City of Muscle Shoals develops master plan to keep up with population growth

MUSCLE SHOALS, Ala. (WAFF) - Officials in Muscle Shoals are planning now for growth in the population by creating a comprehensive plan catered specifically to their community.

City officials said they want to match the population growth, diversify housing developments, create a development authority and increase parks and recreation options such as parks. They said they will do that with this plan and much, much more.

“That’s what we’re trying to do with our future,” Mayor Mike Lockhart said.

Muscle Shoals City Officials are looking to the future as the city’s population continues to grow. They have created what they call the 2040 Comprehensive Plan.

Mayor Mike Lockhart said people who live here need to see and feel a deeper connection with their community.

“If you look at a lot of your cities that are growing, there’s green space,” Lockhart said. “There’s walkability. There’s connectivity. And that’s what we’re looking at for our growth and opportunity as we continue to progress the city and move forward.”

Lockhart said the city is trying to take shape to the people inhabiting it.

Shoals Economic Development President Kevin Jackson said it is important for the area to cater to the people living there.

“We want to be diverse,” Jackson explained. “We want to do several different things that help our community grow. And I think that is the key to economic development. Just having a diverse base of employment and different things to make your community successful.”

Lockhart said there is the possibility a solar farm could be added to the city plan.

If the project moves forward, it could be built in a public park the city is currently designing.

“And have a walk that actually goes around the solar farm so people can not get to it but they can walk around and see it and inquire about it,” Lockhart said. “And make it more of an educational opportunity for people.”

He said the company that wants to build the solar farm is still waiting to hear back on a grant before moving forward. If they receive the grant, Lockhart said the city officials will have no problem hearing them out again and would love to see the industry inside city limits.

He also said the plan could be finalized within the next few weeks.

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