Baldwin County, Ala. — (GSN) — On June 30, 2026, residents of Stockton’s Planning District 3 participated in a pivotal zoning referendum, a move driven by a grassroots effort to gain local control over land use in the face of a controversial large-scale development. At the center of the dispute is a proposed 4,500-acre solar farm by Silicon Ranch, intended to supply energy for a Meta data center in Montgomery.

Residents of Planning District 3 voted in favor of county planning and zoning oversight in a citizen-initiated  process.

Vote Results: 

Yes — 215 

No — 161 

Total County: 376

Residents organized the referendum following frustration over the lack of notification regarding the industrial-scale project. Many in the Stockton community argued they were "sold out" by the public service commissioner and caught off guard by the rapid development. For proponents, the vote was not necessarily about banning solar energy, but about establishing a "tool to help guide the growth of a community" and ensuring public input—a process currently unavailable in unzoned areas.

Under Alabama law, Baldwin County lacks the authority to regulate land use in unincorporated, unzoned areas, meaning there are no public hearings for large commercial projects unless the community votes to establish a zoning district. The referendum for District 3 sought to change this, allowing the community to appoint an Advisory Committee to recommend zoning designations and creating a framework for public oversight.

The question of whether the referendum will halt the Silicon Ranch solar farm remains a subject of intense debate and legal uncertainty.

According to Baldwin County, if a complete development application is received prior to the zoning vote, the project is considered "grandfathered" and will generally not be impacted by the new zoning. The Baldwin County Commission has previously stated that the company submitted development applications that may qualify for this status. While a successful "yes" vote triggers a 180-day moratorium on new land uses and structures, it may not reach back to halt projects already in the application pipeline.

However, the opposition is not backing down. Community groups, such as the Friends of the Tensaw River, have indicated they are prepared to challenge the county’s grandfathered status for the project, arguing that the approval process was an improper exercise of authority.

While Stockton residents are currently fighting to establish their first zoning district, the Fort Morgan area provides a distinct contrast with an already established framework.

The Fort Morgan Planning and Zoning District was confirmed and ratified by the Alabama Legislature to manage growth in that sensitive coastal area. Its establishment followed a 2014 Alabama Supreme Court decision regarding the de-annexation of property from the City of Gulf Shores. Unlike Stockton’s grassroots attempt to initiate zoning to prevent specific industrial encroachment, the Fort Morgan district operates under a pre-existing legal status and designated Advisory Committee, illustrating the long-term application of the county's planning jurisdiction in other parts of Baldwin County.

As the dust settles from the Stockton referendum, the outcome highlights a broader tension across Baldwin County. As local leaders and lawmakers push for legislation to provide more local oversight for such developments, communities like Stockton are using the current election process as a blueprint to protect their local "quality of life," environments, and the character of their neighborhoods. Whether these local efforts can legally overcome established development applications remains the critical, unresolved issue for the residents of North Baldwin County.