The Huntsville Planning Commission on Sept. 23 approved preliminary and final plats for multiple subdivisions, rezoned a city-owned tract in Greenbrier, granted location/character/extent approvals for two elevator additions at Alabama A&M University and approved a two‑phase expansion of the airport parking deck.

The approvals included layout and preliminary votes for Buford Cove (85 lots), Diamond Park Phase 3 (7 lots), Greenbrier East Phase 9 (2 lots), Highland Hills Phase 2 (51 lots) and Sutton Estates (144 units); final plats for Diamond Park Phase 3 and Hitching Post Phase 1A (66 lots); a vacation of an undeveloped portion of Buchanan Drive; and zoning case 2514 to add Highway Business (C-4) and Commercial Industrial Park designations to about 14.62 acres of city-owned land in the Greenbrier area.

Commission chairman Les Tillery presided. Planning staff member Aliyah introduced each item; committee recommendations were read by committee chairs and the vice chairman, Gary Whitley. Public comment was limited to the Buford Cove item. Most actions passed by voice vote.

Most approvals were routine and without prolonged debate. The commission recorded or noted the following details and conditions during the meeting: Buford Cove was described as an approximately 27‑acre layout of 85 lots; Sutton Estates is a roughly 19‑acre layout for 144 apartment units; Highland Hills Phase 2 includes plat restrictions limiting single‑family development and R‑1B lot-size setbacks; Hitching Post Phase 1A final approval requires sidewalks and landscape improvements to be installed by Sept. 19, 2027; and the Buchanan Drive right‑of‑way vacation applies to Lots 2–3 of Buchanan Estate subdivision (Plat Book 4, Page 77) at 8554 Highway 72 West.

On campus projects, the commission approved two elevator additions at Alabama A&M University—the Carver Complex and Patton Hall—both presented by Nola Van Persim Architects (Laura Trinkle). The commission granted location, character and extent approvals for both projects.

The Huntsville Madison County Airport Authority parking deck expansion, presented by Christine Harding of KPS Group, was approved with staff noting a phased construction schedule beginning Oct. 1 and an overall 24‑month completion window. The project will remove 56 surface spaces and add 1,415 deck spaces for a net gain of 1,359 spaces; phase 1 was described as a roughly seven‑month segment of the schedule.

Votes at a glance

- Buford Cove Subdivision (layout & preliminary, 85 lots): approved (voice vote).
- Diamond Park Subdivision Phase 3 (relayout & preliminary, 7 lots): approved (voice vote); final approval for same 7 lots later confirmed.
- Greenbrier East Subdivision Phase 9 (layout & preliminary, 2 lots): approved (voice vote).
- Highland Hills Subdivision Phase 2 (relayout & preliminary, 51 lots): approved (voice vote).
- Sutton Estates (layout & preliminary, 144 units): carried forward with approval pending signatures (voice vote).
- Diamond Park Phase 3 (final, 7 lots): final approval granted (voice vote).
- Hitching Post Subdivision Phase 1A (final, 66 lots): final approval granted; sidewalks/landscape improvements to be installed by 09/19/2027 (voice vote).
- Alabama A&M University Carver Complex elevator addition (LC&E #1001): approved (voice vote).
- Alabama A&M University Patton Hall elevator addition (LC&E #1002): approved (voice vote).
- Huntsville Madison County Airport Authority parking deck expansion (LC&E #1003): approved; construction start Oct. 1, 2025; 24‑month schedule with phase 1 roughly seven months (voice vote).
- Vacation of undeveloped right‑of‑way, Buchanan Drive (portion of Buchanan Estate, Lots 2–3): approved (voice vote).
- Greenbrier zoning (Case 2514): annexation and zoning to C‑4 (Highway Business) and Commercial Industrial Park approved for ~14.62 acres (voice vote).
- Extension of bonds/items 1–10 (invocations/extension of bonds listed by staff): approved (voice vote).

Details recorded in the meeting minutes or made explicit during discussion include a request from a resident about construction traffic and speeding tied to the Buford Cove connection; city engineering said construction signage and a single construction exit were expected while roads are built; police enforcement of speeding complaints was offered as an available response. For the Sutton Estates item, the engineer of record (Alex Cohen, Johnson and Associates) said new sidewalks would connect to existing sidewalks along Winchester Road and that additional “first‑flush” ponds were included and would drain to an existing detention pond for the area.

The meeting concluded after routine approvals; no items were tabled or failed on the record.