Todd L. McDonald, AICP, Director

Staff:                                                              What are you looking for?
Kimberly Arnold, Administrative Assistant    Development Applications 
Dawn Wrinn, Land Development Planner       Zoning Map 
Kelly Schultz, Land Development Planner      Development Regulations 
Steve Spry, Long Range Planner                    Permit Applications
Nicole Spivey, Transportation Planner          Building Code
Maurice Head, CDBG Administrator               Emergency Repair Grant Information
Aslam Rana, Building Inspection                   Planned Transportation Improvements
                    Services Manager                      Staff Case Reports
                                                                     Board Agendas, Minutes, Calendars
                                                                     Dothan Downtown Redevelopment Authority
                                                                     Facade Grant Information
                                                                    

It is the mission of the Department of Planning and Development to protect and encourage the vitality and livability of the city's existing residential neighborhoods; encourage the development of new sustainable neighborhoods through effective and creative design techniques; promote the sustainability of the city's commercial and industrial economic base; improve regional mobility through multi-modal transportation planning and initiatives and enhance the safety, health and the quality of life of the residents of the City of Dothan. 

The Department is responsible for directing and coordinating activities related to long range planning, preserving and protecting historic, scenic and downtown restoration districts; land development code administration and enforcement, development plan review, construction plan review, inspection services, neighborhood revitalization and community development.

The Planning & Development Department consist of the following divisions:

Land Development  615-4410
Dawn Wrinn
Kelly Schultz

Land Development provides administrative support to the Board of Zoning Adjustment, Planning Commission, and Historic Preservation Commission.  This Division also administers and enforces the City's land development regulations such as the Zoning Ordinance, Subdivision Regulations, Tree Preservation Ordinance and Historic Preservation Ordinance.

Permits & Inspections  615-4450
Aslam Rana

The function of the Permitting and Inspection Division is to protect the health and safety and provide for the general welfare through the proper enforcement of adopted building codes.  The City employs a group of trained and experienced building professionals who check all building plans for compliance with building codes prior to issuing any permits; from a single family house to a large commercial building.  Each project is inspected at different stages during construction.  After all inspections have been completed and any required corrections made, a certificate of occupancy is issued attesting to its proper construction.
Reports of overgrown lots and substandard structures should be made to our Code Enforcement inspectors which operate out of this division.  If you wish to file a complaint involving these or other issues, please fill out a Citizens Communication Form.

Transportation Planning   615-4414
Nicole Spivey

Transportation Planning activities revolve around the Southeast Wiregrass Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO).  The function of the MPO is to work with the governmental entities of the area, the Alabama Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration to determine transportation needs and funding priorities through the LOng Range Transportation Planning process. The policies and practices of the MPO are used to guide the development of a balanced transportation system, encourage the preservation of neighborhoods, protect the environment, enhance the community's quality of life and promote public transportation.

Community Development  615-4417
Maurice Head

Community Development is responsible for assisting the low to moderate income portions of our community with housing and economic development needs.  Through the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program funded by the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the Community Development Division programs federal dollars to a variety of activities and projects.  These projects and activities are described in detail in Annual Action Plans that are derived from the application of national goals and applied to a local Consolidated Plan.  As facilitators of various community based programs, the Community Development Division's main goal is to address planning and development needs in specific areas of our community.

Long Range Planning  615-3415
Steve Spry

Long Range Planning division directly involves the community in identifying goals with regard to quality of life for the foreseeable future, typically twenty years. It examines existing quantitative and qualitative aspects of the community such as housing, demographics, education, transportation infrastructure, public utility infrastructure, land use patterns, regulations governing land development, parks and open spaces, sense of community, and sense of place.  The long range plan, sometimes referred as a comprehensive plan because of the broad scope it encompasses, is guided by citizen input and projects the needs examined above into a coherent development strategy that is implemented through the policies, programs, regulations, or ordinances of the city.