SPANISH FORT, Ala. — Spanish Fort Mayor Joe Bonner said his vision for the city for 2008 would be to “try to keep the old, but plan for the new.”

“City leadership has had — in the past twelve months — to maintain what brought the old timers here to begin with,” he said.

The growth in Spanish Fort is no different than the unbelievable growth throughout Baldwin County, Bonner said.

“You can’t shut your door on growth, but you can manage it,” he said.

Bonner said the planning department and city council have risen to the challenge and “made a ton of right decisions.”

Bonner said the planning department, city engineer and planning commission have invested long hours to get the city where it is now.

“The year 2007 was a very busy one for the city of Spanish Fort. We have annexed over 12,000 acres of contiguous land into the city,” Bonner said.

The majority of the annexed property is undeveloped land with a 30 to 40 year projected build-out, he said. A long term business relationship has been established with International Paper Realty for development of The Highlands of Spanish Fort. Two major shopping destinations have been developed or are near completion near exits from I-10.

The Eastern Shore Centre opened in November 2004 and is approximately 560,000 square feet. The Spanish Fort Town Center is approximately 830,000 square feet and will open its first store in August.

“Both areas will serve as attractive and inviting gateways into Spanish Fort,” Bonner said. The city is also addressing concerns about the city depending on retail as the major source of income for the city, he said.

For example, the I-10 Commerce Center and Technical Park located behind the Eastern Shore Centre was developed by the R. A. “Sonny” Nichols’ family and has now attracted three major support companies.

In 2008, the commercial side of building will be busy with stores opening in the Spanish Fort Town Center, building official Bruce Renkert said.

The Bass Pro Shops is slated to open in August 2008 with other stores opening in September and October. One or two new apartment developments may start construction this year, he said.

Renkert said moviegoers can expect the Premiere Cinema Movie Theater to open at the Eastern Shore Centre near the Christmas holiday season. New subdivisions, which have been approved, will probably be developed if the housing market rebounds this year, Renkert said.

“If people start building it is going to be crazy,” he said.

Right now, he said, there is not much construction activity going on and house sales are entirely market driven.

“Last year was reasonably hectic but the bulk was in the planning portion and getting things developed,” Renkert said.

City officials are also working on developing a master layout for city-owned property on Highway 31 and Blakeley Way, Bonner said.

“We have spent a lot of time on a recreation package and we are now working on something for senior citizens,” he said.

The senior citizens building is on the top of the list, he added.

“We will continue to partner with ALDOT in our efforts to transform a future five-lane upgrade of Highway 31 to an attractive boulevard setting which we believe, in time, would lead us to the creation of a ‘downtown’ area for Spanish Fort,” Bonner said of the future road expansion.

The vision for the Highway 31 corridor includes using the area to soften the business in the local business district, as well as to plan business districts in The Highlands of Spanish Fort, he said. Bonner said this will also allow residential areas to grow to the north of Highway 31.

The city has worked on providing recreational areas for area citizens, Bonner said.

“We looked at the inventory of Spanish Fort Elementary and Spanish Fort High School and the city and school board partnered to get it (recreation areas),” he said.

Spirit Park will be completed soon and will feature three baseball fields and eight tennis courts. The completion of Spirit Park will help meet the needs of the Spanish Fort Sports Association’s baseball program, as well as the tennis program for the city and Spanish Fort High School, he said.

City cash reserves have been maintained to protect the city’s credit rating, Bonner said. One major requirement for the rating is to have one and one-half years of cash surplus in case of an emergency.

“Our 2008 budget reflects our commitment to continue this protection,” he said.

Bonner said part of the city’s mission for 2008 is enhancing the city’s infrastructure. The city will renew its commitment to a “worse-first” street and drainage repair program which the city has done consistently for three years, he said.

In regards to police protection, Bonner said police Chief David Edgar has assembled a great staff who will continue to meet the needs of the city as it grows. The city will continue to partner with the Spanish Fort Fire-Rescue, he said.

Overall, the city’s planning commission and building and planning departments have met the challenges of keeping the city what the residents want it to be without putting up a fence, Bonner said. Renkert said the biggest challenge of his job is keeping up with everything that has happened so far.

“This past year the planning commission has had more things to consider than anyone here has ever seen before,” he said. “We’ve got plenty to do.”