Council approves amended plan for Brookwood Village; some residents urge broader master plan

The Homewood City Council on April 28 approved an amended final development plan for the Brookwood Village property, including provisions to allow Andrews Sports Medicine to occupy the former department store site and to require permanent off-site parking easements be recorded before construction begins. The vote was 11-0; the ordinance was numbered 29-34.

Paul Darden, representing FBL Brookwood (the property owner), told the council the conversion of the former department store is a "transformation" the ownership believes will bring vibrancy back to Brookwood Village. "We feel like this transformation of a former department store is important for the future of Brookwood Village," Darden said as he presented the project.

Jeremy Love, a Homewood resident, spoke in opposition to the plan as presented and urged the council to delay approval so the developer would engage the public in a broader master-planning process for the whole Brookwood site. "I'm asking that you vote against tonight's proposed item so that we as community all together can come together and formulate a comprehensive master plan for the future of Brookwood Village site," Love said, adding he wanted an advisory group to provide oversight throughout the process.

Councilors responding to the public comment said they supported moving the project forward. Councilor Andress, the Ward 5 representative, said the property has stood vacant for years and constituents want action: "This is the only plan that we have in front of us," Andress said, adding, "Do not let good be the great be the enemy of good. It's time to move." Several other councilors called the Andrews proposal an anchor that could catalyze further development on the site.

City staff also noted a provision was added to the final development plan requiring "permanent parking easements" for the off-site parking depicted to serve the Andrews project; those easements must be recorded and forms approved by the city attorney prior to the commencement of construction.

The planning commission had forwarded the amended final development plan to the council; the council voted for unanimous consent to consider the ordinance and then approved it on a roll call vote, 11-0. The ordinance amendment updates the PCD-2 district approvals and adds exhibit B (the amended final development plan) to the ordinance record.

Supporters said the project brings a high-profile local tenant and will start activity at a site that has been vacant for several years; opponents asked for a pause and broader public engagement to shape the larger Brookwood redevelopment over time.