Renewed planning effort to provide fresh analysis of West Huntsville opportunities

Published on May 11, 2023

Huntsville’s boundaries have grown over the past decade, prompting the City to update its long-term planning efforts along its western corridor.

The City on Thursday authorized an agreement with Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc., to conduct market analysis and visioning for future development in West Huntsville along Interstate 65.

The effort is a continuation of a 2011 Master Plan for Western Annexed Lands within Huntsville-annexed Limestone County. Shane Davis, Huntsville’s Director of Urban & Economic Development, said consultants would update portions of the original plan while also providing economic analysis on properties not previously included.

While creating the 2011 master plan, the City worked with a variety of stakeholders, including landowners and economic development partners. The completed plan yielded a shared development strategy that encompassed about 10,000 acres of annexed property.

Davis said the 2011 study proved to be a “win-win” for the City, landowners and citizens.

“Since 2015, the original study area has produced over 16,000 new jobs, added $6 billion in private investments to the tax rolls and today generates over $700 million annually in payroll within the area,” he said.

The goal was to not only identify land uses of the study area, but to also analyze return on investment from future development as well as identify essential long-term infrastructure investments. Davis said the renewed effort should produce similar results.

“We want to complement the successes of the original plan while also identifying new land uses and infrastructure that ensure Huntsville’s solid economic outlook regarding jobs and tax base,” he said.