The Daphne Council public hearing on July 5 was poorly managed. It concerned the proposal to develop a site along U.S. Highway 90 to eventually be used by Academy Sports. Citizens had to testify based on what little they had learned from the news media.

I believe that New Horizon Retail Development LCC (representing Academy Sports) should be given no special considerations. Treat them equal to other businesses — like Dick’s Sporting Goods — that received no tax breaks.

I am not opposed to the proposed site being developed for Academy Sports if it is developed properly. The items that Thom Hickman (formerly with AIG Baker — claims are public benefits — like new highway turn lanes, traffic-light modifications and sewage lift — are nothing more than essential items to develop and operate a business. When I purchased a home lot in Daphne, part of the cost of the lot included sewage facilities, sidewalks, curbs and the paved street in front of our lot. These essentials were part of the cost to build a home. The same is true for all businesses and homes in Daphne. Therefore, why should citizens and other businesses pay, by way of tax deductions, for facility development of New Horizon Retail Development LCC (Academy Sports)? This will set a precedent for all new developments.

The city of Daphne should not forego 1 cent of the sales tax for a specified time to repay infrastructure bonds ($1.9 million) for the New Horizon Retail Development LLC. To require existing businesses and citizen tax payers to subsidize the development of a site to eventually be used by Academy Sports is grossly unfair.

Why should other businesses in Daphne continue to pay their full tax requirements while New Horizon gets a tax deduction?

Academy Sports will eventually become a competitor to a number of other businesses in the area. These other businesses will, in fact, be helping to pay for a new business that will compete against them.

This is totally illogical. 

And it is also illogical to force citizen taxpayers to help pay for development of a business while most are continuing to pay for their homes.

Academy Sports should be required to abide by the existing sign regulations of the city of Daphne. Our city sign regulations were developed after much negotiation in the past.

Existing businesses mostly have abided by these regulations. Because of this, the city of Daphne has a more beautiful, clean-cut appearance than most cities. Customers can locate businesses easily with only small, well-planned, identifying signs in place. There is no need for large, tall, gaudy signs. Small “logo signs” are the only type of signs allowed in many areas of our nation. Such small, appropriate signs add to the quality of life in our city.

Academy Sports should be required to protect any wetlands and streams on their site and install water runoff detention facilities to contain runoff from a 48-hour rainfall event. The D’Olive Creek Watershed already suffers from excessive storm-water runoff and any new developments along the I-10 corridor must not be allowed to add to the problems. Previous developers have been knowingly allowed to violate existing laws that would have prevented most of the abuses in the watershed.

Daphne cannot rely on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Alabama Department of Environmental Management to enforce the laws under their jurisdiction. If existing protective wetland laws are to be enforced, the City of Daphne must be the first line of defense.

I respectfully urge the Daphne City Council and Mayor to stand tall and enforce existing regulations, treat all businesses fair and equal, and to help prevent additional abuses to the D'Olive Creek watershed in the future.