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 - Dawn Wrinn

The Land Development division of the Planning and Development Department 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. 

The Board of Zoning Adjustment reviews requests for home occupations, building and sign variances, placement of manufactured homes on private lots, and other items that the Zoning Ordinance requires the Board to review such as establishing a church location. 

The Planning Commission reviews development plans for new construction on designated major thoroughfares, rezoning requests, and subdivision plats.  Proposed developments that do not require Planning Commission review are still required to conform with the Zoning Ordinance before any construction plans receive a building permit. 

The Historic Preservation Commission reviews exterior façade changes to properties in one of the currently designated historic districts, which are the Downtown Commercial Historic District, NBCAR Historic District, and Houston Heights Historic District.

 Permits & Inspections - Aslam Rana

The purpose of the Permits & Inspection division is to protect the public health, safety and provide for the general welfare through the proper enforcement of adopted building codes. Once a permit application is received, a group of trained and experienced professionals, who with their diligent efforts, check all building plans for compliance with building codes prior to issuing any permits.  Then, each construction project from a single-family house to a large commercial building is inspected at different stages during construction.  After all inspections have been completed and any required corrections made, a certificate of occupancy be issued.

Transportation Planning

The function of the Southeast Wiregrass Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) is to work with the governmental entities of the area and the Alabama Department of Transportation 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.

On the Transportation Planning page you will find several documents important in carrying out the mission of the Southeast Wiregrass MPO.

Community Development - Maurice I. Head

The Community Development (CD) Division 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 as shown on this map.

Public service organizations, such as the Alfred Saliba Family Services Center, that are involved in the delivery of community assistance programs are also eligible to receive CDBG funds.

Long Range Planning - Steven 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.