Planning commission gives mixed recommendations on Creekside rezoning and development plans; asks for advisory group

The Homewood Planning Commission on April 2025 voted to forward recommendations on a multi‑phase Creekside mixed‑use project proposed by Landmark Development with Samford University and Johnson Controls, while urging the developer to form a development advisory group to work with the community on habitat, stormwater, traffic and design concerns.

The commission approved the rezoning and final development plan for the western portion of the project (Creekside West) with mixed votes and forwarded both the Creekside East rezoning and its development plan to city council with positive but split recommendations. Commission members repeatedly emphasized that any commission vote is only a recommendation; final approval will be made by the Homewood City Council at a later public hearing.

Bob Dunn, representing Landmark Development, summarized recent community engagement, said the project team would continue outreach and urged the commission to allow the project to proceed to council so the team can begin engineering work. "What we want is the chance, you know, to prove how to do this right," Dunn said, adding that his team planned a four‑to‑six month…