/GO 1987-1988 CB - County B u d g e t EDA - Economic Development Agency GO - G e n e r a l O b l i g a t i o n Bonds ARC - A p p a l a c h i a n R e g i o n a l Commission REV - Revenue Bonds DON - Donation DOT - U.S. Department o f T r a n s p o r t a t i o n CDBG - Community Development B l o c k G r a n t P r o g r a m HUD - U.S. D e p a r t m e n t of H o u s i n g 6; Urban Development NPS - N a t i o n a l P a r k S e r v i c e RDA - R u r a l Development A c t LN - L o c a l Bank Loan (Community F a c i l i t i e s )

EPA - E n v i r o n m e n t a l P r o t e c t i o n Agency DE - D e p a r t m e n t of E d u c a t i o n

TABLE V I I I - 3 C A P I T A L IMPROVEMENTS PROGRAM COST Funding Source Project Federal Local Federal/Local Fiscal Y e a r 1 Police C a r Sher i f $ $ 9,000 CB 1989-1990 1 Pumper Fire N o t e : FmHA Loan 180,000 RDA/GO 1989-1990 1 Fire Station Fire N o t e : FmHA Loan 147,500 RDA /GO 1989-1990 E q u i p m e n t P u r c h a se Engineering N/A N/A RDA/GO 1989-1990 1 School R e n o v a t i o n Education N/A N/A DE/ARC/GO 1989-1990 South L i m e s t o n e System Water $ 120,000 $ 30,000 RDA/CDBG/REV 1989-1990 B e l l e Mina S y s t e m Water 128,000 32,000 RDA/CDBG/REV 1 1989-1990 C o u n t y Park Recreation 252,800 63,200 NPS/RDA/GO 1989-1990 1 Police C a r Sheriff $ $ 9,000 LEAA/CB 1991-1995 1 Pumper Fire N o t e : FmHA Loan 180,000 RDA/GO 1991-1995 1 Fire Station Fire N o t e : FmHA Loan 147,500 RDA/GO 1991-1995 E q u i p m e n t Purchase Engineering N/A N/A RDA/GO 1991-1995 School R e n o v a t i o n s Education N/A N/A DE/ARC/GO 1991-1995 E a s t L i m e s t o n e System Water $ 64,800 $ 16,200 RDA/ARC/REV 1991-1995 Tanner System Water 122,000 18,000 RDA/ARC/REV 1991-1995 C o u n t y Park Recreation 252,000 63,200 NPS/RDA/ARC/GO 1991-1995 1 Pumper Fire N o t e : FmHA Loan $180,000 RDA/GO 1995-2000 1 Fire Station Fire N o t e : FmHA Loan 147,500 RDA/GO 1995-2000 E q u i p m e n t Purchase Engineering N/A N/A FDA/GO 1995-2000 School R e n o v a t i o n s Education N/A N/A DE/ARC/GO 1995-2000 R u r a l C o m m u n i t y Park Recreation $ 60,000 $ 60,000 RDA/NPS/ARC/GO 1995-2000 F u n d i n g Source A b b r e v i a t i o n s : See page 16.0

TABLE VIII-4 LIMESTONE COUNTY, FINANCIAL

SUMMARY

OF COUNTY GOVERNMENT 1972-82 IN SELECTED FISCAL YEARS w 1, i 1972-73 1974-75 1976-77 1978-79 1980-81

\ f i \

Revenues State 979,857 1,285 ,584 1,624,467 Federal 485 ,776 584 ,652 1 ,852 ,859 Local 1,140,316 1,527,482 2,010,659 I I-Other 50 ,777 217 ,081 1,118,600 Total 2,656,726 3 ,614,799 6,606,585 6,071,204 7 ,314,370 *\\5,733 ,%1/ .

- __ -. I _ _c------ - - ~

- ~i Expenditures 2,177 ,787 4,604,997 6,063,273 5,635,395 7,311,244 5 ,219 ,814 Expenditures Paid 2,177 ,787 4 ,560,997 5 ,849 ,725 5,534,795 7,261,244 4,988,109 Warrants Paid 60,000 44,000 213 ,548 100,600 50,000 231,705 Outstanding Indebtedness 932 ,587 1,419,266 2,304,000 3,539,000 4,470,753 1,725,648 I Assessed Property Valuation 38,475,820 44,391,230 50,556,900 78,941,747 84,832,160 Regular 24,815,900 25,943,710 28,317,540 57,168,987 57,854,120 53,307,240 Corporate 3 ,160,630 3 ,708 ,800 4,843 ,540 5,074,840 4,559,120 2 ,189 ,170 Utilities 4,563 ,380 5 ,262 ,380 5,646,860 6,339,740 5,046,120 5 ,448,480 1 Motor Vehicles 5 ,935 ,910 7,801,740 9,553,880 8,537,980 15,467,420 10,674,100 1,674,600 2 ,195 ,170 1,820,200 Act 1000 Act 48 1,905,380 ' 4,801,180 Constitutional Debt Limit* 1,346 ,653 1,553,693 2 ,527 ,850 3,947,087 4,241,608 3 ,821,009 Indebtedness Chargeable to Limit 295 ,000 252,000 207 ,000 480,000 470 ,000 420 ,000

'I Surp 1u s " debt 1 ,05l.,6 5 3 1 ,301,693 2 ,320 ,850 3,467,087 3,771,608 3,401,009

• Changed from 34% assessed value to 5% in 1976-77 SOURCE: State of Alabama, Department of Examiners of Public Accounts, 1974-1983

TABLE V I I I - 5 LIMESTONE COUNTY COMBINED STATEMENT OF REVENUE, EXPENDITURES FOR FISCAL YEAR E N D I N G J U L Y 1 9 8 3 General Special Capital Debt Trusts &

Total Fund Revenues Projects Services Agency REVENUES Taxes 1,418 ,634 513 ,370 905 ,264 Licenses & Permits 82 ,0 9 0 24 ,797 57,293 Intergovernmental 2 ,1 7 6 ,284 378,323 1,681,447 99 ,269 17,245 Charges For S e r v i c e s 239,969 233,239 6 ,732 Misc. Revenue 187,454 30,278 153,686 1,566 4 90 1,434

• T o t a l Revenue 4 ,1 0 4 , 4 3 1 1,180,007 2,797,690 100 ,835 490 25 ,4 1 1 EXPENDITURES 1 G e n e r a l Govt. 785 ,755 6 3 1 ,0 2 9 1 3 7 ,4 8 1 17,245 Public Safety 675 ,798 668 ,784 2 ,512 4 ,502 Highways & Roads 1,584 ,948 1,584 ,948 1 Sanitation 3 ,000 2 ,000 Health 172,808 4 32 1 7 2 ,376 Welfare 114,147 63,471 5 0 ,676 Cultural & Rec 19,175 15 ,709 3 ,466 Education 59,469 33 ,399 26,070

• T o t a l C u r r e n t Expenditure 3,414,100 1,412,823 1,979 ,5 2 1 4 ,502 17,245 Capital Outlay (500) 309 ,444 43,826 63,733 200 ,459 1,426 Debt S e r v i c e - Principal 1 0 1,733 101,733

- Interest 26 ,756 26 ,756 Intergovernmental 107 ,682 2 1 ,214 86 ,468 Total E x p e n d i t u r e s 3,959,715 1,477,863 2,129,730 204 ,962 128,489 1 8 ,6 7 1 I _ - _

SOURCE: L i m e s t o n e County Commission, 1 9 8 3

P R E S E N T 'REVENUE/ E X P E N D I T U R E PATTERNS As a result of the combination of statewide property tax reappraisal and subsequent readjustment of county mileages, an interesting transition has taken place in the county's assessed property valuation (and the associated tax re-ceipts.) Total assessed valuation was just over $50.5 million ih 1976-77, and as a result of reappraisal activities, jumped $28.4 million (56.3 percent) by fiscal year 1978-79. However, an examination of the sub components of total assessed valuation reveals that there was a $28.9 million (102 percent) change in the "regular" or ad valorem portion of the valuation and an actual increase of l e s s than 10 percent in the combined corporate and utilities valuation. This was indicative of the fact that corporate and utility properties were already assessed in an accurate and up-to-date manner, and that it was private/personal property which was outdated and undervalued in its assessment (especially rural "farm land".)

Because of this transfer of almost 90 percent of the increased assessment/

reappraisal to the individual private taxpayers (and voters) there was a down-wards revision of the countywide proportion of the tax mileage in fiscal year 1978-79. This reduction from 2 8 mills to 24 mills effected the general/ad valorem tax base by 1.5 mills (a reduction of almost 20 percent). The road and bridge fund tax base by 1 mill, or 22.2 percent; the hospital revenue base by . 5 mills (14.3 percent) and the countywide school district millage by 1 mill or 1 5 . 4 per-cent (see tables VIII-3 -thruVII'I-5.

In other words, in FY 1978-79, the potential tax millage on the total assessed value of the county at $83.94 million at 28 mills was $2-,350,320; wnereas by 1981-82, with an assessed value of $76.42 million, and a 24 mill effective tax rate, only S1,834,080 of potential taxes was available--a decrease of $516,240 or about 22 percent. (not counting exempt properties or actual taxes)

It is little wonder then that when the decreasing property valuation and decreasing millage was combined with an overall economic slow-down with reduced sales tax receipts and some user fees, the county's total revenues fell from 7,314,370 in FY 1 9 8 1 to 5,733,361 in FY 1982. Part of this reduction in funding can be observed in the fact that total state and local government employment re-duced from 2,590 in 1 9 8 0 to 2,470 (-5 percent) in 1982.

In current (FY 1 9 8 3 ) expenditure terms,* Limestone County spent as follows (by "function"):

General Government 20.4%

Public Safety 17.5%

Highway and Roads 41.1%

Sanitation .1%

Health 4.5%

Welfare 3.0%

Culture and Recreation .5%

Education 1.5%

Capital Outlay 8.0%

Debt Service 3.3%

• Net of any intergovernmental transfers, excluding hospital and school system 165

c Unfortunately, the 1 9 8 2 Census of Governments data is not available at the county or county-wide population grouping level at this time. However, it is felt from examination of current state and county data, that the 1977 Census relationships are probably fairly representative of existing conditions. In 1977, Limestone County had general revenues in excess of $99 per capita f r o m all sources. This figure exceeded both the state-wide total county average of

$95 and the Alabama county population size group (AWSG) figure of $76. Obyiously, since the Alabama total county average, lagged the U . S . per capita general revenue total. County average figure by almost $125 ( 1 3 2 percent) Limestone County fared little better on a national comparison for per capita revenue with either counties of population size 25,000-50,000. For this reason, most of the comparisons made in this section will be to relative state averages, and not national averages.

Tables VIII-6 thru VIII-14 compare the 1972-77 revenues and expenditures on a per capita basis for Limestone County, Alabama, and the USA. The following, still existant, trends and observations can be made from this data:

Per Capita Taxes 1 9 7 7 per capita taxes of $35.65 were 88 percent of the state wide average and about 2 1 percent above the average for all Alabama counties of po2ula-tion 25,000-50,000.

From 1972-1977, however, per capita taxes in Limestone County grew by only 25.7 percent, which was significantly below both the state rates of 5 3 . 1 per-cent total counties and 45.0 percent for counties of population size 25,000-50 ,000.

Also, in 1 9 7 7 , the per capita property tax in Limestone County was sivificantly below both state relative averages, while the per capita sales was over 13 percent above the state-wide average, double the Alabama 25,000-50,009 -wpu-lation county group figure and even twice both the U.S. all county average and the U.S. all 25,000-50,000 population county group figure ( $ 7 . 3 7 ) .

This points out, that, while per capita incomes are rising in Limeszone County, they are still significantly below both state and national averages and the reliance on regressively characterized sales taxes for the major po-ion of tax revenues rather than property and use taxes (or user related fees) Is dmqer-ous both in terms of slowing economic growth and reducing county revenue Curing economically recessive times.

Per Capita Education Expenditures The 1 9 7 7 per capita expenditure of $12.77 was over twice the state-wide all county average, and three times the Alabama 25,000-50,000 populaticn county group. This figure was, however as would be expected, significantly below the national figure of around 40, where property taxes are keyed to educa-tion spending.

166

I I

TABLE VIII-6 LIMESTONE COUNTY, FINANCIAL STATISTICS BY UNITS OF GOVERNMENT, 1977 (FIGURES ALL IN $1,000'~)

l".1.1

?.'.I I..,l<ll ncvcrw TOTAL . . . . . . .. ..,.....

G f N f R A L REVENUE, C X C L @ I

• 4 INTLRLOCAL, 4 104 1 711 INTE~G~V~RhliNR sTArf aovEnwfNr ORY .......

i AL LV E M e 1 401 1 ¶b1 I*¶

¶ GENERAL R t V f H U L TAXES.. . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ... ...

FROM OWM S m C c S . I 1*J 1 314 .

1 ¶¶b PnoPcnTv.

oTncn. ............. 411 1 017 CHARGES AN0 M I S C E L L A N E O U S arum . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

CURRENT CHARSfS J4*

b4 a15 I

I

¶¶*

¶¶*

U T I L I T Y REVENUE .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .......... 11*

W A T E R SUPPLY.

orwn L V E N O I TURC O l R L C T GENERAL l P f N O I T U n c . 4 41* J 011 C A P I T A L OUTLAY. 1 101 11 s m i c u i FOUCATION COUCAT.ION S A L A R I E S A N 0 RAGES.

LIBRARY I*

S O C I A L S E R V I C E S A N 0 INCOME HAIMTCNAWCE P U B L I C WELFARE. LO HOSPITAL. 2 *11 HtLALTM

. _ r*

I . . . . . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..

1RANSPORTATlONI MlGHWAY I b14 C A P I T A L OUTLAV. Ill -.

PUBLIC S A F E T V I POLICE PROTECTION 111 F I R E PROTECTION J ConnEcTlon. b4 PROTECTIVE I N S P E C l l O N AN0 R f L u L A T l O M scnfnAGL. . . . . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..

E N V I R O N N E N T AN0 H O U S l N b l I *I2 C A P I T A L OUTLAY. 1 b24 SANITATION OTNCR TNAN SEWERAGE. JI P A R K S AND nEcncATioN. ¶ H O U S I N G A N 0 U R B A N REUEWAL 11 GOVERNMENTAL A O M I N l S T R A T I O N I FINANCIAL *n-iuis.rmAriom. 7*

GE ME RAL CONTROL 181 GENERAL P U B L I C d U I L O l N C S . J55 I N T E M S T ON GENERAL DEBT. 11 **

0Tuc.q ANO U N A L L O C A ~ L C u1' I L I T T L X P f N O l T U R E 27 1 O¶O 4

.ATER OTHER ................

SUPPLY. 1 050 DEB1 OERr OUTSTANOINGv T O T A L LONG-TERM 1 101 1 J4*

la1 181 L O C A L SCNOOLS orncn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

UTILITIS I ¶O*

7 140

- 111 SOURCE: U.S. Census of Governments, 1977 167

TABLE V I I I - 7 PER CAPITA GOVERNMENT COUNTY REVENUE AND EXPENDITURES (ALL UNITS OF GOVERNMENT INCLUDED)

BY S I Z E OF COUNTY, 1977 United States Alabama Z o u n t ie s Counties All w/ pop. All W/ POP.

Counties10,oOO- Countiec10,OOO-A v e r a g e 50,000 A v e r a g e 5OrOOO GlNCIAL ICvcMH, iuicncovcny(Icmiu I L V C M .. .. .. .. .. ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...

C a c L W l N C IMILRLOCAL t.*O.23 mo. > I bO5.1.

m . b i 517.b-a*a.*i

.5..vv l.b.4b C I O H FCOCIAL COvCINNCNl 17.b* 41.** 9b.Bb 1V.VI 6CNLIIA.L ICVCNUC I N A R I M G 1O.b) 1r.14 I1.bO 15.31 F R O M I l A l C bOvCnHNiNl P I O M LOCAL I W I C C S . . . ?Ol.MM

• l*.

• a 1-*.*1 JI3.15 181.05 212.73 llb.3¶ 101.51 rnomir. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

i T A ~ C I 15l.l? lOO.l* 110. b* )*.I9 iai.11 174.73 53.00 11.01 owcn be.*- 15.55 .I.lV

71. b*

CHAlGCS ;rd kliCiLiAk&l; 111.41 111.b) 151.0. I)-.))

D I I C c 1 GC N C I AL I OIHCR ar"O I 1unc CArlIAL W I L A V .

. . . . (01 .lo 103.1*

b**.Ob bOO.15 14.5@

51b.Jl 511.0.

70.l*

..#.*I

• • ..I5 1V.bI

.0...11 CDUCLl I O N SlIVICC I I

[DUCAT ION SALAIICS AN0 8bGCI.

j¶¶.l*

131.00 319.55 1*1..0 111.q7 l19.5b 225.bb 1.3.3.

LIURARY srmiiici iNio;c'miIiriuLic;

... . ' ' 5.55 1.50 1.57 .be socibL ;NO *

• PMLlC MLFblC 55.71 17.bZ 2.J5 .l id ;cioL'r;rwcNrs .oa HOWllbC. . . . . . . . .. .. .. .. .. ..... .. .. .. .. .. . .

CASH A S S I S I ~ ; ~ ~

SALAIICJ A H 0 8ACIJ.

Jl.17

• I.@*

21.13 b.51 45.1.

2l.b*

l5.1*

15. b7 b5.05

.OJ 1J.01 YCfiLlH..

Ol"m

~~AHI~ORlAlIOHI

. 1J.bb

.04 b.bl b.5b 1.1" HICNWAY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . lV.15 CArllAL WTLAV. ................

Oil" . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

43.10 14.14

• .I1 54.0.

I*.Jb 2.JV 10.16 q.7J

• >.a1 7.19

."a PUBLIC SAFCTYI POLlCC ?IOlCCTIOH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

IALAIICI AN0 W A G I S . ..............

r i n c rnorccriom . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

• l.b5 12.07 20.11 Z0.V) 111.11 2U.b.

10.01 11.1b Il..b 11.b)

COIRCC 1 I . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .. .. .. .. . 7.51 0.Ib 1.75 2.b)

U.bl 1.Ul

?ROTccTIV( IMIP[CIION A N 0 I(GvCbII0N. 2.17 .bO I. 5 0 .I8 t N V I R O N H C N 1 b N O Hou3lNll S r .CmAGC. 91.97 lb.71 2J.va 9.14 CArlTAL W T L A r . 11.11 l0.7* 17.11 3.1)

SAHlllllON 01HCI I N A N I C l C I A G C . 11.16 5.61 *.J* b.b1 NAlUnAL I C 3 W I C C I 4.5J 5.07

• 71 1.21 PAm*I MOUSING AN0 AM) fiCClCAllON.

UllBAN ICHCWAL

~ O V C I N M C H I A LA O M I H l I ~ l A l I O

• I

............ lb.2b 15.06 b.bJ 4.37 13.bI It.*)

..I0 7.20

~ I N A N C I A L bOHlNlIlIAllON. . . . . . . . . . . . .

COMTROL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

l0.b) 0.bO 1.1- *.>b GCNCRAL 11.11 15.13 11.11 10.71 I

GCYCnAL rUBLlC I)U1LOING¶. b*" 5.7b 5.0* ).bL OC81. lb.35 WACLOCABLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1 N l C I C ) l ON OCMCIAL 1V.qb 21.9J Ib. > O oiwn Y*.b> 1>.61 15.1J 17.b.

uriLirv n c v c w * . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . **.I1 ulILITr CarcuoiTvmc'. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

bb.5. *l.lb LO.51 6OVCIUCHl. . . . . . . . . . . . .

• 7.34 71.bl **.5* L5.11 rAYNCNI1 10 ¶ l A T C 1.** 1.11 .b* I.lV OtNCIAL OClT Wl¶lANOl*E.

LOCAL ¶ C I ( o o C ¶ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

LONG- 1 CRN bll.J*

57b.2b 174.09 3b0.5b 511.7*

411.b4 1br.I)

J5O.Lb O l H C n . . .................... I59.Ib 417.11 I.5.7b 116.11 .)I.*)

bl.*b qo.05 11o.ao C b I H A N 0 SCCUIIIY H O L O I N C ¶ ~ 101AL .......... ..5.60 1>*.7b 15J.Jv 117.01 NOTE: F i g u r e s r e f l e c t a l l combined g o v e r n m e n t a l u n i t s , C O u n t Y f m u n i c i p a l , and d i s t r i c t s .

SOURCE: U.S. C e n s u s of G o v e r n m e n t s , 1977.

168

TABLE V I I I - 8 REVEWE, E X C L u O I N I INTCRLOCAL, R E V E W ONLV TOTAL b"",

16 .........

19 0 6 1 0.Pll.

n c v E I w I E FROPI OWN swncci 16 J W ~IJ.)S GCNERAL REVENUE FROM O W S W R C C S I TAXEl PnoPEii; S A L E 1 A N 0 011051 R i C i I i T i 1 0-4 *'?.IV I

INCOHE OTHER.

CHARGES A N 0 U l S ~ f ; L k O U S .

CURRENT CHARGES.

I UTILITY OTHER.

nEvEwE.

WATER S U P P L Y . . . .

v L I oO u iO Hw ;T;Ri,.Ri"i&E:

EHPLOYEE n E i i n E w i n c v i m u c .

............. I 8 *a1

-I I I EXPENDITURE. TOTAL I

C A P I T A L OUTLAY oiwn EouCATI;N.~~n;I;Eil.

I LO O u d ' 232.00 b JOT1 IU3.bZ 2') .38 1 HOSP I T A L I S A L A R I E i ;HI)

HEALTH WA6ES HIGHVAY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

TRINSP(rRTATIOH1 C A P I T A L OUTLAY . . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..

1 AIRPORTS PARKING F k i L i T i E i . . . . . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..

WATER TRANSPORT A M 0 T E R M I N A L l .

PUBLIC SAFETY#

P O L I C E PROTECTION.

S A L A I I E S AN0 WACCI F I R E PROTECTION.

1 aim. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

S A L A R I E S AND WAGES ENVIRONMENT A N 0 H W S l N O l SEVERAGE CAPITAL OiJTiAi ' * '

... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... I 8Ib I 62q

• I.,?]

J7.50 S A N I T A T I O N OTHER f H h ' s i & R % 2b0 6.00 I . . . . . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..

PARKS AN0 R E C R C A T I O U 121 2.91 HOUlIN6 AN0 U R m N RENEWAL. 87 1.01 C A P I T A L OUTLAY GOVERMHENTAL A O H I N I S T R A T I O U (

F I N A N C I A L AOHlNlSTRATIoW 2.40 GENERAL CONTROL. 8.04 GENERAL P U B L I C B U l L O l N C S 8.b8 8

I N T E R E l T ON O E Y R A L D E D T b.10 OTHER A N 0 U N A L L O C A 8 L C . 220 5.08

............... v U T I L I T V EaPENOITUnL. 333 220.62 l A T E R SUPrLV I 17r *O.V6 OTHER..

L l O U O R STORES E X P E H O I T U R C . . . . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 7 781 179.b6 1

EMPLOYEE R C T l R E M C N T CXPLIUIITURC.

16 J87 J78.J7 LoHG-TcRm. . . . cncoIr.

. . . . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. l b 019 F A I T H AHO NONGUARAHTCEO. .

. . . .cunrosc .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 11 J32 I

SHORT TEnM JJ8 L o m G - T E n u DEBT B Y L O C A L SCHOOLS.

I UTILIlIES.

OTHER..

LONG-TERN DEBT ISSUEO.

. . . . . . . .. .. ......... .. .. .. ....... . . . 2*87 I 111 LONG-TERM DEBT R E T I R E 0

:::: :: (15 I 1 CHANGE IN DEBT O U R l W I Y i A i CHPLOYEE OTHER..

CASH A M 0 nEiinEwEnr.

SECURIlV N O C O I N C I ~ T O l A L .

I72 C A S H AN0 O E P O S l T S .

I xcuniiiEs FEOERAL.

I SOURCE: U.S. Census of Governments, 1977.

16Y

I I

1 I

LIMESTONE COUNTY COUNTY-WIDE UNIT OF GOVERNMENT, REVENUES AN0 EXPENDITURES F U R 1977 I

P o p u l a t i o n , 1975 ( e s t i m a t e d ) ...............

rntal Dollars

($1,0OOs 43,310 Per Capita I

D a t e o f E n d of F i s c a l Year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9/30 G e n e r a l Revenue Taxes Property . .

I n t e r g o v e r n m e n t a l Revenue 4,305 2,412 1,544 447 99.40 55.69 35.65 10.32 I

Sales . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 892 20.60 Income . .

Charges and Miscellaneous G e n e r a l E x p e n d i t u r e , A 11 F u n c t i o n s . . . . . . . . . . . .

C a p i t a l Outlay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

349 4.972 2,101 8.06 114.80 48.51 1

Other . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,871 66.29 Education Services Education . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

S a l a r i e s a n d Wages Library 553 19 12.77

.44 I

S o c i a l S e r v i c e s a n d Income Maintenance Public Welfare . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Cash A s s i s t a n c e Payments Hospital . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

S a l a r i e s a n d Wages . . . . . . . .

10 .23 I

Health . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89 2.05 Transportation Highway Capital Outlay Other 1,644 222 37.96 5.13 I Public Spfety Police Protection S a l a r i e s and Wages Correction Other.

212 136 64 3

4.04 3.14 1.48

.07 1

Environment and Housing Sewerage Capital Outlay.

Natural Resources Parks and Recreation Other 1,682 1,624 4

5 51 38.83 37.50

.09

.12

.72 I

1 Governmental Administration Financial Administration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76 1.75 S a l a r i e s and Wages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66 1.52 General Control .................... 181 4.18 G e n e r a l Public B u i l d i n g s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 355 8.20 I n t e r e s t o n General Debt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 .48 Other and Unallocable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

T o t a l Debt O u t s t a n d i n g A t End o f F i s c a l Year . . . . . . .

E x h i b i t S a l a r i e s a n d Wages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

23 2,409 1,043

.53 55.62 24.m I

County o n l y SOURCE: U.S.

- Includes no municipalities C e n s u s o f G o v e r n m e n t 1977. 1 I

170 I

I

I 1 TABLE V I I I - 1 0 I P E R C A P I T A REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES FOR ALABAMA AND U . S . COUNTIES, 1977 I

I I

I mow ...........

aovcnmcnr.

I ITATE T ArR&iTi XCI W .. . . . . . . . .. .. ......... ..

IUI...............,-...

rcistciuMwr. .

IW C wnwi AMO I LWCATIOM.

IMA~IES cienuv id iAki .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ... ... ... ...

. . . . t. i.~.i.~.i.~.i.~.k.i s o c ~ ks c i v i c g s ' ~ i o - t k %

1 I

P U L I C ILLFAR$.

WOUITAL TwuonTirioir.

WCICTH MIWAV..

Mclc own 1 ram cmnEcT own low . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

MOTECTIOM.

cml~.EiT.Ak.,"~li';

SCCILIIAY

1. ATV(IAL RiS%CiS:

I rmxs AHO n E c n E A i i 4 I

1 NOTE: County-wide g o v e r n m e n t only, i n c l u d e s no m u n i c i p a l i t i e s I SOURCE: U.S. C e n s u s of G o v e r n m e n t s , 1977.

I I

I I

171 I

I TABLE VIII-11 I LIMESTONE COUNTY, COUNTY-WIDE UNIT OF GOVERNMENT*, REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES

SUMMARY

, 1 9 7 2 I

Total Per I

in $1,000'~ Capita Population, 1 9 7 0 4 1 ,699 -

I 9/30 -

, Date of End of Fiscal Year General Revenue 2,363 56.67 I

Intergovernmental Revenue 9 39 22.52 Tax Revenue Charges and Miscellaneous 1,182 242 28.35 5.80 I

General Expenditures, All Functions 2 ,549 61.13 Capital Outlay Other Education 171 2 ,378 475 4.10 57.03 11.39 I

Capital Outlay Other 475 11.39 I Highways 1,420 34.05 Public Welfare Hospitals 39 22

-94

.53 I

Health 15 .36 Police Protection Parks and Recreation Natural Resources 91 1

40 2.18

.02

.96 I

I Correction 47 1.13 Financial Administration 35 -84 General Control 161 3.86 General Public Buildings 38 -91 Interest on General Debt Other and Unallocable Exhibit: County Contributions to Own Retirement Systems 34 131

.a2 3.14 I Total Debt Outstanding at End of Fiscal Year 822 19.71 1

• County only, includes no municipalities

~~ ~~~

I SOURCE: U.S. Census of Governments, 1972.

1 I

172 I

I

I TABLE VIII-12 STATE OF ALABAMA,

SUMMARY

OF COUNTY-WIDE GOVERNMENT FINANCES, 1972 units 2 5 ,000-1, Amount ( 1 , 0 0 0 s )

ICMRAL RfbC\UL. .................. ............ I81 e4fi 11 110 I . 111 n E v I * . u r .

clcorrntr TAICI l M l l ~ 6 O v E ~ l : H f ~ T ARL V N ( .

omv CWARCCS Ah0 H I S C C L L A M W S . ............

b1 I t I11 O I 1 1 515 11 (07 CLPllAL WTLAT . . . . . . . . . .. . .. . .. . .. .

C L h C a A L C L m f W I T W I # ALL ~ W U ? I O M s s I 01W.r.

COUCAllO*. I 331 CAPllbL OUTLAT OTHER.

MIPlqAVS..

?U(rLIC I L L r b R C ..................

MOSPIILLS.

HLbLlH . . . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..

POLICC i

• i l i C T l O M .

? A R K S Ah0 g L C I C A l l O H NAIURAL ~ E S O U R C L S .

COrhCCTIOh 404 F l Nb N Cl b L AO*lNISTRAT1OM b11 C C L E R l L COYTROL. t tI9 CELLRAL r U 4 L l C 8 U I L O I N G S 111 I W T C R C S T c O

• 6fhL*AL O f 0 1 OTMU .... W A L L O C A I L I . 411 2 016 T O T A L OERT O:ITLlAH9l)rO AT L I P OC F I S C A L TCAR .... 121 1 1 s I 1 41b Per Capita GfhLqAL f l ? L O I T U R C ,

ALL F i ~ w c r l O m s C A P I T b L OUTLAT 41.51 coucArIo~. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

ormcn.. Jl.35 CAPITAL JU T L A 1 5.10 OTHER.

HlGMmITS PUOLlC rcLCLnf HOSPllAL5.

nEbLrm..

POCICC PlOlECT l o \ , . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..

PARKS AkO ~ E C R E A T l O I l HATURAL @ C S O U R C f S .

COnrl~ClICh FlNbNCIAL ~OMINlSTlbTlOY ccucnu. c t

• i n o L .

CLHfRbL FUdLlC ~llIL01WGS INlCRLIl L \ GLUERAL OCBT 01MfR b Y j U h b L L O C A l L ~ .

TOTAL OCBT OulSTaMnlW A 1 CW OC F I S C A L TCAR [ 11.M a

NOTE: County units only, no municipalities included SOURCE: U.S. Census of Governments, 1972.

173

TABLE V I I I - 1 3 PER CAPITA COUNTY-WIDE UNIT OF GOVERNMENTS 3EVENUE EXPENDITUW COMPARISON, LIMESTONE, ALABAMA AND U.S.A. 1972 and 1977 Same S i z e C o u n t y USA 1 9 7 7 Limestone

~~

Alabama Alabama A 11 Same S i z e 1977 1972 1977 1972 1977 1972 Counties Counties G e n e r a l Revenue 99.40 56.67 . 95.07 52.96 75.91 44.50 219.94 184.96 Taxes 35.65 28.35 40.47 26.97 29.36 20.25 84.57 58.64 Property 10.32 NA 18.63 13.28 15.40 10.72 68.85 47.29 Sales 20.60 NA 18.22 NA 10.18 NA 10.40 7.37 Charges & M i s c . 8.06 5.80 13.73 7.12 8.86 2.52 36.21 40.41 Capital Outlay 48.51 4.10 18.35 10.53 8.09 4.23 26.63 25.48 Education 12.77 11.39 5.23 3.90 7.29 5.70 34.69 43.31 Pub1 i c W e 1f a re .23 -94 2.19 1.36 .39 -90 41.25 19.85 Health 2.05 -36 5.69 3.18 1.94 .98 10.27 7.20 Highways 37.96 34.05 24.55 17.42 24.55 18.99 20.35 30.23 Capital 5.13 NA -NA- -NA- -NA- -NA- -NA- -NA-4 P Public Safety 6.44 3.31 7.92 3.08 6.09 2.86 19.12 12.33 Sewerage 38.83 NA 7.71 NA 2.12 NA 5.19 1.72 Capital 37.50 NA NA NA NA NA NA NA Government Admin. 14.13 5.61 14.52 6.95 10.61 5.97 24.31 19.48 I n t e r e s t o n Gen. D e b t .48 .82 2.16 1.67 .88 .69 5.30 4.49 Total D e b t Outstanding 55.62 19.71 41.01 35.16 20.21 18.35 19.43 96.55 Note: "Same s i z e c o u n t i e s " 1 5 c o u n t i e s w i t h p o p u l a t i o n of ,000 SOURCE: Derived from C e n s u s of Governments 1972-1977

- = m = - m = - - = = m ' = = - = I

TABLE V I I I - 1 4 P E R C A P I T A REVENUE AND EXPENDITURES, COUNTY-WIDE U N I T S O F GOVERNMENT, PERCENTAGE CHANGE 1972-77 FOR SELECTED AREAS, LIMESTONE COUNTY AND ALABAMA Alabama Limestone All Same S i z e county Counties Counties I ,General Revenue Taxes Property 75.4 25.7 79.5 50.1 70.6 45.0 Sales - - -

Charges & Misc. 39.0 97.8 251.6 capital O u t l a y NR 74.3 91.3 Education 12.1 34.1 27.9 P u b l i c Welfare -75.5 61.0 -56.7 i Health Highways Capital 469.4 11.5 78.9 40.9 98.0 29.3

' P u b l i c Safety Sewerage Capital 94.6 149.1 112.9 I G o v e r n m e n t Admin.

I n t e r e s t on G e n . D e b t Total D e b t O u t s t a n d i n g 151.9

-41.5 182.2 108.3 29.3 16.6 77.7 27.5 10.1 1 NOTE: S a m e s i z e c o u n t i e s are those of p o p u l a t i o n 25,000-50,000 1 SOURCE: D e r i v e d f r o m U.S. C e n s u s of G o v e r n m e n t s , 1972-1977 1

1 1

I I

I 175

Due to this high level of relative spending, the change in spending 1977-77 only increased by 12.1 percent in Limestone County, compared with the relative state-wide figures of 34.1 (total) and 27.9 percent (25,000-50,000 counties).

This is indicative of the fact that once an education system reaches a certain size range, minimum program standards and transportation and fa-cility costs combine to create a total cost which rapidly becomes less and less independent on total pupil/population size. In this area, the county needs to seek aid through the state legislature in increasing mini-mum program supports on a general system size and program approach, rather than just a per pupil cost allocation. In addition, any additional pooling and combining of efforts with the city school system should be explored thoroughly. Program standards and transportation and facility costs combine to create a total cost which rapidly becomes less and less independent on total pupil/population size. In this area, the county needs to seek aid through the state legislature in increasing minimum program supports on a general system size and program approach, rather than just a per pupil cost allocation. In addition, any additional pooling and combining of efforts with the city school system should be explored thoroughly.

Per Capita Highway/Road Expenditures 1 9 7 7 per capita highway expenditure by Limestone County was almost $ 3 8 .

This figure was over 50 percent above the state-wide average (and same size county average) of $ 2 4 . 5 5 . In addition, this figure was also almost twice the USA all county average from the same period. This is especially significant when one notes that only 13.5 percent of that amount was ex-pended on capital outlay, meaning that 86.5 percent of the money was pri-marily spent ori just routine maintenance and repair.

As with education, due to the high per capita base operating expenditure, the change in expenditure from 1972-77 was significantly below the state-wide averages of 3 0 - 4 1 percent.

It should be pointed out that Limestone County has a proportionally large network of roads to maintain for a rural county. A l s o , despite the fact that gasoline tax revenues are earmarked to the highway function, Limestone County's work commuting patterns are such that the purchase of a significant amount of gasoline (and tax paid) outside the county is assured. Therefore, despite the job creation factor involved in the county highway maintenance, serious consid-eration should be given to shifting all or a significant portion of the respon-sibility to the state (ie...in the 1 9 8 3 actual current/operating expenditures sector, 46.4 percent of all monies went for "highways and roads")

Per Capita Government Administration Expenditures 1 9 7 7 per capita "cost of government" expenditures in Limestone County were

$14.13, which was favorably comparable with the Alabama countywide average of $14.52, and significantly below the national average for counties with population of 25,000-50,000 of 19.48.

From 1972-77, government per capita administrative expenditures rose by almost 1 5 2 percent in Limestone County, significantly above the Alabama total and "same size" county indexes of 1 0 8 percent and 78 percent res-176

I I pectively. However, much of this increased rate of expenditure can be traced to the implementation of modern governmental procedures and in-I creases in employment necessary to gear up to provide public services for the population growth associated with the manufacturing boom in this period.

1 In general, thexounty Commission has done an admirable job of balancing costs and services of government administration over the last decade. While some progress has been slow, the county has not over extended itself on a basis 1 of sudden economic peakings as evidenced by the minimal levels of cutbacks re-quired during the past two years economic slowdown.

I Per Capita Debt Expenditures In terms of total 1977 per capita debt, Limestone County significantly out-I stripped both state-wide comparison bases. This was primarily due to county-wide water and sewer related projects.

The size of the per capita debt increase from 1972-77 can be reduced to a I very reasonable level when a balance is struck between the earmarked/

revenue incurred debt and the general obligation debt. For the most part, Limestone County's debts are related to activities such as water and sewer I and health/hospital services where the projects are self amortizing. In FY 1981-82, for instance while the county listed almost 4 . 5 million in out-standing indebtedness, less than $.5 million was chargeable to the county's I "full faith and credit" constitutional debt limit of almost $ 3 . 8 million dollars.

1 The county's debt picture is sound and well grounded in "pay as you go" pro-ject orientation. This policy has helped somewhat to control growth in the county into the Athens-Decatur and Athens-Huntsville corridors through water system expansions based upon economically feasible (self supporting) population I concentrations rather than just general geographical growth.

I SOURCES OF AVAILABLE REVENUE I. Motor Vehicle Tax Revenues 8 With the exception of raising the property tax on the automobile, no additional tax of this nature is practical in Limestone County since, first, the County I Commuter patterns have made private transportation a necessity, and second, municipal taxes of this type are already rising as a r.ationa1 trend.

11. Gasoline Tax Revenue I Limestone County levies the full Alabama authorized gasoline tax to cover the operation of the county road system and associated functions of regulation 1 by the Sheriff's Department. This present trends in gasoline prices and the recut increase of the Federal gas tax make any increase in this tax (requiring local legislation) unfeasible.

I I 177

111. C i g a r e t t e and Tobacco Tax Revenues The c i g a r e t t e and t o b a c c o p r o d u c t s t a x i s c u r r e n t l y n o t l e v i e d by Limestone County. S t a t e - w i d e , t w e l v e c o u n t i e s do u t i l i z e t h i s form o f revenue p r o d u c t i o n and i n 1979-1980, i t produced an e s t i m a t e d 1 2 m i l l i o n d o l l a r s a t t h e county l e v e l . J a c k s o n County, s i m i l a r t o Limestone County i n socio-economic c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s , r e c e i v e d a y i e l d of a1mos.t $50,000 i n 1982 t h r o u g h u s e of a c o u n t y two c e n t s ( 2 C ) p e r pack t a x . T h e unpopular g e n e r a l n a t u r e of such a t a x c o u l d b e o f f s e t i n t h e county by earmarking t h e t a x for a primary l o c a l program s u c h as h e a l t h o r e d u c t i o n . Such a tax s h o u l d produce some a d d i t i o n a l r e v e n u e .

IV. ABC Revenues The r e v e n u e s from t h e S t a t e ABC Board, w h i l e of a s e n s i t i v e n a t u r e , and p r i m a r i l y a l o c a l d i s c r e t i o n a r y m a t t e r , a r e worthy of n o t e a t t h i s p o i n t . From a p u r e l y revenue s t a n d p o i n t , a h i g h l y p o t e n t i a l s o u r c e of r e v e n u e i s b e i n g l o s t and a p r e s e n t s o u r c e of revenue may b e r e d u c e d . Limestone County i s p r e s e n t l y a d r y c o u n t y ,

b o r d e r e d by two w e t a r e a s , Madison County, Alabama, and Tennessee. S a l e s r e v e n u e s

( e s p e c i a l l y f o r b e e r and wine) a r e b e i n g l o s t t o t h e s e n e i g h b o r i n g r e g i o n s . A l s o ,

i n FY 1981-82, Limestone County r e c e i v e d l e s s t h a n 5 p e r c e n t of t h e t o t a l g e n e r a l fund r e v e n u e s , from ABC t a x e s . The S t a t e L e g i s l a t u r e i s s t i l l h o l d i n g (and e x p e c t e d t o p a s s i f new d e b a t e c l o t u r e r u l e s go i n t o e f f e c t ) a b i l l t o remove a l l r e v e n u e s from t h e s a l e of b e e r and a l c o h o l i c b e v e r a g e s from d r y c o u n t i e s .

R e a l i z i n g t h a t t h i s i s a l o c a l d e c i s i o n , t h i s p l a n d o e s n o t make a recommendation i n t h i s r e g a r d , it only p o i n t s o u t t h e f a c t t h a t d e f i n i t e revenue p o t e n t i a l does e x i s t i n t h e l o c a l s a l e of b e v e r a g e s , and a f u t u r e r e v e n u e l o s s t o Limestone and o t h e r d r y c o u n t i e s i s a r e a l p r o b a b i l i t y . Proposed p l a n s a t t h e s t a t e and l o c a l l e v e l s t o earmark s u b s t a n t i a l p o r t i o n s of such a tax t o e d u c a t i o n ( i . e . 3 C on a can of b e e r ) might p r o v i d e a v a l i d j u s t i f i c a t i o n f o r t h i s t y p e of revenue i n c o u n t i e s such a s Limestone.

V. U s e r Charges and Gross Earning Revenues Madison and Morgan C o u n t i e s l e v y usage-based c h a r g e s f o r s e r v i c e s such as g a r b a g e removal and sewage d i s p o s a l . While Limestone County l a c k s t h e i n d u s t r i a l b a s e t o support such a program countywide a t p r e s e n t , some p o r t i o n of t h e county s e r v i c e s might b e f i n a n c e d t h r o u g h such a mechanism.

The g r o s s e a r n i n g s o r s o - c a l l e d o c c u p a t i o n a l t a x e s a t t h e l o c a l / m u n i c i p a l l e v e l a r e c u r r e n t l y p o p u l a r i n r e v e n u e a n a l y s i s . I n Kentucky, Michigan, Maryland, Ohio, and P e n n s y l v a n i a t h e c o n c e p t h a s proved v i a b l e ; and Gadsden and Birmingham have adopted s i m i l a r measures. The c o n c e p t i d e a l of a "piggyback" l o c a l income t a x ,

however, comes from t h e f a c t t h a t i t p r o v i d e s more e q u i t y as a t a x i n g basis t h a n the sales tax. I n an a r e a such a s Limestone County, such a l e v y would n o t be p r a c t i c a l a t p r e s e n t due t o t h e s t r o n g o u t of c o u n t y commuter work p a t t e r n s and t h e d e t r i m e n t a l e f f e c t i t would p r o d u c e t o n e w i n d u s t r i e s s t i l l i n t h e i r b e g i n n i n g s t a g e s .

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VI. Sales Tax Revenues The m o s t o b v i o u s s o u r c e o f r e v e n u e t o t h e c o u n t y i s t h e s a l e s t a x . The s t a t e c u r r e n t l y a u t h o r i z e s e i g h t e e n o f i t s c o u n t i e s t o l e v y a d d i t i o n a l t a x e s beyond t h e s t a t e ' s f o u r c e n t s . T h e mechanism i s e f f i c i e n t a n d e c o n o m i c a l t o t h e c o u n t i e s s i n c e t h e s t a t e c o l l e c t s a n d a d m i n i s t e r s t h e f u n d s f o r a l l b u t t w o of t h e c o u n t i e s .

However, L i m e s t o n e C o u n t y p r e s e n t l y h a s a t h r e e c e n t s (3C) s a l e s t a x c o u n t w i d e w i t h t h e C i t y o f Atheps l e v y i n q t h r z e c e n t s .

T h e o r e t i c a l l y , t h e c o u n t y c o u l d r a i s e i t s tax an a d d i t i o n a l o n e c e n t , b u t i n r e a l i t y , t h i s c o u l d n o t be d o n e w i t h o u t e n d a n g e r i n g s e r i o u s l y i t s p o s i t i o n Of economic c o m p e t i t i o n s i n c e H u n t s v i l l e , the n e a r e s t major trade area a l s o h a s a t h r e e c e n t rate. Such a n i n c r e a s e w o u l d be expected t o r e t u r n a p p r o x i -

m a t e l y o n e - f o u r t h of o n e percent of t h e state-based t a x r e t u r n i f it w e r e t o be applied--it i s n o t recommended a t t h i s t i m e .

T h i s t y p e o f r e v e n u e i n c r e a s e h a s t h e e c o n o m i c a d v a n t a g e of a l o w c o s t o f c o l l e c t i o n s i n c e t h e e x i s t i n g S t a t e System would be u s e d .

L i m e s t o n e C o u n t y , h o w e v e r , i s s t i l l a low-income c o u n t y b y n a t i o n a l p e r c a p i t a i n -

come s t a n d a r d s w i t h almost 20 p e r c e n t of i t s f a m i l i e s h a v i n g incomes below t h e p o v e r t y l e v e l (U.S. C e n s u s , 1 9 8 0 ) . A s a l e s t a x i s b y n a t u r e a r e g r e s s i v e t a x , a n d i t s b u r d e n f a l l s h e a v i e s t o n t h o s e l e a s t a b l e t o p a y . The Alabama r a t e o f f o u r c e n t s i s exceeded by o n l y s i x s t a t e s i n t h e n a t i o n , and m o s t o f t h e s e s t a t e s e x c l u d e basic i t e m s , s u c h as food a n d m e d i c i n e . I n d u s t r i a l g r o w t h , a n d a s s o c i a t e d rises i n per capita income, i s o f primary importance t o Limestone County t o m a i n t a i n t h e modest progress e x p e r i e n c e d i n t h e p a s t d e c a d e . N o r e v e n u e m e a s u r e whicn would s e r i o u s l y h a n d i c a p t h i s g r o w t h s h o u l d be c o n s i d e r e d b e t w e e n 1 9 8 3 a n d 1989.

VII. E x c i s e / L u x u r y Tax R e v e n u e s T h e c o l l e c t i o n s f o r e x c i s e / l u x u r y taxes i n L i m e s t o n e C o u n t y a r e n o t u n d u l y l a r g e ,

even c o n s i d e r i n g t h e l o w - l e v e l per c a p i t a incomes. The t a x r a t e s t r u c t u r e f o r t h e S t a t e of A l a b a m a i s l o w , w i t h almost 60 p e r c e n t of t h e s t a t e s h a v i n g p e r s o n a l i n c o m e taxes w i t h h i g h e r r a t e s . ( S e e S t a t e a n d Local F i n a n c e s , 1 9 7 2 - 7 7 , A d v i s o r y Commission on Intergovernmental R e l a t i o n s , Washington, D.C.) T h i s s t a t e t r e n d s u g g e s t s t h a t v a r i o u s forms o f selected local e x c i s e t a x e s p r o b a b l y h o l d t h e b e s t low-burden r e v e n u e p o t e n t i a l f o r L i m e s t o n e C o u n t y a s l o n g a s low Alabama S t a t e r a t e s a r e i n effect.

VIII. Revenue S h a r i n g F e d e r a l Revenue s h a r i n g m o n i e s a r e p r e s e n t l y a v a i l a b l e , b u t s g e c u l a t i v e s o u r c e o f r e v e n u e f o r l o c a l g o v e r n m e n t a l u n i t s . The major r e s e r v a t i o n a b o u t F e d e r a l revenue-sharing programs is t h e i r r e l a t i o n to cutbacks i n g e n e r a l F e d e r a l e x p e n d i t u r e p o l i c i e s . N a t i o n a l l y , c o u n t i e s h a v e b e e n o n t h e t e m p o r a r y r e c e i v i n g e n d of g e n e r a l F e d e r a l revenue s h a r i n g as n e t a d d i t i o n s to t o t a l county r e v e n u e s , while l o s i n g r e v e n u e s from r e d u c e d a n d n o n - e q u a l i z i n g F e d e r a l p r o g r a m s a n d r e d u c t i o n a n d e l i m i n a t i o n of c a t e g o r i c a l g r a n t s p r o g r a m s . T h i s means t h a t r e v e n u e - s h a r i n g s h o u l d be viewed a s s u p p l e m e n t a l i n n a t u r e by L i m e s t o n e C o u n t y d u e t o t h e i r u n s t a b l e n a t u r e .

C a p i t a l improvements and equipment p u r c h a s e o f f u t u r e re v e n u e p r o d u c t i o n - o r i e n t e d investments r e p r e s e n t t h e m o s t productive u s e s for revenue s h a r i n g funds.

179

c In FY 1983, Limestone County had received just under $ 3 2 2 , 0 0 0 in Federal revenue-sharing funds. The bulk of the monies had either been spent, or earmarked for the following projects:

• Operating expenses and salaries for the Tax Assessor's and Tax Collector's Offices U

• Court House Renovation/Expansion

• Hospital/Health Expenditures

• Property Reassessment Revenue-sharing funds are highly advantageous to the couqty. High value, single-item projects such as the water system and property tax reassessment support the theory of revenue-sharing utilization for growth-oriented, single-item projects.

The county should make a specified effort to see that functions of the Tax Collector and Tax Assessor do not become dependent on this type of funds, except for the increased work load period associated with the property tax re-evaluation.

Future revenue-sharing funds would probably be well invested in other such single-item projects of the same type such as increased county fire protection equipment, industrial water and sewerage facilities, and perhaps, revenue-oriented, open space and park recreational developments along the Tennessee River. All of the possible proposals for such facilities are described in the Comprehensive Plan.

IX. Tennessee Valley Authority Payment In-Lieu of Taxes The TVA "reimburses" County, City, and Town Governments for revenue that would otherwise have been collected by local governments as property tax, if TVA were a privately-owned utility. These revenues, which were earmarked for local governments by the State L+islature in 1983 , constituted $476,700 of revenue in FY 1982 It is expected that said revenues will increase by 5-6  % until 1990 , when the percentage increase will cease. Nevertheless, rising utility use by consumers and value-added-by-inflation will generally assist in maintaining an absolute dollar increase in revenues.

X. Future Bonded Indebtedness Limestone County is presently usiny:10.9 percent of its authorized debt limit.

Since the 1980-1981 fiscal year, the percentage of debt limit authorization used has risen above 15.0 percent due to the need to provide portable water service to the county's developing urban and industrial areas. It is expected that the amount of earmarked debt, as a percentage of the constitutional debt limit, will once more drop below 10 percent after four to five years. The water system expansion projects are being amortized on schedule, and the county's assessed valuation is continuing to increase. The water system improvements installed between 1980 and 1983 are already providing impetus to new growth. This growth is assisting in amortizing the bonds presently outstanding and in increasing the total assessed valuation of countywide property.

180

Provided future trends in bondinq capacity follow trends over the last ten years, Limestone County should be in a position to maintain a reverse of non-obligated bonding capacity, sufficient to meet the needs of the Capital Improvements Budget.

This plan strongly recommends that capital expenditures under $25,000 in cost be paid for via the general fund. This policy would allow the county to reserve its unobligated bonding capacity for larger capital projects, such as public works endeavors. (these programs refer to non-reven%e based bonds)

IMPLEMENTATION PROGRAM This implementation program is designed to assist the county in effectuating the plan proposals and making this Comprehensive Plan a reality. To relate more specifically some of the measures for implementation with the land use plan of Limestone County, the following recommendations are given. Short range (1983-1989) has reference to items that can be accomplished in the first one to six years of the planning period.

Long range (1990-2000) items would be completed in the remaining years of the planning period.

MEDIUM-HIGH DENSITY DEVELOPMENT (1983-1989)

1. Land use regulations should be enacted as recommended by the Limestone County Planning Program in order to provide for controlled and coordinated growth in the urban and rural areas of the County. A full-time administrator should be hired to enact the land use regulations.

2. Building and housing codes should be enacted to insure sound new construction and development as well as to upgrade older, unsound structures.

3. Better housing is needed for many Limestone County residents. A housing program should be implemented to encourage the development of public housing units for low-income families. Federal loans could be utilized to purchase, remodel and rent existing housing for the development of public housing units.

New housing units could be built through a housing authority or by other non-profit corporations which are eligible for Federal loans for construction of low-rent housing. The Top of Alabama Regional Housing Authority has initiated variable programs in this area.

4. The Comprehensive Plan of Limestone County should be publicized through the news media as well as public hearings to enlist public interest. The Board of County Commissioners should follow-up public interest with the formal adoption of the Plan. Citizen groups should be informed of the overall planning efforts and asked to help with its promotion as a long-range goal.

(1990-2000)

1. Land use regulations should be continually encouraged and administered in Limestone County to protect growing urban- and rural-residential areas.

2 . Capital improvements should be scheduled annually in the Capital Irnpro,,-ements Program based on the land use plan, community facilities plan and county growth trends.

181

3. The county planning program should be continued in order to update physical plans to meet growth needs and to assist county leaders in anticipating these needs as far in advance as practicable.

AGRICLJLTURAL, RURAL AND LOW DENSITY DEVELOPMENT (1983-1989)

1. Land use policies and provisions in the Land Use Plan should be adopted to

,protect prime agricultural land from rampant speculation efforts and undesirable growth Aeffects.

2. Rural community leaders and interested citizens should be encouraged in their L effortsfto improve housing conditions, local economic and education levels, as well

,as local recreational facilities. Improvements in these local ccmmunities could be promoted through such programs as (FHA) Rural Development Loans and Rural Housing Loans, and through programs sponsored by the Appalachian Regional Commission.

3 . Overall community development and land conservation progras should be encouraged and promoted through coordination with soil, agricultural and other county agencies.

(1999-2000)

1. Limestone County should continue to implement major count;. roa2 improvements through coordination with other local governments as well as the Alabama Highway Department and the U.S. Department of Transportation. Financial 9lans for major expenditures for road improvements should be included in the County Capital Improvements Program.

2. Rural community development and improvement efforts should be continued through the coordination of land management and environmental improvement programs of county, regional, state, and federal agencies, especially the Limestone County Rural Development Committee.

INDUSTRIAL AND COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT (1983-19891

1. Land use regulations and policies should be adopted in o r d e r to promote industrial development and to reserve prime industrial land in Linestone County.

2. Desirable standards for new industrial development should be encouraged through the enactment of performance requirements and encouragement of private landowner's use of restrictive covenants.

3. Land use regulations and policies should be adopted to emFc;?asizedesirable commercial development in Limestone County.

4. Compact commercial development should be encouraged in order to avoid scattered, strip development along major roads and highways. Utility policies via utility permit refusal can discourage strip development.

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5. Comme?cial recreation and tourism should be promoted through a development commission (or "tourist commission") to encourage this type of activity for Limestone County. This type of "industry" could be greatly increased through proper coordination and promotion. The successful trade record of the Athens-Limestone Development Committee could possibly be transferred to a similar trade record for tourism.

(1990-2000)

1. The expanded use of industrial educational facilities by residents of all county communities should be encouraged in order to promote better income levels countywide. This increased education and training will encourage more diversified industrial development with more and better job opportunities.

2. The Comprehensive Plan as well as land use regulations should be continually updated in order to keep pace with growth trends in the county in regard to additional commercial areas needed to complement residential and industrial development.

3. The conservation of water, forests and other natural resources in industrial and commercial growth should be continually emphasized through land use control as well as cooperation from private developers.

FORESTRY, OPEN SPACE AND CONSERVATION (1983-1989)

1. Potential recreation sites should be acquired through private efforts, a Limestone County Park Board, possible Federal assistance through the Land and Water Conservation Fund, or a combination of these efforts--particularly in areas of historical significance o r where natural and scenic features exist.

2. Potential recreation sites should be given particular attention or protection of forests and conservation resources through proper land management. The Alabama Forestry Commission can provide assistance in this effort.

3. Commercial recreation ventures should be encouraged and aided by the county government when in conformance with the Limestone County Land Use Plan and overall county improvement. This may be accomplished through long-term leasing of public property to individuals, or firms, federal cost sharing, or state assistance--and may require special legislation in some cases. Such efforts could mean much to Limestone County, both in economic and recreational benefits.

(1990-2000)

1. Acquisition efforts for prime recreational land should continue, particularly in the vicinity of the Elk River, the Piney Creek, Limestone Creek and Sugar Creek area, the Joe Wheeler State Park area and such natural features as caves, hills, and the lake.

2. A Limestone County Park Board should be given support in an attempt to provide funding or varied activities or all age groups.

3. Protection of forest resources from destructive effects of fire, insects, disease and uncontrolled grazing should be emphasized.

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4. The p u b l i c u n d e r s t a n d i n g and education c o n c e r n i n g t h e environmental c o n s e r v a t i o n of a l l c o u n t y n a t u r a l r e s o u r c e s s h o u l d be promoted.

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(1983-1989)

1. C o u n t y w i d e t r a n s p o r t a t i o n p l a n s i n ' c o n j u n c t i o n w i t h t h e F l a n n i n g and Programming D i v i s i o n of t h e Highway D e p a r t m e n t s h o u l d be a d o p t e d . Cooperative p l a n n i n g when necessary, should include coordination with t h e Metropolitan Planning Organization i n n e i g h b o r i n g Madison County.

2. C l m p l e m e n t a t i o n of t h e S h a n g h a i Road i m p r o v e m e n t i n t h e w e s t e r n s e c t i o n o f t h e c o u n t y s h o u l d b e g i n as e a r l y a s possible.

3- T h e f o u r - l a n i n g of Alabama Highway 5 3 f r o m H u n t s v i l l e t o Ardmore s h o u l d b e g i n ,

a n d a new a l i g n m e n t d u e w e s t f r o m Highway 5 3 t o 1-65 v i a Elkwood S e c t i o n Road s h o u l d be i n i t i a t e d , f o r a r e l o c a t e d S t a t e Highway 53.

4. A new t w o - l a n e b r i d g e f o r U . S . 72 should span t h e Elk River, p a r a l l e l to t h e e x i s t i n g U . S . 7 2 E l k Rover b r i d g e .

5 . Community b e a u t i f i c a t i o n a s w e l l a s r u r a l c o u n t y road i m p r o v e m e n t s s h o u l d be encouraged through c i v i c o r g a n i z a t i o n s and o e h e r i n t e r e s t e d county r e s i d e n t s . The R u r a l D e v e l o p m e n t C o m m i t t e e c a n be o f a s s i s t a n c e i n t h i s e f f o r t .

6 . C o u n t y s u b d i v i s i o n r e g u l a t i o n s s h o u l d be p r o m o t e d a n d a d o p t e d to p r o v i d e f o r improved t r a n s p o r t a t i o n f a c i l i t e s i n t h e c o u n t y .

(1990-2000)

1. T h e T r a n s p o r t a t i o n P l a n , i n c l u d i n g t h e a r t e r i a l h i g h w a y s , c o l l e c t o r r o a d s a n d l o c a l r o a d s s h o u l d be f u r t h e r i m p l e m e n t e d .

2. T h o r o u g h f a r e i m p r o v e m e n t s s h o u l d be i n c l u d e d i n u p d a t i n g p l a n s t o s e r v e d e v e l o p i n g r e s i d e n t i a l , commercial i n d u s t r i a l a n d r e c r e a t i o n a l a r e z s .

CONCLUSION T h e n e e d f o r a c o n t i n u i n g p l a n n i n g program i n L i m e s t o n e C o u n t y w i l l become i n c r e a s i n g l y i m p o r t a n t i n view o f t h e projected p o p u l a t i o n i n c r e a s e o f a p p r o x i m a t e l y 5 6 , 0 0 0 r e s i d e n t s b y t h e y e a r 1990, a n d 6 5 , 0 0 0 b y t h e y e a r 2000.

T h i s P l a n h a s attempted t o f u l f i l l t h e n e e d for p l a n n i n g the f u t u r e d e v e l o p m e n t of L i m e s t o n e C o u n t y . T h e p r i m a r y o b j e c t i v e o f t h e C o m p r e h e n s i v e P l a n is t o p r o v i d e a p o l i c y framework f o r f u t u r e d e c i s i o n making by t h e County l e a d e r s . Another o b j e c t i v e i s t h e p r e v e n t i o n of u n c o o r d i n a t e d , u n c o n t r o l l e d , scattered d e v e l o p m e n t p a t t e r n s t h r o u g h o u t t h e c o u n t y , a s is t h e p r e s e r v a t i o n o f L i m e s t o n e C o u n t y ' s o u t -

s t a n d i n g n a t u r a l a n d s c e n i c b e a u t y a n d prime a g r i c u l t u r a l l a n d . T h e P l a n i n s u r e s proper l o c a t i o n s f o r r e s i d e n t i a l , commerical, i n d u s t r i a l a n d r e c r e a t i o n a l a s w e l l a s a t r a n s p o r t a t i o n system c o n s i s t i n g o f e f f i c i e n t and safe thoroughfares.

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ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT

1. A summary o r a b s t r a c t o f t h e proposed p l a n ( s ) o r p o l i c i e s :

The Comprehensive Plan p r e s e n t s a development p l a n f o r Limestone County, c o v e r n i n g a p l a n n i n g p e r i o d of 1982-2000. T h i s P l a n i n c l u d e s p l a n s f o r l a n d u s e , community f a c i l i t i e s , t r a n s p o r t a t i o n , and a c a p i t a l improvements program and c a p i t a l improvements budget. A l s o i n c l u d e d i s a program f o r o v e r a l l p l a n i m p l e m e n t a t i o n , which emphasizes v a r i o u s avenues of coopera-t i v e endeavors t o be u n d e r t a k e n by t h e m u n i c i p a l i t i e s and county govern-ment. The P l a n stresses s e v e r a l "growth c o r r i d o r s " i n Limestone County where f u t u r e urban growth s h o u l d o c c u r because p u b l i c f a c i l i t i e s , u t i l i t i e s ,

and t r a n s p o r t a t i o n s e r v i c e s c a n be m o s t e a s i l y developed i n t h e s e c o r r i d o r areas.

2. The environmental impact ( b e n e f i c i a l a s w e l l a s a d v e r s e ) of t h e proposed p l a n ( s ) o r p o l i c i e s , i f they are c a r r i e d o u t :

ImFlementation of t h i s p l a n w i l l r e s u l t i n t h e improvement of t h e p h y s i c a l ,

s o c i a l , and economic e n v i r o n m e n t a l s e c t o r s . T h i s w i l l be accomplished by p r o v i d i n g a system of s t r e e t s and p a t t e r n of l a n d u s e commensurate w i t h p u b l i c u t i l i t i e s and s e r v i c e s .

3. Any a d v e r s e e n v i r o n m e n t a l e f f e c t s which c a n n o t be a v o i d e d should t h e pro-posed p l a n ( s ) o r p o l i c i e s be implemented:

Implementation of t h e proposed p l a n w i l l l e a d t o t h e p h y s i c a l improvement of t h e e x i s t i n g manmade environment and t h e a l t e r a t i o n o f the n a t u r a l e n -

vironment. C o n s t r u c t i o n a c t i v i t i e s w i l l be i n v o l v e d d u r i n g i m p l e m e n t a t i o n ,

t h e r e f o r e c r e a t i n g unavoidable a d v e r s e i m p a c t s ( i . e . n o i s e , d u s t , d i s r u p -

t i o n t o s u r f a c e water r u n - o f f , i n c o n v e n i e n c e t o p e o p l e , e t c . ) . A l l un-a v o i d a b l e a d v e r s e i m p a c t s are temporary i n n a t u r e and w i t h p r o p e r p r e -

c a u t i o n s t h e y can be l e s s e n e d . In a d d i t i o n , a d v e r s e impacts w i l l be l e s -

sened due t o t h e l e n g t h of t i m e needed t o implement t h e proposed p r o j e c t .

Based on a e i g h t e e n y e a r p l a n n i n g p e r i o d , development and c o n s t r u c t i o n o f t h i s p r o j e c t w i l l n o t t a k e p l a c e a l l a t one t i m e .

4. A l t e r n a t i v e t o t h e proposed p l a n ( s ) o r p o l i c i e s and an a n a l y s i s of t h o s e alternatives:

There are s e v e r a l p o s s i b l e a l t e r n a t i v e s t o t h i s p l a n due t o i t s f l e x i b i l i t y and n a t u r e . The p l a n p r o v i d e s guidance f o r development over an e i g h t e e n y e a r p e r i o d and, t h e r e f o r e , i t must be f l e x i b l e enough t o be a l t e r e d when necessary.

There i s one major a l t e r n a t i v e and t h a t i s n o planned growth. However, t h e r e s i d e n t s and government of Limestone County d e c i d e d a g a i n s t t h i s a l t e r n a -

t i v e when t h e y e n t e r e d i n t o t h e Comprehensive P l a n n i n g Program.

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5. The r e l a t i o n s h i p , under t h e p r o p o s e d p l a n ( s ) o r p o l i c i e s , between l o c a l s h o r t - t e r m u s e s o f man's environment and t h e maintenance and enhance-ment o f long-term p r o d u c t i v i t y :

The proposed p l a n s and policies g i v e d i r e c t i o n f o r t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n of p h y s i c a l improvements t h a t w i l l a l l o w man t o l i v e i n b e t t e r harmony w i t h h i s environment. These s h o r t - t e r m u s e s o f man's environment a r e d e s i g n e d t o enhance t h i s r e l a t i o n s h i p and i n c r e a s e t h e long-term p r o d u c t i v i t y % f both. However, t h e p r o p o s e d p l a n w i l l have t o be p r o p e r l y s u p e r v i s e d and c o n t r o l l e d i f t h i s t y p e of r e l a t i o n s h i p i s t o be a t t a i n e d .

6. Any i r r e v e r s i b l e and i r r e t r i e v a b l e commitments of r e s o u r c e s which would be i n v o l v e d i f t h e proposed p l a n ( s ) o r p o l i c i e s s h o u l d be implemented:

Implementation of t h e p r o p o s e d p l a n would commit t h r e e i r r e v e r s i b l e re-s o u r c e s ; namely t h e u s e of l a n d , t h e u s e of b u i l d i n g materials, and t h e removal o f v e g e t a t i o n i n v a r i o u s areas of t h e c o u n t y . However, t h e c o m -

mitment of t h e s e r e s o u r c e s c a n n o t be a v o i d e d i f development i s t o t a k e P l a c e , i n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h a p l a n o r w i t h o u t a plan.

7. A s t a t e m e n t s e t t i n g f o r t h applicable F e d e r a l , S t a t e , and l o c a l e n v i r o n m e n t a l controls :

The F e d e r a l Environmental C o n t r o l s u t i l i z e d i n a n a l y z i n g development p l a n s and projects a r e t h e f o l l o w i n g :

1. F e d e r a l Water Q u a l i t y A c t o f 1965

2. 1966 Clean Water R e s t o r a t i o n A c t ,

3. 1963 C l e a n A i r A c t ,

4. 1967 A i r Q u a l i t y A c t ,

5. S o l i d waste D i s p o s a l A c t of 1 9 6 5 , and

6. Resource Recovery A c t of 1970,

7. N.E.P.A., 1970 (P.L.91-190) ,

8. HUD Handbook, 1390.2 N o i s e Abatement and C o n t r o l , 8/2/71,

9. Flood Disaster P r o t e c t i o n A c t , 1 9 7 3 ,

10. Water P o l l u t i o n C o n t r o l A c t , 1972,

11. Clean A i r A c t , 1967-1970,

12. Water P o l l u t i o n C o n t r o l A c t , 1974,

13. Coastal Zone A c t , 1972 ( n o t a p p l i c a b l e ) ,

14. F i s h and W i l d l i f e C o o r d i n a t i o n A c t , 1958,

15. N a t i o n a l H i s t o r i c P r e s e r v a t i o n A c t , 1964, E x e c u t i v e Order 11953,

16. Historic and A r c h a e o l o g i c a l A c t , 1974,

17. P r o t e c t i o n o f H i s t o r i c a n d C u l t u r a l P r o p e r t i e s , Reg. (1/25/74) 39 FR 3366,

18. Local C o n t r o l s : T h e s e c o n t r o l s w i l l i n c l u d e z o n i n g o r d i n a n c e s ,

s u b d i v i s i o n r e g u l a t i o n s , housing, b u i l d i n g , and f i r e p r e v e n t i o n codes .

The S t a t e and l o c a l a g e n c i e s r e s p o n s i b l e f o r d e v e l o p i n g r u l e s and r e g u l a i o n s f o r t h e above F e d e r a l programs a r e :

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Alabama A i r P o l l u t i o n C o n t r o l Commission, A l a b a m a Water Improvement Commission 1

3. Alabama S t a t e H e a l t h D e p a r t m e n t , a n d

4. Local H e a l t h D e p a r t m e n t s .

1 I n a d d i t i o n , s e v e r a l F e d e r a l a g e n c i e s , n a m e l y t h e E n v i r o n m e n t a l P r o t e c t i o n Agency (EPA), t h e C o u n c i l on E n v i r o n m e n t a l Q u a l i t y (CEQ) which w a s c r e a t e d by t h e N a t i o n a l E n v i r o n m e n t a l P o l i c y A c t of 1 9 7 0 , a n d t h e O f f i c e of E n v i r o n z e n t a l C o n t r o l w h i c h w a s created b y t h e E n v i r o n m e n t a l Q u a l i t y Improvement A c t of 1 9 7 0 , r e q u i r e t h a t I

a t t e n t i o n be p a i d t o c e r t a i n e n v i r o n m e n t a l c o n s i d e r a t i o n s . When Federal m o n i e s a r e u s e d i n v a r i o u s p h a s e s of t h e proposed p r o j e c t , i t w i l l be n e c e s s a r y t o be o g n i z a n t of applicable F e d e r a l r e g u l a t i o n s .

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