Sherry Sullivan was elected mayor of Fairhope in 2020. Prior to being elected, Sullivan served as the director of community affairs for the city for 17 years. She also worked as director of governmental affairs and economic development for Riviera Utilities.
In the time since she’s been elected, Fairhope has gone through massive changes, largely related to the growth of the town and the Eastern Shore at large. In December, the city’s one-year development moratorium expired.
Here, Sullivan discusses the issues surrounding the growth in Fairhope and reflects on the moratorium.
Questions and answers have been edited for clarity.
What do you see as the biggest issues facing Fairhope?
Growth, infrastructure and staffing to maintain the quality of services that our citizens deserve.
It’s been a few months since Fairhope’s development moratorium ended. What was the impact of the moratorium?
I am not sure that we saw much of an impact with the moratorium. There were so many developments already approved so the growth did not slow down.
What lessons have you taken from the moratorium into current conversations about development?
I am not sure there are lessons that I have learned from the moratorium, but maybe a few things that I would do differently. For us to catch up on infrastructure and really slow things down, you would have to stop all development, inside and outside the city limits, commercial and residential. That has not been discussed but it would be the only way to really catch up.
How has Fairhope’s precipitous population growth impacted the city? Its residents?
Again, the growth is impacting everything. We are seeing increased numbers of people using our parks, participating in sports and coming to events. It is impacting our infrastructure, traffic, roads and schools. I know our residents are feeling it as they travel throughout town. We have had several road closures to build out infrastructure and it is an inconvenience to them. But the increased revenue is allowing us to build new baseball fields, a track, sewer force mains, electric substations; so there is good and bad that comes with growth. I do believe that growth is good, but it is hard to manage as fast as we are growing.
How has Fairhope been impacted by the industrial growth (Airbus, Austal, Novelis) in the region?
I think the industrial growth has definitely contributed to our population increase. Many of the employees and executives with these companies want to live in Fairhope or on the Eastern Shore. That can be attributed to the quality of life we offer, great healthcare and great schools. We have everything folks are looking for when they move and are raising a family.
What do you think our audience (readers in both Mobile and Baldwin counties) should know about Fairhope?
That Fairhope has very little debt. We have $11.3 million in the utilities and no long-term debt in the general fund.
What do you see as the future of Fairhope?
Fairhope will continue to grow, but we will only get better as we continue to improve infrastructure and add amenities.
What do you love about Fairhope?
What I love most are the people of Fairhope. We truly are a melting pot. For a long time, we have attracted people from all walks of life and that is what makes Fairhope the fun, eclectic place it is.
I also love the sunsets. There is no place more beautiful to watch a sunset and I try not to take that for granted.
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