Council sets June public hearings for Creekside District items as Sanford proposal evolves

The Homewood City Council set several public hearings in June for items related to the proposed Creekside District at Sanford University, while staff and councilors said they expect at least one revised proposal from the developer.

President Jones set hearings for rezoning and final development plans for addresses including 1601 Parkview Lane and 600-1100 University Park Place to be held in June at 6 p.m. Council discussion noted the West Side components of the proposal remain as submitted, but the developer has indicated a revised East Side proposal is forthcoming.

A councilor asked whether the pending East Side changes would affect whether the city should hold or delay the public hearings. City staff said they had not yet received the new East Side proposal and could not say whether the changes would require restarting review at the planning commission; the West Side proposal, staff said, appears unchanged and can move forward.

The mayor said the developer also plans to submit an incentives request and that the city should consider zoning/development and incentive materials together so council and the public see the full set of proposals. "There will be an incentive request," the mayor said, adding that the city expects all materials to be on the table by next week's committee meetings.

Council members set the public hearings to give the public an opportunity to review the proposals; staff noted the hearings can be opened and closed if the submittal changes before the hearing date. The council set multiple hearings for June 6 and June 9 at 6 p.m., including rezoning and final development plan considerations for east- and west-side parcels.